Meet Kay

Kay is an assistant celebrity and editorial hairstylist who has done some incredible work.

From working with stars heading to the Met Gala, to landing the cover of InStyle Magazine with Anna Delvey to presenting on stage at Textured on Set and being mentored by the one and only Naeema LaFond.

Given Kay has already done so much, in this episode, we talk talk about what it’s really like to build a career in the hair industry and advice to anyone else who is interested in the field.

Where to find Kay: Instagram

The interview

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

[01:21] Tell us about your journey into the hair industry

[09:09] What happened when you arrived at your first fashion shoot with Naeemah Lafond?

[11:58] How did you start getting your next line-up of work?

[18:55] What was it like working on the InStyle cover with Anna Delvey?

[26:13] How have you juggled being the business woman and the stylist?

[30:30] What are some of the most memorable things that have happened in your career so far?

[36:48] What are some of the biggest issues in the textured hair space and how can we start to address them?

[42:10] What's your one piece of advice for stylists who want to break into the space?

[43:28] What's next for you?

Who has Kay styled?

Sets and stars Kay has worked with.

Thanks for reading The Mane Cut! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

Kay’s top tip for stylists

Kay's top tip: You have to figure out how to make it happen and sometimes you may have to advocate for yourself and say no that's not possible, that can't happen but here's what we can do

Some takeaways

For stylists 💇🏾‍♀️

Kay messaged Naeemah on Instagram to get some advice on a shoot that she was invited to take part in (which was later cancelled) and ended up being invited to a fashion show by Christopher John Rogers with Naeemah's team to assist. A reminder to always shoot your shot, you never know who would be happy to help you.

Networking is just as important as turning up with your A game for the jobs you're invite to. People will remember the energy that you bring into the room. People need to get a feel for who you are as well as your work, so take your time, get to know people on set properly and create the kind of contagious energy that makes people remember you.

Remember that a lot of your referrals will come from the departments that hair works closely with (e.g. make-up artists, wardrobe, photographers), so it's important to network with the other people who take on roles that are completely different to your own. Make friends with people in lighting, production, the PAs, anyone that has an influence over the jobs that are put together and who's hired.

Kay really honestly said that she didn't understand why you can't always say what you want and how that can affect your work and brand event as a stylist. While many people can be commended for their honesty, delivery has a huge impact on how people receive your words and you have to think before you speak to make sure you don't reduce your chances of getting work.

Your career in the editorial and TV space can either take some time, or it can escalate pretty quickly so you have to be ready for either to happen. Regardless, you have to be prepared for the constant pressure to do more, when you also have to balance that with getting rest to bring the best version of yourself to the table.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, Overcast, and YouTube.

🔍 Where to find Jade: Instagram | LinkedIn

🪮 Where to find Mane Hook-Up: Website | Instagram

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themanecut.substack.com

Welcome to another episode of The Mane Cut! This week, Jade and Cataanda talk about how we can deal with judgement and stereotypes because of our hair.

Now we know the internet streets can be wild. But what happens when people are outright judged for their hair for no reason? From customers having side-bar debates over a sales assistants straight hair, to assuming anyone with curly or coily hair prefers straight hair, down to making (incorrect) assumptions about race based on air textured, we have seen it all. On today’s episode we dive into why this happens and (most importantly) what we think everyone can do spend less time judging and lean into curiosity and asking the right questions.

🔍 Where to find Cataanda: Instagram | LinkedIn

🔍 Where to find Jade: Instagram | LinkedIn

🪮 Where to find Mane Hook-Up: Website | Instagram

🗣️ Become or recommend a guest

See you in the next episode!

From, The Mane Hook-Up team

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themanecut.substack.com

Welcome to the extra episode of The Mane Cut! This week, Jade and Cataanda talk about celebrities making hair care lines.

Over the past few years, we have seen more and more celebrities break into the Black hair space. From major releases like Fenty and Cecred to the smaller ranges like Inala. Now the real question is, why would you try a celebrity hair line vs all of the others that are out there? That’s what Jade and Cataanda talk about in today’s episode.

