Meet Keisha

With over 20 years of experience, Keisha has worked across events from the Southern Women's Show to Richmond and New York Fashion Week. Her work has been featured in Modern Salon, Behind the Chair, and many more publications. She's won several awards including Editorial of the Year from the Beauty Awards and Willow Bayes Creative Hair winner.

Where to find Keisha: Instagram | Website

The interview

Here are all the questions we asked Keisha, so you can fast-forward to the best parts.

[01:44] How did you know you were meant to be a hairstylist from childhood?

[03:15] What was your first breakthrough into editorial work?

[05:06] What's it really like competing in hair competitions?

[10:20] How do you advocate for textured hair representation on sets?

[15:06] What's the biggest lesson that took you too long to learn as a stylist?

[19:13] Where's the real money in the hair industry?

[21:46] How do you balance creative work with running a business?

[22:58] How did you find your mentors and build your support network?

[28:07] What are the biggest struggles when building an editorial career?

[30:51] What's the truth about collaborations that stylists need to know?

[34:00] What's your advice for stylists wanting to transition into editorial work

[39:14] What's next for your career?

Who has Keisha styled?

Sets and styles Keisha has styled.

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Keisha’s top tip for stylists

Keisha's top tip: Contact anybody that you want to work with. Figure out their email information, contact them, blow them up, in their DMs, in their emails, send them wherever they're at. And don't stop until they see you. Because I know Crystal said, if you ain't did it seven times and you have not told somebody about what you do seven times, you ain't doing nothing.

Some takeaways

For stylists 💇🏾‍♀️

Financial literacy is everything - There's SO much money in the hair industry, but if you don't know how to manage it, save for opportunities, or price your work correctly, you'll stay stuck. Keisha grew up in poverty and had to teach herself everything about business finances.

Editorial work builds portfolio, not bank accounts - Magazine shoots and artistic projects don't pay well. It's for portfolio building and networking. Campaigns and celebrity work? That's where the money lives. You need a strategic mix.

Contracts are non-negotiable - Even in free collaborations, photographers legally own all photos unless you have a contract stating otherwise. Keisha learned this the hard way after doing incredible work and never seeing the images.

Finding your people takes time - Not all hairstylists want to do editorial or campaigns. Finding photographers, makeup artists, and fashion designers who share your vision can take years, but it's essential for building your career.

Persistence pays off - The networking game requires consistency. Reach out to people seven times before giving up. They need to see your name repeatedly to remember you.

Representation matters behind the scenes - Being the person who can properly style textured hair when others can't makes you invaluable on sets where diversity isn't just visual but skillful.

Rest is part of the strategy - Keisha is currently taking a strategic break to regroup financially and mentally. Sustainable career building includes knowing when to rest and recharge.

Resources Mentioned:

Wella BEA Awards (currently accepting entries)

NAHA competitions

Crystal Wright's Win Now program

The Bottom Line: Building a creative career requires more than talent. It requires business knowledge, the right community, clear contracts, and enough financial stability to say yes when opportunities come.

What resonated most with you from this episode? Hit reply and let me know.

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