Hey Gerilyn! I’ve been following you on Instagram via @GerilynGhaisarzadeh and I love your vivid color work! You own Capricci Ricci Salon in Winter Park, Florida — a 5-star rated salon — how long have you been in the hair care business and what inspired you to join this industry?

I have been doing hair since 1991, and I have always loved being around it. As a matter of fact, the earliest memory I can recall my love for hair is when I was four years old. I started with cutting the hair of my Barbies and dolls, and then moved onto my neighbors and friends until I was licensed. Plus, my mother was a hairstylist so it was all around me.

That’s pretty cool that you were inspired by your mother to follow in her footsteps. What are some of the hair trends you’re asked to do the most at your salon?

I have been fortunate enough for my clientele to have me suggest what is best for their hair, knowing that I’m a color specialist, they trust me to do what I think would suit them. If I had to choose what I’m asked to do the most, it would probably be color correction or balayage or blonding. I am also becoming known for vivids. 

Your vivid color work is absolutely eye catching, and I love that your clients defer to your expertise—that says a lot. Do you style all hair types and hair textures?

Yes, I style all hair types and I love doing all textures.

What styling tools are your go-to?

I love using the T3 blow dryer, it’s super lightweight which is important when you’re doing 10 to 12 people a day. I also like using my Paul Mitchell Nero flat iron or my Hot Tools curl bar. I also use the YS Park 331 styling comb for everything and I also use my ColorTrak croc clips to hold the hair. In addition to that, I love to use my Hikari shears also. 

I know so many stylists who swear by Hot Tools’ and Paul Mitchell’s styling tools. So, what products do you like to use on your clients?

I do have some favorites right now for styling products. Let’s see, I almost always start with Wella’s root lift followed by Sebastian’s mouse forte. Then I add S Factor’s smoothing lusterizer and lastly, I love the new WOW dream coat. I will finish with a light oil. I do love product, but I don’t overuse it. In fact, I find that these are all very light in weight and help out with the humidity in Florida.

Oh goodness, tell me about Florida heat. I live in Miami and it can get sweltering hot here. On the plus side, I can dry my hair in less than 10 minutes being outside in that heat. I’m curious to know, what beauty tip are you asked about the most?

As far as beauty tips go, I’m often asked, “how do I do a smooth blowout” or “how do I get that undone beach wave or glam waves.” As a matter of fact, some clients schedule sessions so they can learn. 

That’s really cool that some clients schedule tutorial sessions. It’s a great way to learn from an expert stylist that’s for sure! So I have to know, which hair dye brand is your favorite and why?

I have used Wella Professional for as long as I can remember and I still love it. Something new came on the market and I am completely obsessed with it — it’s Pulp Riot! I have been coloring fantasy colors since I was licensed. Before that in the 80s, we used Kool-Aid to stain the hair. Pulp Riot has allowed me to color hair creatively with a professional product and it is vegan and cruelty free. Once I started with the semi permanent’s they came out with their violet base permanent hair color line Faction8. I love it even more now. 

You know what, I had no idea that Pulp Riot’s color line is vegan and cruelty free. I love the brand even more after hearing that! What is your number one hair care tip and what recommendations do you have for clients with color-treated hair?

I would say my hair care tip would be to encourage a trim every six week as well as bond builders in the lightener and a separate bond treatment on the side. I find that clients don’t mind spending $300 or $400 on their color but then they don’t want to spend the $35 for a treatment or they want to skip the trim. These recommendations are to ensure that the hair looks and feels its best at all times. With that being said, charging by the hour for these types of colors may be the way to go, that way the clients cannot refuse these services that keep the hair in the best shape. 

I’m glad you mentioned trimming hair every six weeks, it’s easy to forget, and I like your point about the necessity for having treatments done to preserve the brightness of color-treated hair. I know I said this before but your work is incredible, tell me, who did you train with and what awards have you won?

I have had the opportunity to train with some incredible hairstylists, and after all these years I am still looking to train and to be better than I was yesterday. I started in this industry when I was 19 and I was really into competition — local and international. I competed locally and won numerous awards. For instance, when I was 21 and 22-years-old, I competed at IBS and brought home sixth place in international avant-garde, and also placed in avant-garde another time. Most recently, I was named Modern Salon’s Top 100 and also asked to be an artist connective member. 

Congratulations on your achievements! It’s not easy work as most may seem. I was wondering, do you work out of the salon and are you available for on-location bookings, either locally or out of state?

I am a salon owner so I do work full-time behind the chair. I truly love my relationships with my clients. I will occasionally go on site and I’m looking forward to being on set for more photo shoots and would like to do some collabs. 

Collabs are so much fun, especially when creative minds come together! Before we wrap this up, what can we expect to see in the future from you?

Well, I have to say I have a lot of goals for my future. I feel I am only beginning in some ways in this industry that I love so much and I have more to achieve. I’m putting out all the good vibes to make my dreams come true but I also will put in the hard work and do what it takes to get there. 

Touché to that! Cheers to good vibes and working hard — it’s the perfect recipe for success. Gerilyn, I really want to thank you for taking the time to chat with me, and wish you all the best!

LuvlyLongLocks would like to thank Gerilyn Ghaisarzadeh for sharing her insights and tips. For more information about Gerilyn Ghaisarzadeh, visit her salon’s website http://capricci-ricci.com/.

This interview was conducted by Avni Parekh, LuvlyLongLocks chief creative officer. LuvlyLongLocks has affiliate partnerships and may earn a commission if you make a purchase through the link at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, only products that are known to yield high results are recommended.