Hidden Gems: Meet Erik Garcia of Loft Le Rouge

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erik Garcia.

Hi Erik, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I left my corporate career to pursue a career in hair. I have always loved people and my relationship with people started to fracture in my sales career which ultimately led me to look for something new. I grew up playing sports and never even thought of hair as an option but I knew I wanted to make more of an impact on people instead of on fortune 500 companies bottom lines. My sister Jessica is a hair stylist in Los Angeles which gave me the confidence to leave everything behind, pack up my car and move to LA to learn how to do hair. I knew that if I was going to make a move to hair that I wanted to do it at the highest level. So, I went from managing million dollar accounts to learning how to blow dry from 18 year olds. It was the most humbling and best thing that ever happened to me. Before moving to LA, I wrote down 6 names of potential mentors which were either award winning or celebrity hairstylist. I ended up working with all 6 mentors and had a chair at a salon next to two of them before graduating cosmetology school. Before I knew it I had my name in magazines for doing hair and a worked some music videos as well. My goal was always to open a salon within 5-8 years from graduating. Im now just over 5 years graduated and opened my salon in January. I grew up coming to Detroit as a child with my grandfather who owned a janitorial business so it was important to me to come back to Detroit to open my business. This city has always held a very special place in my heart and I want to give back to it in any way that I can.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t say its been a smooth road but I can say that ever since I got into hair my path has formed itself without me pressing or trying to force my way into anything. I have focused on being the best hair stylist and person I can be on a daily basis and the path created itself. There were definitely difficult times while assisting in Los Angeles. Its not a cheap city to live in so I definitely had to make a lot of sacrifices to learn from the amazing mentors that I was lucky enough to work with and learn from. Covid was also a major impact because I was not technically employed as I was still at the end of cosmetology school. I was able to use covid to my advantage though by reaching out to stylist/mentors and make connections that would otherwise be too busy to reach.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Since I always knew the plan was to open a salon I was able to take notes at every salon I stepped foot into. I would write down what I liked and didn’t like, what I overheard customers liked or didn’t like and what the stylist would complain and/or praise. With all that knowledge I created Loft Le Rouge. Its an all inclusive by appointment only salon . Its in a loft setting with a private entrance right downtown Detroit. Its exclusive while being fully inclusive. The idea is that you feel like you’re at home but its also a high end salon and creative space. The space is cozy while still being chic. It feels a little bit like LA and NYC but very much Detroit. There is no place like it. We do all hair at Loft Le Rouge. From braids and locs to highlights and updos. Mens hair as well. The idea is that there isn’t one person that walks in that we can’t service. We also have a fully functioning photography studio in the space as well. We are located near Shinola hotel, The Detroit Edition, The Element and other popular wedding destinations making the loft the perfect place to get your hair and makeup done before your wedding. The space has a lounge which is perfect for champagne and wedding parties along with the photography studio to capture the moment

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
The biggest advice I can offer is finding a mentor that does similar hair or runs their business the way you would like to run yours. Another piece of advice one of my mentors offered me that helped me change my life in the hair world is to say yes to every opportunity. Challenge yourself, if you’re uncomfortable then you’re growing.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @loftlerouge @erikgarciahair