And, here’s a list of some of the brands that were mentioned:

Cecred by Beyonce

Fenty Hair by Rihanna

Pattern Beauty by Tracee Ellis-Ross

Sienna Naturals by Issa Rae

4U by Tia Mowry

Inala by Lala Anthony

Flawless by Gabrielle Union

TPH by Taraji P. Henson

🔍 Where to find Cataanda: Instagram | LinkedIn

🔍 Where to find Jade: Instagram | LinkedIn

🪮 Where to find Mane Hook-Up: Website | Instagram

🗣️ Become or recommend a guest

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themanecut.substack.com

Meet Christina

Christina is a celebrity, and editorial hair stylist who has worked one everything from red carpet looks to editorial shoots with major brands and celebrities.

Christina has done a range of work from New York Fashion week to working with brands we know and love like Pattern Beauty, African Pride, Carol’s Daughter and Adidas. As well as working for the likes of Teyonah Parris, Christina Jackson, Brandee Evans and many many more.

With so all of this experience and such a great career, in this weeks episode, we talk to Ike about their journey into the hair industry and advice for anyone who is coming up behind her.

Where to find Christina: Instagram | Website

The interview

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

[01:28] How did you get into the hair industry?

[04:05] What made you want to move to editorial hair styling?

[08:27] How have you worked towards building trust with your clients?

[10:26] What is it about the industry that's nerve wracking?

[12:22] How did you get involved with some of the big brands you've worked with?

[13:35] Can you share how you built that relationship with one of those brands?

[18:32] You just finished with Texture on Set. Can you explain what that event is and how it's changing the industry?

[23:42] How have other stylists and mentors helped you to build up your career?

[30:15] A lot of stylists are going independent first instead of going to the salon. Do you think that means mentorship is happening less?

[33:06] Any tips for stylists who aren't having a great time working in a salon?

[37:25] How have you balanced being the artist with running a business?

[40:00] What's the one life saving system that you have for your business?

[45:25] What are some of the biggest challenges in the textured hair industry and how do we correct that?

[51:02] What's the one piece of advice you have for all stylists?

[55:28] What's next for you?

Who has Christina styled?

Films and celebrities Christina has worked with.

Thanks for reading The Mane Cut! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

Ike’s top tip for stylists

Ike's top tip: Believe in yourself and focus on your journey. Don't fall into the comparison trap. Spend time with yourself and seek out what it is that you want instead of just pursuing what other people have. Have a relationship with God and believe in something bigger than you.

Some takeaways

For stylists 💇🏾‍♀️

Relationships are everything in the editorial and celebrity hair industry. Christina has worked with some major brands and makes it clear that building a solid relationship with people can take you from one job to four, five or six further down the line. You have to show up and show out every time, present as reliable and (most importantly) treat everyone you meet with respect as you never know where they will end up.

Take the time to build community so you have people who will show up for you when you truly need them. One connection can change the entire trajectory of your career.

Christina mentions that she has had several mentors throughout her career and highlights the importance of finding the right person. This means, not just learning from someone who is more experienced, but also someone that you respect, look up to and are prepared to take instruction from. Not to mention, you also have to be in a position to receive constructive feedback from your mentor. That can play a huge role in you ability to adapt and grow.

As a stylist and a mother of three that's running her own business, Christina has set up systems that allow her to streamline and run her business effectively when needed. Calendar blocking, keeping note of everything and having a tight grip on calendars has helped Christina to stay on top of all her work.

That said, while the business side of things is the unsexy side of a career as an independent stylist (vs the creative) it’s also one of the most important areas that you need to understand. You're not just doing hair but everything in-between so you must take the time to fully understand the different areas of the business, the role they play and how they fundamentally work.

Christina believes that lack of education (especially when it comes to textured hair) is one of the biggest issues in the industry. The more knowledge people have, the more confident they are and it also reduces the likelihood people having bad experiences.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, Overcast, and YouTube.

