Meet Alex Horne Garcia

We recently connected with Alex Horne Garcia and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I’ve heard many hairstylists talk about being in the hair industry like it was a childhood dream. They grew up in the salon, sitting at their mom’s feet while she got her monthly cut and color, enamored with the hood dryers and upbeat tone of an old-school beauty shop. Maybe a family member owned a salon, and they spent summers there being a shampoo assistant or sweeping hair for cash. Or another popular start: cutting and coloring their friends hair in a bathroom as soon as they had enough money to splurge at Sally’s Beauty Supply.

I used to feel kind of jealous of that kind of start. They knew so early that this was the industry for them—that this would be their purpose. But that wasn’t me. I don’t remember my mom coloring her hair when I was younger, and haircuts were just another monotonous part of maintaining being human. It wasn’t until I was two semesters into cosmetology school that I even started enjoying the act of doing hair and it was several years after that before I knew I could do this for the long haul. Truthfully, you don’t learn much in cosmo school—cutting a straight line, one type of layering, perms. And that’s all on one hair type (yikes!). It is important to choose wisely what you do and where you work after hair school and actually take time to learn what you’ll need to know behind the chair, day in and day out.

I first started understanding my purpose while working at my first salon job. That’s where I got to fine-tune my technical skills and develop a real appreciation for ongoing education. But once I became a business owner—when I got to make all the decisions and truly shape my salon and work ethics—that’s when I feel I really fell into my purpose. I realized I wanted to be an inclusive, honest, and fun hairstylist who helps break down the patriarchal beauty standards that have been shoved down our throats since childhood. I want clients and other hairstylists to know that we can build an amazing (and lucrative) career by collaborating with the people we’re working on—helping them feel seen the way they want to be seen. And we can do it with mutual respect and JOY.

And honestly? I think purpose evolves. If you give yourself and your business room to grow, it can shift into something even better than you first imagined.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I would say my brand focuses most on self-expression, inclusivity, and collaboration. As the sole stylist and owner, I’ve built my business around the belief that hair is deeply personal and should be a true reflection of each individual. Located in Pensacola, Florida, my salon welcomes all hair types- straight, wavy, curly, coily, and every combination in between. I am a curl specialist and have completed extensive education in precision cutting as well as blonding techniques. My ideal clientele are people looking for a haircut that accentuates their natural movement and/or those wanting a low-maintenance hair color that provides a natural balayage highlight look.

My approach to hair is collaborative. I don’t just cut and color hair…I work with my clients to co-create the image they see for themselves. It’s an honor to be trusted with such an intimate and transformative experience, and I never take that lightly.

Beyond my clients, I’m passionate about changing the industry for other stylists as well. I want people pursuing a career in the beauty industry to know they don’t have to conform to traditional salon structures or sacrifice their personal boundaries to succeed. Owning my own business has allowed me to create a career that aligns with my values and thrive in this art form on my own terms.

As I continue to grow, I’m always looking for ways to expand my impact. Sometimes it’s through community involvement, ongoing education for myself, or educating other artists.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been patience, adaptability, and boundary setting. In most service-based industries, you don’t build a clientele overnight. It takes patience to find the right clients for you as well as to figure out where your niche might be. Try everything so you can make an educated choice about what kind of services you feel connected to! Boundaries come into play in just about every area of business ownership, so having an idea of how to hold space for people’s expectations while making sure you are happy and well taken care of—physically, mentally, and emotionally—is essential.

For those just starting out, my advice would be to stay curious and build a career that aligns with your values. Always seek out education that excites you. Investing in yourself is so important. Find mentors who inspire you, and don’t take advice from someone you wouldn’t want to trade lives with (real life, not social media life). Another important note that I wish I had been told more often when I was younger is that success looks SO different for everyone.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

Currently, I am feeling the winds of change. With change comes challenges, but a challenge isn’t inherently a bad thing. I’m at a point in my business where I would like to rebrand in 2025! This brings both excitement and nervousness, but hey aren’t those really the same thing? I look forward to sharing my new logo and brand colors with the world, and overcoming (and enjoying!!) the creative challenge of choosing them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.linktree.com/hairyalexhorne
• Instagram: @hairyalexhorne

Image Credits

Rae West Photography
Mai Visuals Photography