Meet Maggie Bates | Hairstylist & Custom Colorist

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

Hi Maggie, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve always been drawn to artisitic pursuits and how hair can transform a person’s appearance and confidence. Hairstyling has allowed me to combine my love for creative expression with my passion for making people feel confident and beautiful.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
What sets me apart from others is my passion for creating unique and personalize styles that reflect each clients individual personality, and preferences. Not everyone wants the same blonde highlights as everyone else. That’s where custom color comes into play. I can pack a punch with minimal foiling. (Sometimes less is more!) Or I can completely transform a brunette to a blonde. I am constantly pushing myself to learn and grow as a stylist. Keeping up with the latest trends and techniques in the industry. I am proud of the strong relationships I have built with my clients over the years. Whether it’s for a job interview, engagement, birthday or even just a fun night out with friends, I am there to help them look and feel their best.
I am excited to mentor and pass on my knowledge to the next generation of hairstylists. The fact that I was once where they were and I am able to be apart of their journey in this industry is incredibly rewarding.
I got to where I am professionally by working hard, staying passionate about my craft, and committing to constantly learning and growing. I started as an assistant in New York City, training under incredible stylists. Then I moved the LA where i continued to expand my skillset in Beverly Hills and work my way up. It definitely wasn’t easy! I swept hair, got coffee, worked long hours and weekends, went to classes, and did lots of free hair just to get my work out there. By staying dedicated to my craft and taking every opportunity presented to me, I was able to build a successful career as a hairstylist in Orange County.
Some lessons I’ve learned along the way are, mistakes happen! But it’s always important to be honest and transparent with my client when they do. Sometimes I don’t get that exact shade I was going for. But by working to make things right, I’ve been able to maintain trust with my clients even in challenging situations.
What I want the world to know about my brand is I take cutting edge techniques from New York and LA and combine it with the effortless style of Orange County. Bringing the best of both worlds to my clients.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting the area we would definitely go to Bungalow in Huntington Beach for drinks. And it has a great view! The Deck in Laguna would be another drink spot we would make our way down to. Lunch at Malibu Farms in Lido Marina Village. Afterwards, shop around! Then next, Lido Bottle Works.
We would check out the camp in Costa Mesa, plenty of shops and restaurants. Go to to the wedge at Newport Beach.
And for a fun night out we would go to the observatory in Santa Ana to see a show/concert.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe alot of my success to my mom. She always supported my passion for hair and encouraged me to pursue my dreams. Her unwavering belief in me gave me the confidence to pursue a career in the beauty industry. I was always so thankful for her love and support, and I miss her every day

Instagram: @maggie.ocbalayage

Image Credits
Mia Vaughn (for personal Photo)