In 1871, the Hestaux family left the annexed city of Metz and settled in Nancy. Louis Hestaux began his artistic training in Nancy, attending evening classes at the École municipale de dessin from 1872 to 1873. He joined Gallé as a draughtsman in 1876 and became one of the company's main collaborators until 1919, taking over as artistic director of the company after the death of Émile Gallé. Louis Hestaux was involved  in the creation of exceptional pieces such as Le Rhin table or the Flora marina, Flora exotica planters, presented at the Universal Exhibition of 1889. He also designed decors for mass-produced pieces. He exhibited numerous pieces of furniture and decorative woodwork inspired by Symbolism, as well as drawings, watercolors and paintings. As a decorator, he supplied  fabric designs to Charles Fridrich, published by the Maison d'Art Lorraine.

Louis Hestaux was a member of the École de Nancy steering committee from 1901.