Meet David Rink of Shear.Gemini in Litchfield Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Rink.

David, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My journey into hair wasn’t fully my own idea, I must admit. My father one day asked me what I wanted to do with my life, what my goals and passions where for my career. That was the super fun talk every early 20 something-year-old looks forward to having with their parents.

At that point in my life honestly I had no idea and was mostly out partying with friends, basically with no sense of purpose or who I even was. My dad said to me “have you ever thought about becoming a hairstylist?” And I chuckled and thought “No Way!” Funny thing was as a child I spent time with my mom at her hair appointments and watched her stylist, who had been doing her hair since before I was even born, applying color and cutting her hair; and I was always so impressed and intrigued by this man’s job. It seemed so cool and fun!

So after sitting and meditating on the idea for a bit, I enrolled into the local beauty school in my home town of Santa Rosa. I walked in and watch the students mixing color and cutting hair. Everyone was so artistic and I instantly fell in love. I felt for the first time that I found something that I loved. I graduated school within a year, however it was not without its trials. Right in the middle of Color Theory I was involved in a five car pile-up and both my thumbs were completely dislocated. Thankfully none of my ligaments were torn, but I had to remain in casts for five weeks before I could even go back to school. Once healed I was able to go back and complete my education. I graduated and within less than a year moved to Arizona and started working at a salon in Goodyear.

I worked at that salon for about a year, building a small clientele, practicing and getting to understand the art of hair. From there I worked at a few salons. I even worked for Great Clips for two years as a stylist and manager where I learned quite a bit of my cutting skills from a woman whose background was cutting for Vidal Sassoon. I remember my first time with her, she had me cut in a line at least 40 times on a manikin head.  Eventually, I made my way to another salon to practice my art.

I was there for about a year and then moved back to California, where my family was located. It was there in California that I began my career fully into the social media world of hair, particularly with Instagram. I became an assistant for a year to a very talented Balayage artist who: showed me there was a place for me in the world, being an artist was ok and in fact it was amazing. She helped me set a foundation for myself as an artist. She also aided me in understanding I would be able to grow in ways I never thought possible with my art. For these things I’ll always be thankful to her.

After my time with her came to it end a new chapter was ready to begin. I started working at my own station in a town called Windsor. I spent a little over a year there, surrounded by women who would forever become three of my greatest cheerleaders. Shelia, Terry and Andrea; thank you for all the laughs, tears, support and love. It was during this time my Shear.Gemini name was created. A huge milestone in my career was the day Alix, the founder and creator or the Unicorn Tribe (@unicorntribe), asked me to join the Tribe. For those who haven’t heard of the unicorn tribe we are a group of artists, a family all connected through social media.  We see each other at shows, collaborate on projects and even work together. The Tribe is like having a constant support system behind you at all times. The relationships I’ve built will last me a lifetime.

The Tribe came into my life during a very dark time when I needed as much light in my life as possible. Throughout all this, I was going through the beginnings of a divorce and the tribe was there to support and love me when I felt so low. Soon thereafter I signed with Manic Manic Pro. I became an educator and ambassador helping spread the word of their newly launched professional color line. It was an amazing time. I was able to do my first stage work appearances at ISSE Long Beach, one of the biggest hair conventions in America. During this time, I traveled, meet hair, and movie/music celebrities. I even worked with Bella Thorne’s and Lil Debbie, both huge and epic moment in my life!

With the Ups comes the downs, as we all know, and I have had my own experiences time and time again. During all this newfound success and artistic self-exploration; my marriage took a turn and ending in divorce. I moved back with parents for their support and love.  Several months later I decided to it was time to move back to Phoenix and begin anew. The new me, the me that knows who he is as an artist was ready to come alive. I moved back to Goodyear, Arizona and started working at the salon I had worked at previously. (Reason number one, why you never burn bridges) I grew there for a year before deciding I needed to be grow more. So now I’m located at Salon 505 in Litchfield Park Goodyear, AZ. I love my new salon!  I’m free to practice my art the way I want and the way my guests have come to expect and love.

You can follow my current work and life on Instagram @shear.gemini or on Twitter @ShearGeminiHair.

Has it been a smooth road?
No, it has certainly not been a smooth road. As I mentioned before, my life changed dramatically when my divorce began. I lost family and friends due to these changes. I even lost a very dear client to suicide, shortly after the fires hit Northern California and burned most of my home town.

Im constantly battling with social anxiety and the feeling that I should be further along in my career than I am. Even going out on my own, as a business owner was terrifying. I’ve moved and had to rebuild multiple times; causing me to not believing in myself or my art.

These have been just some of the challenges I’ve faced. However, what these challenges have taught me is that everything worthwhile in life does not comes easy. Our struggles help us learn how strong we are, so we can build our dreams.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Shear.Gemini – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My business and brand is Shear.Gemini. I created the name for my Instagram to help showcase my work as a hairstylist and artist. From there, it’s very slowly grown from showing my work, to people wanting to see my life and what I do on a daily basis. So current I am starting to bring in YouTube and Twitter. I am incorporating more and more of social media into life and my brand.

What I’m most proud of is how I’ve been able to maintain an element of authenticity of me, in my brand. I’ve been able to stay genuine to myself. I’ve been able to maintain this right down to the tattoos, my blue hair and my colorful personality!

My true self is what I use to make others feel good about themselves and bring out that inner beauty that lies within all of us. This brings me so much joy and is one of the reasons I truly love what I do.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Goodyear for all the new growth occurring in the area. There are so many restaurants, shopping areas to walk around and explore. I also love that you still have the feel of a small town and yet are close to Phoenix. It reminds me of home in away. Growing up in the country and having to go to the city for shopping and daily activities.

I would have to say the thing I like least about the city is all the traffic that accompanies the growth that Goodyear is experiencing.

Contact Info:

• Address: Salon 505. E plaza Circle
  Litchfield Park, AZ 852340
• Phone: 7079531085
• Email: shear.geminihair@gmail.com
• Instagram: @shear.gemini
• Facebook: @shear.gemini
• Twitter: @sheargeminihair

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