It’s hard to pin down Laura Polko—and that’s the way she likes it. The Los Angeles-based celebrity stylist aims to be constantly occupied with a variety of professional projects. She has collaborated on major campaigns for clients including Nike, Reebok, Under Armour and Wildfox. Her work has graced the pages of top fashion magazines, and many of today’s most iconic faces owe their tresses to her handiwork. Here, the pro reflects on her rise from salon stylist in Ohio to one of Tinseltown’s leading hair ladies.
It’s hard to pin down Laura Polko—and that’s the way she likes it. The Los Angeles-based celebrity stylist aims to be constantly occupied with a variety of professional projects. She has collaborated on major campaigns for clients including Nike, Reebok, Under Armour and Wildfox. Her work has graced the pages of top fashion magazines, and many of today’s most iconic faces owe their tresses to her handiwork. Here, the pro reflects on her rise from salon stylist in Ohio to one of Tinseltown’s leading hair ladies.
Free Styling
It’s fair to call Polko a free spirit. “Every time I try to plan my next career move it overwhelms me, because I’m so much a ‘throw-your-hands-up-in-the-air-and ride-the-wave’ kind of person,” she says. That wave carried her all the way from Ohio, where as a teenager she’d spend hours braiding her own hair, to New York City, where the budding stylist moved in 2008. Polko scored her first professional gig by paging through Allure magazine’s salon and spa directory and cold-calling shops, then landing an apprenticeship at Ted Gibson’s famous eponymous salon. “That’s where I learned how the freelance hair world works, but I knew I still wanted more,” she says. An urge to express her inherent creativity propelled Polko to the position of personal assistant for a model turned DJ, where she gained knowledge of the beauty industry’s inner workings. One day a friend asked her to assist on a Fanta commercial. “The pay was five-hundred dollars, which felt like a million dollars,” laughs Polko. That led to a 2014 shoot for actress Ashley Benson, famous at the time for her role on the hit television series Pretty Little Liars. “I said yes to every job that came my way,” says Polko. “My career took off soon after.”
Day In, Day Out
Now, no two days are the same, and Polko vibes to that ever-shifting energy. This week, a work-free Monday is followed by a Tuesday morning doing hair for country singer Maren Morris at her hotel, then a quick break for Pilates that Polko does five days a week to clear her mind, followed by touch-ups for Jimmy Kimmel Live! The next day is her birthday, which Polko will spend relaxing with friends and her five-year-old daughter, Breeze. “I travel a lot for work, and the hectic pace can get overwhelming, which is why it’s so important to have a life outside your job and a community to keep you grounded,” says the stylist. Along with fashioning tresses for celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Gigi and Bella Hadid, and Olivia Munn, among others, Polko leads an online class that teaches stylists how to break into the celebrity world—from outfitting a basic kit to navigating different gigs.
Of course, even successful stylists must overcome professional challenges. “Feeling like I wasn’t picked for a job, or worrying that I’ll never work again if I have two days off in a row, or struggling to stay present when I take a vacation are among the difficulties I encounter,” says Polko. But when that happens, she just takes a big breath—and rides the next wave.
Max Montgomery; courtesy of Laura Polko
