Steve Elias was born in Southern California, but relocated to Mexico for most of his childhood. After heading back to the United States, Steve completed cosmetology school while finishing high school. After apprenticing at Festoon, a Vidal Sassoon Salon in Berkeley, California, Steve moved on to do editorial work, his true passion.

You can see his work featured in trade publications such as American Salon, Modern Salon, and Maly’s. His editorial work has been featured in 7x7, 944, Chaos, Bleu, Dimension, Fantastics, Pref, Prim, Winq, and Men’s Vogue magazines. Steve was a 2009 and 2010 What’s Next Awards finalist. Steve has been nominated for nine different North American Hairstyling Awards over the last four years, netting two awards: Texture in 2007 and Editorial Stylist of the Year in 2010.

The Nerds are basically obsessed with every NAHA entry you have ever submitted.. Can you tell us about the craziest NAHA shoot you have ever done?

Well, I am so glad you guys are obsessed with NAHA. I think more people should be! However, sometimes I come up with ideas that are crazy and the reality of making those happen is just not feasible!

I remember my first try at NAHA I decided to do The Elements and it was a total debacle! From Crazy concepts to finished product ..the process always changes for the best... I think.

Also, I once had a model show up cracked out of her mind! Shhh... it's a secret! LOL!

If you could only use one product for the rest of your life, what would it be for you? For Clients?

Hmm, that's a hard one!!! My tastes and moods have changed over the years and products keep getting better and better so what I liked then is not what I like now. ask me in 10 years! :-P

Who are the Top 3 Stylists you would love to work with and why?

1.Luigi Murenu, if there is a stylist who embodies all I want to be it is him... in hair that is! I will never be a 6 foot tall slim sexy Italian!

2. Julien D'ys, if you want to see hair as true art look to him. His work has been in international art galleries and countless high fashion editorials and covers. Super inspiring!

3. Serge Normant, Big hair darling! Big hair!!

What are your “Words to Live By”?

Those who abandon their dreams will discourage your's.

We love Hair Husbands... Tell us about your's.

Oh Lord! Ha ha! My hair husbear is my official twitter and facebook media guy because I just don't have the time for it and he is a whiz. What can I say other than he gets on my nerves constantly, but he'd probably say the same thing about me! He's very sweet and smart, always willing to help (after some beers!) and we compliment each other well. I'm more quiet and well, you know... he is a social butterfly!

Do you have a favorite "Nerd Word" of the moment?

ELEGANZA!!! (I watch way too much RuPaul's drag race!! )

Your honesty about breaking into the editorial scene has always been something we most appreciate about you. Would you mind sharing your story?

I started out placing a small ad on craigslist asking to work with new photographers and those early pictures led me to work with some better photographers and so on I started doing some local press and small look books for designers and then slowly i built up enough to get into an assistant roster at some hair and makeup agencies. In time I developed a good book which led me to be signed with an agent but all of this was done with hard work!

Have you ever had an “OMG, what the hell am I doing here?!?” moment?

I had a time on set where the director asked me to do hair I didn't really know how to do and I freaked a little. I excused myself to the restroom and looked up some You Tube videos on how to do it and went back and practiced on the model in secret. A few minutes later the hair was done and no one was the wiser!

What are your favorite Magazines?

Well, I love all the Vogue's (Korea, Japan, china, Russia, UK, Australia, India, Thailand, Italian, French, and sometimesAmerican Vogue! LOL!) I love mags Like POP, Zink, Dazed and Confused, Oyster, Citizen K, W......you should see my office!

*Hair Nerd Note* Steve is the founder of an online Magazine, Tantalum.

Greatest Accomplishment?

Just being Happy and having great Family and True Friends.

We couldn't have said it any better, Steve.

XoXo ~The Hair Nerds

You can Nerd Stalk Steve Elias at ISSE Long Beach 2012. He will be teaching his amazing Blondes to Bombshells class. You should take it... all the COOL Nerds are doing it!