Modern Salon
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Aging Just Got Funnier! Beauty Expert Carlos Valenzuela Releases Hilarious New Book

Beauty expert, author, and LGBTQ+ advocate Carlos Valenzuela releases his new book, How to Wake Up Pretty, a sidesplitting collection of aging stories from a queer perspective.

by Staff
November 1, 2024
Aging Just Got Funnier! Beauty Expert Carlos Valenzuela Releases Hilarious New Book

How to Wake Up Pretty by Carlos Valenzuela

1 min to read


Beauty expert, author, and LGBTQ+ advocate Carlos Valenzuela's new book, How to Wake Up Pretty: Because Life's Too Short for Dignity, is a sidesplitting collection of aging stories mostly from a queer perspective. Perfectly wrapped in Valenzuela's signature style and sass, the book talks about triumphs, challenges, and even salacious moments that come with the golden years.

Brimming with irreverence and sass, Valenzuela takes on aging head-on in How to Wake Up Pretty like a refreshing bouquet whose high notes are sass and wisdom, with undertones of queerness and his Mexican heritage—a voice with which readers from all walks of life will identify.

Ad Loading...

The variety of characters and situations are a true testimony to reminding us that aging and laughter are essentially to be human and serve to underline that there is no "gay aging"--there's only aging. Valenzuela’s storytelling brings to the forefront universal truths with a queer twist—a true celebration of commonalities that unite us all bound by laughter.

Beauty expert & author Carlos Valenzuela

Valenzuela's books, Letters to Young Carlos; Camaleón: The Lost Years Living in the Closet; and Magical Thinking in Hairdressing, delve into self-discovery, identity, and resiliency. How to Wake Up Pretty again challenges the status quo with this deliciously defiant look at what it means to get older while remaining true to yourself.

More In The Know

A man cuts a man's hair
In The Know|Articles|Aug 6, 2026

In Dubai, Clients Visit the Salon Every Week. Here’s What That Market Can Teach You

In Dubai, a salon visit isn’t an appointment. It’s a weekly routine, and clients can spend $800 to $1,400 a month on it, according to Gaurav Tripathi of MADI International. On October 6-8, 2026, the market behind those numbers opens its doors as Beautyworld Dubai marks its 30th edition at the Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together distributors, brands, stylists and salon owners from all over the world.

Ad Loading...
A woman with long brown hair, a black sleeveless blouse, and a beaded headband.
In The Know|Articles|Jul 2, 2026

Mireya Villarreal Announces From Chair to Boss Live, a New Business Education Event for Beauty Professionals

Mireya Villarreal, founder of From Chair to Boss™, is bringing together beauty industry leaders for a new one-day educational event designed to help salon professionals strengthen the business side of their careers. From Chair to Boss Live! will take place September 28 at the Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Ad Loading...
In The Know|News|May 22, 2026

Aura Salonware Announces 2026 Scholarship Winners

Aura Salonware is proud to announce its 2026 scholarship recipients. This first-time scholarship in partnership with the Professional Beauty Association awarded three different scholarships to support beauty professionals at every point in their professional journey.

Ad Loading...