Meet Thomas Gonzalez | Hairstylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Thomas Gonzalez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Thomas, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
A mentor of mine once told me to always “Do the right thing for the right reason.” That phrase has always resonated very strongly in me and once I started to apply it to my work ethic everything changed.

I thoroughly believe that since we are in the business of people we have got to set an example of supporting our clients in a way that goes beyond just providing a service. As a hairstylist, I have grown so close to my clients and I know so much about them as individuals and their lives (and visa versa.)

Doing the right thing for the right reason goes beyond a monetary transaction for how I operate as a stylist and how I operate my business. I have to be present and mindful of what my clients need when they are in my chair. Sometimes they need more than a nice haircut, they need a shoulder or an ear or just an extended hug and I am happy to provide that sense of comfort for my clients.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve been a licensed cosmetologist since 2009. I took a hiatus from the industry to go back to hospitality where I worked as a host, then event coordinator and eventually manager pretty quickly. I also helped open a handful of restaurants on the training team. Working in hospitality allowed me to strengthen my work ethic, my time management and people skills. It allowed me to learn how to multitask and work confidently in high stress situations. I decided to retire from restaurants in 2019 and chose to seek sobriety, which is the best decision I’ve ever made.
Getting sober allowed me to regain my passion for hair and I’ve been back in the hair industry since June of ‘20.
Sobriety has allowed me to apply myself in ways I never used to. I have merged all of my years of experience in hospitality and applied it to my work ethic in the world of hair and that has allowed me to open my own business in just 4 short years of being back doing hair. I owe all of my success to the program of recovery, my mentors (past and present) and my drive of excellence in everything I put my heart and mind to.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love the food scene in Dallas. There are some phenomenal restaurants across the city. Henderson and Greenville Ave have some of the best restaurants Dallas has to offer. Any authentic Asian cuisine in Richardson is always going to deliver a great experience. Tupinamba is my favorite Tex Mex establishment in town. I don’t drink anymore but Cosmos in LakeWood was my old watering hole.

I LOVE to play BINGO- Longhorn Bingo in Richardson is the best in town (in my opinion.)
Of course if the State Fair is in town I take multiple trips to eat and shop…and eat!
For a relaxing spa day, I love going to Spa Castle or King Spa in Carrollton. I always leave feeling rejuvenated!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
William Kaufmann is my barber. He is a friend and a peer. We can talk about our own businesses with each other without a sense of competition or we can just simply talk about each others lives. He is a good friend and a good sounding board. Plus he makes me look good.

Website: https://thomasgonzalez.glossgenius.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairxtg?igsh=MWZnb3czdGVycmVmaQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Magan Knuckles
@glassgrip on Instagram