California-native Daniel Alfonso loves taking his male guests through dramatic transformations and then sharing his work on Instagram and also on his widely-viewed YouTube channel, DanielAlfonsoTV. With his videos watched by millions, Alfonso’s celebrity nearly matches that of his client roster which includes Wilmer Valderrama, G-Eazy and Shaun White. His star has ascended through the execution of superior work and social media savvy and with the opening of Daniel Alfonso Mens Salon in West Hollywood, everyone under his care has the opportunity to feel like a superstar.
Born and raised: San Mateo, California, just between San Jose and San Francisco.
Favorite item in my wardrobe: I have a few favorites, actually. They are all my classic, go-to pieces. My brown suede YSL Wyatt ankle boots, my custom-made Nick Fouquet brim hat and my favorite skinny, leather-look jeans which are actually from H&M and about 4 years old!
Most people would be surprised to learn: That I started cutting my friends' hair at 15 years old in my parent’s garage. They used to pay me $5 a cut and I'd use it for my lunch money for the week.
My inspiration: I was always inspired by the classics, especially Vidal Sassoon. He made hairdressing an art form, and really influenced people’s perspective of style and creativity. He made people think outside the box, and take their hair, and who cares for it, seriously.
My favorite era of hair: My favorite era of hair is actually happening right now. There's so much versatility and an ‘anything goes’ mentality. The lines are being somewhat blurred by breaking down boundaries and men are actually expressing themselves and being much more creative with their hair.
Every beauty professional should: Love doing what they do, have passion for their craft, and take pride in their work.
My secret weapon: Mizutani Shears
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