Even if you don’t know Paul Eastin personally, if you’re into fashion, you’ve probably seen his work. It might have been in a magazine, or on fashion week runways in New York and New Orleans. Or you might have simply coveted one of his haircuts from afar— Paul still works behind the chair.
Paul Eastin also sews and is a graffiti artist. | Source: Paul Eastin
The power of teamwork
Though Paul counts actress Laura Cayouette of Django Unchained fame and NFL quarterback Matt Flynn among his list of celebrity clients, his career hasn’t always been glamorous. Paul recalls one scary moment from a few years back.
“I had my chair cranked all the way up, and was intensely cutting a pregnant lady’s bob,” he says. “Suddenly, she fell forward and crumbled into the floor. Somehow the full-length mirror managed not to shattered as she fell head-first into it. I was in complete shock. I literally just stood there dumbfounded.”
Paul says his team was his saving grace. “They all very quickly took action. One person laid her flat on the floor while others got damp towels. 911 was called within seconds, and the fire department was there in five minutes. The only thing that would have been worse than her passing out would have been her having the baby!”
A multitalented artist
While Paul learned how to manage crisis from his cool-headed team, he has taught us a lot, too—and not just in his role as an educator. Paul is a true artist, one who expresses himself in mediums ranging from clothing and graffiti art to music and hair. Though his accomplishments are mighty, Paul himself is a humble figure: warm and approachable, kind and patient.
“Paris Parker has allowed me to grow as a stylist working behind the chair in the salon, as well as becoming an industry player,” Paul says, grinning through his signature curly red beard.
A Baton Rouge native, Paul attended local beauty school Lockworks Academie in 1998 and didn’t look back. He quickly rose through the ranks after joining our team and ultimately found his niche as an educator, teaching on both local and national platforms.
“I held regular, intermediate to advanced-level cutting and styling classes for Paris Parker’s education team, as well as salons throughout the southern region,” Paul says. “I’ve also traveled nationally as an educator for salon industry companies like Qnity, helping stylists face their fear of numbers.”
Paul styles a model’s hair at Elevate in 2016. | Source: Paul Eastin
Paul’s artistic influence extends beyond the classroom. As Paul worked with photographers to capture his work and build his portfolio, his interest in photography grew. He became an artistic director on our creative team, creating calendars and images that would be published in industry magazines, as well as editorials and advertisements.
From models to matrimony
It was during this time that he worked at New York Fashion Week. Soon after the stint in New York, Paul was tapped to serve as lead hairdresser with New Orleans Fashion Week. He served in this capacity for six seasons, doing 15 to 18 shows per season and making connections to local and national designers, media personalities and members of the New Orleans fashion community.
In fact, one chance connection with a New Orleans Fashion Week designer would shape the course of Paul’s career and life. After collaborating with Andrea Loest, creator of Fair Fit Studio, the two began dating and got married. Andrea’s skill for design influenced Paul to delve into sewing, his precise haircuts finding their sartorial equivalent in pattern-making.
Paul met his wife Andrea at a fashion week in New Orleans. | Source: Paul Eastin
Paul sews all his own clothes and sells creations online. Ever the stylist, his patterns skew toward practical, salon-friendly gear: a barber apron, hair design cape and oversized graffiti bag are among his wares, all with an extra dash of cool. Yep, he’s a true Renaissance man…and not just because of his facial hair.
