DENVER — How many people can say they’re the best at something on the whole continent?
Luis Gonzalez, co-owner of Vida Salon in the Highlands neighborhood of Denver, just won the North American Hairstyling Award for “2023 Colorist of the Year.”
Gonzalez was born in Mexico but moved to Denver when he was six years old. Since becoming a hairstylist and colorist, he has skyrocketed through the ranks and is now even the North American color director for Aveda’s art team.
“Whether it’s through a really cool new haircut or the latest color trend, I help my guests express themselves the way I express myself, artistically,” Gonzalez said, explaining part of his work that gives him the most pride. “Making sure they look and feel their best is just this really cool feeling I always get.”
Hair highlighting and styling may be her internationally recognized skills, but Gonzalez also teaches them and was kind enough to show me some cutting tips…tricks.
In the story above, you can see how this chaos unfolded.