These Black Celebrity Hairstylists Are the Trendsetters of Their Time
Black hairstyles are uniquely transformative, thought-provoking, and rich in history, culture, and pride. While you can walk past any Black-owned beauty salon and spot some amazing hairstyle inspo, the easiest way to peep some of the most stunning looks created by Black hairstylists is on, you guessed it, social media. Luckily, there’s a long list of talented Black celebrity hairstylists who are all for sharing the styles they create and their passion for hair on the internet. Their talents are vast, harnessing the skills to cut, shape, style, and color hair of all types and textures. And to say we’ve been obsessing over their skills is an understatement. Want to know who the hair masters are behind Beyoncé’s bounce, Alicia Key’s box braids, and Zendaya’s sleek, shiny strands? Here are 26 Black celebrity hairstylists who are creative forces in the beauty industry today.
1. Ursula Stephen
She hails from BK (we think that automatically makes her awesome), where she runs her own salon with a team of some of the best hairstylists in the biz. Ursula’s cuts and styles have adorned the heads of A-listers like Zendaya, Rihanna (she’s the genius behind some of RiRi’s most badass looks), Iman, Mary J. Blige, Ciara, Laverne Cox, and Gabrielle Union.
2. Chuck Amos
Chuck Amos’ Instagram bio says “Hair Legend,” and that he is, 100 percent. Chuck’s list of clients involves some serious name-dropping. We’re talking celebs like Tracee Ellis Ross, Alicia Keys, Beyoncé, Solange, Taraji P. Henson, Naomi Campbell (seen with Amos above!), and more.
3. Arrogant Tae
Chicago native, Arrogant Tae is a celebrated hairstylist and wig expert whose creativity with hair is bold and truly one-of-a-kind. His talents for styling everything from long, sleek, shiny locks to crazy cool braided wigs can be seen on celebs like Nikki Minaj, DreamDoll, La La, and more. Long story short, Arrogant is a genius.
4. Tymothe Wallace
Cardi B., Taraji P. Henson, Mary J. Blige, Brandy, and Winnie Harlow are only some of the household names that take up real estate on Tymothe Wallace’s roster of celebrity clients. He’s the creative genius behind some of the most iconic looks we’ve seen on our favorite stars (like MJB’s show-stopping long blonde locks and Brandy’s brushed-out afro that made us stop and stare with heart emojis in our eyes). Just check out #TossedByTym for some major hair envy.
5. Jonathan Wright
Michelle Obama entrusts Johnny Wright to keep her hair coiffed and ever so picture-perfect. Have we ever seen FLOTUS having a bad hair day? Add Tamron Hall, Queen Latifah, Samira Wiley, and Janet Mock to that list and OMG, we need a spot in Johnny’s appointment book ASAP.
6. Tokyo Stylez
When you have a wild hair idea, Tokyo Stylez is the one you call to make it happen. You may recognize her from appearing on KUWTK (as Kylie Jenner’s personal hairstylist), and as the master behind some of the most out-there, colorful (and downright awesome) wig creations we’ve ever seen. Case in point: She once turned Cardi B.’s hair into a nest of Medusa-inspired snakes and created Cardi’s iconic chain link ponytail for her “WAP” music video.
7. Ted Gibson
There’s a reason Ted Gibson is practically a household name (besides his long-standing run on What Not To Wear). Ted’s expert hands have styled the likes of Angelina Jolie, Tessa Thompson, Lupita Nyong’o, Natasha Lyonne, Anne Hathaway, and many, many, more.
8. Kim Kimble
A third-generation hairstylist (Kim started out as a shampoo girl in her family’s Los Angeles hair salon), hairstyling skills run deep in Kim’s blood. She’s Beyoncé’s go-to for everything from her hair flip-worthy waves to decorated braids and that iconic Foxy Cleopatra ‘fro. Her work has been featured in every major fashion mag under the sun, she’s been interviewed as a hair expert on countless television shows, and she’s got her own brand of hair products. Kim’s client list also includes celebs like Zendaya, Shakira, Tessa Thompson, Sanaa Lathan, Kerry Washington, and Tyra Banks.
9. Nikki Nelms
Nikki Nelms’ work is pure art. Her sky-high braids seem to defy gravity, bending and twisting like masterpieces that belong in a New York art museum, and her use of unexpected hair accessories (like butterflies, bright threads, seashells, and googly eyes—yup!), makes us wish we had her on speed dial. Her list of clients includes Solange (she created the epic beaded braid look in her “Don’t Touch My Hair” music video), Janelle Monáe, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Zoë Kravitz, and Jurnee Smollett to name a few.
10. Kellon Deryck
An Aveda Institute-trained stylist, Kellon Deryck has been a well-sought-after stylist in the industry for more than 15 years, having blessed the strands of some BIG names (like Megan Thee Stallion, City Girls, Missy Elliot, and more). He’s known for his ability to work with an array of hair types and textures, with a focus on taking care of his clients’ natural hair textures under their protective styles.
