Over the course of the month, we will be spotlighting the winners of Beauty Launchpad’s 25 Under 50K for 2022.
Here, you will get to know Liz Cook. Cook is a balayage and extension specialist at Lather Salon in Ogden, Utah. In their Q&A, you will learn her favorite hair trends, a fun fact about them, her proudest accomplishment and more.
Beauty Launchpad (BLP): What is a fun fact about you?
Liz Cook (LC): I’m a total horse girl. I grew up riding horses in the mountains of California on a small farm.
BLP: What is your proudest accomplishment?
LC: Building my business from the ground up. I started with $5 to my name and no clients. I worked my a** off, and in one year, I was booked out for three months, beginning my educator journey, joined the original RiotSquad, and grew from 1.2K followers to over 13K Instagram followers.
BLP: What is your current favorite hairstyle trend?
LC: I love that balayage trends are becoming softer in appearance. The more subtle and natural colors with face-framing and ’90s blowouts are killer!
BLP: What is a hair tip you have for your fellow stylists?
LC: Don’t just post a photo because you think it’ll go viral. Post it because you love it, and it’s your art. And, make sure that your camera lens is clean! As for a specific “hair” tip, get a good texture spray. It’ll be your best friend!
BLP: What inspires you?
LC: Oh, this list is long! Ha! I find inspiration in nature: floral, textures, botanicals, colors, fashion, art, scents—all of it! Recently, the PNW vibes have been huge for me. I love the mystery of it and channeling the moodiness of the foggy woods for this fall/winter season.
BLP: What do you love about your work?
LC: I love that my work features fluidity. I love movement, and I always want to showcase the client’s hair in motion. I also love that I am unapologetic about my beautiful clients and their smiling faces.
BLP: What motivates you about this industry?
LC: Connection, community and education.
BLP: What is a professional goal you have for yourself?
LC: My goal for the rest of this year and next is to work on my work/life balance and not be burnt out.
BLP: Who is a role model you have in the industry?
LC: I have been finding and following some amazing people on Instagram. The role models I look up to? Jenny Strebe from AIIR (This woman has empowered me so much in the baby steps of my career), Shawni Fork, owner of Lather Salon (a kicka** owner and stylist), and I personally look up to the stylists I am surrounded by in my salon. They are all so talented, and I am so lucky to work alongside such creative people.
BLP: What is your favorite career-/work-related memory from this year?
LC: When I finally unpacked and moved into my salon home at Lather Salon in Ogden, Utah. It’s my hometown, and moving back home feels so sweet. I felt so accomplished and had a huge sense of comfort. I found my salon family. Thanks, Lather!
To see our full spread for this year’s 25 Under 50K recipients, you can read Beauty Launchpad's November/December 2022 digital magazine.
