Celebrity Hairstylist Glen Coco Oropeza Reflects on His Professional Journey
If you are familiar with Hollywood, the name Glen Coco Oropeza should ring a bell. The celebrity hairstylist made Los Angeles his stomping ground and eventually became a go-to name for some of the biggest A-list celebrities. Among his clients are the Kardashian-Jenner clan, K-pop star Lisa Manobal, and actor Sydney Sweeney.
Despite his hefty resume, Oropeza’s success didn’t happen overnight. His career, built on dedication and hard work, exemplifies the importance of balancing talent and perseverance. To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, EnVi chatted with Oropeza to discuss his professional journey and Latin American heritage.
Stumbling Upon The Right Direction
Over a decade ago, Oropeza was left without a job on Christmas day. Shortly after, the then-college student landed a job in marketing at a salon in his hometown. The salon doors opened up a whole new world for Oropeza. Surrounded by whirring blow dryers and hair clippings, he grew “fascinated by the craft.” He asked endless questions to the hair stylists and at some point, they suggested he attended cosmetology school.
“So I did! I left my third year of college at Penn State to pursue cosmetology school at the Aveda Institute,” the hairstylist tells EnVi. “I never looked back!” Soon, Oropeza started cosmetology school with the goal of opening up his own salon one day. “It felt like a whole new world to me,” he recalls.
Oropeza’s early days at the salon coincided with the premiere of the American reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Watching the hair stylists on the show was a source of motivation. “I made it a personal goal to keep going and focus on [hair] styling until I eventually worked with the Kardashian-Jenners. Almost ten years later, I accomplished that goal,” the hair master shares proudly.
Pinch Me Moments
Name any household name celebrity and chances are they have probably sat in Oropeza’s chair before. Thanks to his unmatched talent and extensive client book, he’s gotten the opportunity to work on multiple large-scale events, from global Fashion Weeks to international red-carpet events.
Over the last couple of months alone, the famed hairstylist was behind headline-worthy hair moments including American actor Ariana Greenblatt’s stylish appearance at the Miu Miu SS25 show and Thai icon Lisa Manobal’s buzzy solo debut at the 2024 MTV VMAs.
A forever highlight for the hair artist, however, is the Met Gala. Oropeza has crafted looks for the event several times, the most recent being this year, when he styled American actress Sydney Sweeney’s iconic black bob. Similarly, the glamour and grandeur of the Cannes Film Festival evoke memories and excitement for Oropeza. “Something about the 360-degree red carpet and your hair being photographed from all angles is such an exciting feeling,” he says.
Looking back on his career Oropeza also considers his work with Sydney Sweeney for the Armani Beauty global campaign a high point in his career. “It’s so exciting to see the campaign imagery in Sephora stores all around the world as well as other luxury retailers,” he explains. “Seeing your work in real life is an indescribable feeling.”
But despite the many career highlights, Oropeza still gets awestruck when his favorite beauty brands reach out to work on paid partnerships. “It was [a] part of the industry I never understood in the beginning,” he admits. “So feeling the love and support of brands I use will always be such a comforting feeling.”
Creativity Knows No Bound
Some may be unaware, but in addition to his high-voltage hairstyling experiences, Oropeza has also channeled his creativity on the screens. Just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the hairstylist started taking acting classes. Once he started auditioning, Oropeza’s hobby became a side quest. In 2021, he put his hairbrush down and laced up his acting shoes for his debut role in the queer web series HANDSOME. The show follows a man navigating his identity in the queer space after ending a ten-year relationship.
Sitting in the glam chair was a foreign experience for Oropeza. The opportunity gave him a deeper understanding of what a film production needs outside the beauty trailer. “If anything, it’s made me excited because I’ve been behind the camera for so long that I know what it takes to get a film project accomplished, and now dabbling in being in front of the camera, I get to flex an entirely different skill,” he says about his role as an actor.
Latin American Heritage and Beauty Inspiration
It is not a secret that throughout history, Latin American people have pioneered prominent hair and beauty trends. Latin American stars, hair and makeup artists, entrepreneurs and innovators have shaped and influenced the global beauty landscape.
