Lo Shabino’s interest in the art of hair was originally peaked through her time at The Academy of Arts University in San Francisco, where she studied sculpture. She was inspired to become a haircutting specialist after drawing parallels between sculpture, the shape of hair, and how it relates to a client’s bone structure and facial features. She has since made it her mission to see haircutting treated as art.

Lo, a natural “education junkie”, was originally trained as a precision haircutter (Goldwell Master Stylist). While she became proficient in most cutting systems and tools (she loves her straight razor!), she realized that it felt more natural to work with independent educators that weren’t teaching from a “system,” but speaking from their unique point of view. 

Lo decided to go independent and begin educating on her own which led to the opening of her salon, Strange Bird in Austin TX. The name? A nod to the clean beauty industry and the desire to bring haircuts to a clientele that seek to celebrate their natural texture, not alter it to look like anyone else. 

Lo also provides business mentorship. Her unique approach to mentorship focuses on empowering her students to build a powerful business through specialization and transitioning away from “hustle culture.”

Her goal as an educator is to support cutting specialists in building their brands, focusing on their passion and creating sustainable businesses, all while fine tuning their technical skills. Her hope is to see more cutting focused salons and stylists properly trained in all textures, tools and cutting methods.