May 16, 2024

Volume 188

Just Trying To Find The Road

Curated by Evan Stowers

Hair Stylist + Musician

Hi! I’m Evan Stowers. I’ve been doing hair professionally for 15 years.

I’m originally from California, But moved to Salt Lake City, Utah at a young age. I spent all my summers going back to CA, spending loads of time at the beach and watching the locals. I think this Is why I love working with beachy blondes, natural highlighting techniques, and balayage. I grew up watching my mom do hair and started dabbling in cutting my own hair at 12, then color around 14. I started hair school at 18, stopped to pursue music, then picked it back up at 24. So you can say it’s been a while.

I own a salon called the Desert Lounge in Southern Utah. I would say we’re more a collective of artists who love what we do, and do it better than your standard salon business.

When I’m not working, I love spending time with my wife, Tayli, and our five children, Nixon, Jovi, Gibson, Losee, Roonie, and our dogs, Raffi, Mocco, and Lenny. We like to spend family time outside or simply hanging out, watching movies, and playing games.

I grew up playing music, and performed for years in a punk band, so if I have any more free time I like to play guitar and a little piano. I love listening to music, and I’d say that music is a big part of our salon life as well. I also have a hobby of reading, consuming information, and learning all that I can. I have a bachelor's degree in communication, with a emphasis in rhetoric. I dropped out of my Masters degree to fully, 100% pursue hair. I’m so glad that I did—It’s become more of a passion than I ever would’ve imagined.

What's been keeping you grounded?

They say life is a journey, but most times I feel like I’m just trying to find the road.

I was diagnosed in my twenties with biological depression, but it never totally sat, I knew deeper there was more to my story. A couple of years ago I got the diagnoses of ASD, OCD, & Anxiety, it clicked that I wasn’t clinically depressed, I’d just been using the wrong map. With the help of many therapies and my loving wife, I’ve been able to gain understanding and work to develop coping mechanisms to help create a more balanced/regulated life. In many ways, I feel as if my life has just begun.

What are you into lately?

What I'm into lately

I’ve always been fascinated by screen printing and wood blocking. I love the medium of layering textures and colors. I’ve also been doing a lot of landscaping.

What I'm reading

Currently I’m reading 4 books:
The Secret Teachings of All Ages by Manly P. Hall
Hair Structure and Chemistry Simplified by John Halal
Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan
Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide to Helping Your Child Thrive at Home and at School by Melinda Docter, Ed.D. and Syed Naqvi, M.D., F.A.P.A.
I would say the book that impacted me most in my life is Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth by R. Buckminster Fuller.

WHAT IM ROCKIN'

I can’t go anywhere without my black Imperfects nylon hat. Like, seriously...anywhere. If it’s not on my head, it’s on the go. I’ve had this hat for over 4 years—it’s my staple. I also rock the black surf pocket tee at least once a week. In the cooler months of Southern Utah, I love the flannels, and I am looking forward to sporting the Bennys this summer.

Poem of the Week

What I'm up to, health-wise

Physically, with the long days behind the chair catching up to me, I’ve found the wisdom in stretching, trying to eat better, and a lot of supplements. Mentally, since my diagnosis I’ve been on a nonstop journey of trying to understand my brain—I spend a lot of time scouring books and blogs, and I’ve done blood work to learn my deficiencies. I currently do EMDR and energy work. I try to communicate with my wife and stylists to be better regulated. I’ve learned my sensitivities and am understanding my limits. I realize not everyone has the ability to cope or control their environment. I try to empathize with others and hope that they’ll empathize with me. We’re all imperfect humans doing our best.

What are you reading?

What's keeping me grounded

With over 20 stylists, 5 kids, 3 dogs, and a grueling schedule, music and walking my dogs keep me grounded. I try to walk my dogs at least 4 times a week. Typically I’ll listen to a podcast or music or call a family member. Those 30-60 minutes give me time to regulate and, I think, make me a better person. I try to play guitar every week and hit up concerts as much as possible.

What are you drinking?

What I'm drinking

Lately, I’ve been drinking a lot of seltzer water or a V8 energy drink in the morning (trying to not overload the adrenals). I’m focusing more on taking a mushroom blend supplement to help jumpstart the day.

What are you listening to?

What I'm listening to

I absolutely love music, so it’s hard to pick. Manchester Orchestra has helped me through my hardest times—specifically, the song, “The Maze.” Sometimes I’d listen to it on repeat for hours or when I needed a good cry. Life is heavy and they seem to get it. I love their evolution as artists and growth as humans.

Another of my favorites is Sunbendr. These are San Diego Natives Brandon Parkhurst and Chris Cote. Brandon has been such an influential part of my life’s journey. We met when I was 17 when his other band KUT U UP opened for Blink-182, and then a few years ago, we did somatic healing. My sessions with Brandon opened up a lot of personal understanding.

Quote of the Week

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”
—R. Buckminster Fuller