Some of Oropeza’s first beauty-related memories are directly linked to his Latin American heritage and his family. “When my mom gave birth to me; she had a bright red matte lipstick on. Those photos are engraved in my memory. She had the cutest pixie haircut. I think from birth I have always been exposed to [beauty],” he says. The hairstylist also recalls visiting his aunt, who owned a salon in Mexico, around the age of 13. “Growing up, I would always make beauty observations with everyone around me, but I had no idea it would lead to where I am today.”
When asked if there was any celebrity or Latin American figure that influenced his perspective of beauty, Oropeza shares that although Latin culture was present in his everyday life, his family were strong followers of the Jehová Witness faith, which indirectly limited his exposure to celebrity beauty. “Idolizing celebrities was very much a no, no. So the most exposure I ever got was movies,” he explains. One of those movies was The Mask of Zorro — he can still recall being entranced by Catherine-Zeta Jones’ bouncy hair. Moreover, he always appreciates a hair choreography moment on television — shout out to the American crime drama series Charlie’s Angels.
Beyond celebrity style, Oropeza is a big supporter of Latin American professionals in the beauty community. He recommends Chilean-owned hair care brand Ceremonia for their high-quality, clean products and packaging and shout outs to Rizos Curls for their innovative curly hair formulas. And in his own words, “Of course, we can’t forget the iconic Oribe,” the hair shampoo and conditioner line created by Oribe Canales, which is a staple in every celebrity hair stylist’s kit.
The Secret to Glen “Coco” Waves
When it comes to his work, Oropeza’s name has become synonymous with refined, tousled waves. Before wrapping up this interview we had to ask how to achieve the look — pull out a pen and paper.
“I think, to get the perfect waves it’s all about shaping the hair as you go. The worst is when you set curls too much and they cool in a way you’re not happy with. The brush is your best friend,” Oropeza advises. He also recommends finishing off the look with a little hair oil and a strong-hold hairspray.
Most importantly, Oropeza reminds us, “See what you like best for yourself and keep refining it.” A single curling iron holds the ability to create a variety of different shapes, so remember to “play around” and discover what suits you best. And remember, changing the direction of the iron also alters the shape of the curls!
“Refine, Refine, Refine”
When talking to Oropeza it’s impossible to overlook his disciplined work style. Despite being at the top of the echelon at the moment, he still hustles like a novice in the industry. Speaking about his advice for emerging talent and hairstyling hopefuls, he emphasizes the importance of knowing what you want to achieve with your work. “[My advice is] Just to follow your passion. Always set new goals for yourself throughout the year,” he says “There are so many people I ask what their goal is for the year, and they have no clue. It’s so important if you want to keep growing to never let yourself stay stagnant.”
Oropeza also points out the value of listening to your gut and giving yourself compassion. As the hairstylist states, we should all give ourselves space to fall and get back up again. “Just learn from the [falls] and improve yourself,” he advises.
Lastly, refine.
This is a word Oropeza keeps repeating while answering questions. “Refine, Refine, Refine. It doesn’t matter what industry you are in; Refine your skills. Refine your eye. The people who are major, all have an eye for detail,” he reiterates.
What’s Next For Glen “Coco” Oropeza?
As 2024 comes to an end, EnVi asked Oropeza what’s next in his career, what are some of his upcoming projects and who’s on his celebrity client bucket list.
The hairstylist reveals he has a working list of dream clients since 2018 and is in constant evolution. “Miley Cyrus has been on the top of my list for a while. I have a long-running list that started in 2018 and I am constantly checking people off the list and adding people. I have a roster of people I have yet to conquer,” he shares
Besides his dream clients, the consummate planner also has hair inspiration to spare and plenty of looks he’d like to experiment with in the future. “I can’t give any away but you’ll see them in the future.” So, make sure to follow Oropeza’s craft on social media and keep an eye on his upcoming projects.
Want to keep up with global beauty news? Check out Jennie brought aqua blue and blonde hair to the Chanel Spring Summer 2025 show here.