11. Takisha Sturdivant-Drew
Takisha Sturdivant-Drew is a seasoned celebrity hairstylist with more than two decades of experience in the industry. Also known as the “Hair Goddess,” Sturdivant-Drew has worked with Hollywood stars like Kerry Washington (her first big-name client), Iman, Sanaa Lathan, and more, along with loads of film, television, and editorial projects. Sturdivant-Drew also owns a line of hair extensions, TSD Hair.
12. Felicia Leatherwood
If you’re in love with all of Issa Rae’s looks (we can relate!), from her natural brushed-out ponytails to her intricately braided updos, Felicia Leatherwood is to thank. The hair industry veteran specializes in natural texture and encourages her clients to own, embrace, and show off theirs. We’ve also seen her masterful work on celebs like Wumni Mosaku, Ryan Michelle Bathe, and more.
13. Vernon François
Vernon François is known for pretty much doing it all. He’s a jack of all trades when it comes to styling hair of all textures, and a master at bringing stressed curls back to life. Not to mention a Redken Global Consultant, founder of Vernon François Hair Care (it’s vegan, cruelty-free, and restorative), and stylist to stars like Willow Smith, Lupita Nyong’o, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Solange.
14. Tippi Shorter
Tippi Shorter is more than an in-demand stylist to the stars (her roster includes Rihanna, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, and Jennifer Hudson). She was also the first African-American woman to be named a spokesperson for Pantene and Clairol, which makes her pretty iconic in our book.
15. Kahh Spence
He’s the master behind Cardi B. and Winnie Harlow’s most glam looks. From his own custom wigs to silky, slicked-back styles, Spence has his own beauty and lifestyle brand, Kahh Spence Beauty, and we're 100 percent here for it. Not to mention his social media presence which is totally fire.
16. Lacy Redway
Lacy Redway’s roster of clientele reads like a list of Oscar nominees. From Priyanka Chopra, to Anne Hathway to Laura Harrier, and next-gen stars like Sadie Sink, Lacy’s skills as a stylist shine bright. Her work can be seen on the covers of Essence, Vogue, W, and more, and she’s responsible for some of the most stunning red carpet looks we’ve ever seen.
17. Larry Sims
While he was a backup dancer in Bring It On, Larry Sims met Gabrielle Union and the rest is history—or should we say hairstory? He made the transition from dancer to hairstylist and cemented his artistry when he created Victoria Beckham’s iconic bob haircut. Since then he has worked with the likes of Janet Jackson, Zendaya, Wanda Sykes, and more.
18. Kendall Dorsey
Kendall Dorsey was always interested in hair. From a young age, the hairstylist would cut and color the hair on Barbie dolls and eventually started cutting and coloring his best friend’s hair. Now, he works with the likes of Kelly Rowland, Lizzo (he styled her long, flowing strands for her Cuz I Love You album cover), Solange, and other notable Black women. More than being a hairstylist, Kendall is a hair educator, constantly sharing tips and tricks to maintain various textures and curl patterns with his audience.
19. Tinisha Meeks
Tinisha “Sparkle” Meeks is the genius behind looks you have seen all over Hollywood. From Scandal to America’s Next Top Model and Black-ish to Grown-ish, she has set the trends of the times on some of our fave TV shows. Her styles on Yara Shahidi, Halley Bailey, Chlöe Bailey, and Zendaya have served as inspo for women all across the globe.
20. Andre Walker
Oprah’s hairstylist of over 20 years and the man behind Halle Berry’s iconic pixie cut, Andre Walker has one stacked resume. He has won seven Daytime Emmy Awards for his work on The Oprah Winfrey Show and even created the hair type classification system we use today. He is the man, the myth, and the legend.
21. Sabrina Porsche
Your favorite trendsetters go to Sabrina Porsche for their hairstyles. The Bay Area native has worked with the likes of Khloe Kardashian, J.Lo, Shay Mitchell, and a flurry of influencers who you likely turn to for inspo—now, you can go straight to the source.
22. Yusef Williams
Tyla and Rihanna rely on Yusef Williams for the baddiest of baddie hairstyles—and he delivers. Featured in Vogue, Elle, Dazed, and Paper, Yusef is always one step ahead of the trends.
23. Marcia Hamilton
Glamour is Marcia Hamilton’s middle name. Hairstylist to Kerry Washington, Karen Pittman, Uzo Aduba, and many others, Marcia is a master of her craft. She is effortless in her ability to create chic, gorgeous styles that we constantly save as inspo for our next trip to the salon.
24. Irinel de León
From Wall Street to red carpets, Irinel de León made quite the career shift when she went from a finance girl to a celebrity hairstylist. Now, she’s a Global Dyson Ambassador and setting trends with Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and her own self-styling tips.
25. Nai'vasha Johnson
Nai’vasha Johnson went from being a real estate agent to one of the most sought-after hairstylists in the world. The founder and creator of Curl Queen is the brains behind a number of memorable red carpet and magazine cover styles, with curls and braids being her specialty.
26. Jamal Edmonds
An educator, texture expert, and colorist, Jamal Edmonds gives his celebrity clients colors that wow and ringlets that dazzle. We love the work he’s done on the likes of Jennifer Hudson, Teyana Taylor, and Eva Marcille.