🔍 Where to find Jade: Instagram | LinkedIn

🪮 Where to find Mane Hook-Up: Website | Instagram

🗣️ Become or recommend a guest

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themanecut.substack.com

Welcome to the extra episode of The Mane Cut! This week, Jade and Cataanda talk about creating a textured hair care routine on any budget.

With so many hair products on the market, most of us struggle to find the right ones for our hair. We all have that shelf (or shelves) full of shampoos, conditioners, oils and hair cremes that weren’t quite right, and we sit there regretting the expensive mistakes. Not to mention, some of us are happy to spend big money on experimenting with the latest thing, and others just want to spend $15 topping up on the right products every month. And that means not only figuring out how much your prepared to spend, but what you should ideally be spending your budget on.

If you want to skip ahead… you can find the answers to the big questions here:

[07:19-12:12] Three staple products that you need in your hair routine and why

[13:17-13:30] Staple products (the quick summary)

[14:19] The difference between normal, leave-in and deep conditioners

[20:33] Where do you go to get different products?

🔍 Where to find Cataanda: Instagram | LinkedIn

🔍 Where to find Jade: Instagram | LinkedIn

🪮 Where to find Mane Hook-Up: Website | Instagram

🗣️ Become or recommend a guest

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themanecut.substack.com

Meet Ikeyia

Ike is a celebrity, fashion and editorial hair stylist who has worked with the likes of Pattern Beauty, Essence and many more.

Ikeyia has most recently worked with Kendrick Lemar’s team for the Superbowl LIX Halftime show, styling the background dancers with hair lead Nikki Nelms. Not to mention she’s worked at Paris and New York Fashion week, and worked with some all-time favourite celebrities like Sha’Carri Richardson, Janelle Monae and Tina Knowles.

With so much experience under her belt, in this weeks episode, we talk to Ike about their journey into the hair industry and advice for anyone who is coming up behind her.

Where to find Ike: Instagram | Website

The interview

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

[01:29] How did your journey into the hair industry start?

[06:20] At what point did you start to realise hair styling could be a full-time career for you?

[11:40] What was your first big break entering the celebrity and fashion space?

[23:28] How did you get onto the Superbowl set and how did it feel when you got there?

[30:44] What was it like preparing for the Superbowl?

[35:18] How have you balanced being the one woman band for your business?

[41:57] What are some of the most memorable things that have happened in your career to date?

[45:51] What's one piece of advice you have for up and coming stylist who want to get into celebrity/fashion styling?

[50:07] What are some of the biggest problems in the textured hair space and how can we fix them?

[54:24] So what's next for you?

Who has Ikeyia styled?

Films and celebrities Ike has styled, including Sha'Carri Richardson

Thanks for reading The Mane Cut! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

Ike’s top tip for stylists

Ike's top tip: Believe in yourself and focus on your journey. Don't fall into the comparison trap. Spend time with yourself and seek out what it is that you want instead of just pursuing what other people have. Have a relationship with God and believe in something bigger than you.

Some takeaways

For stylists 💇🏾‍♀️

It can be challenging to pursue your dream when family and friends don't believe that your path is stable. Ike experienced this with her family, who she is close to and respects, but had to make the decision to double down in the hair space despite that.

Ike felt the difference between working in a salon and renting her first chair (having to run a business, get clients etc) and she appreciated both environments as they played a role in providing her with the skills to eventually go down the celebrity/fashion route.

Pattern Beauty's fist shoot was Ike's first step into the world of being on set, and that's where she caught the bug for this game. She used Instagram to look for opportunities helped Ike land her first job at New York Fashion week, and spent her time networking and building genuine relationships to gradually work towards bigger positions.

The largened Nikki Nelms quickly became one of Ike's mentors after assisting her for the Met Gala. Not to mention, their relationship led to Ike getting a chance to join the Superbowl team. There was a tonne of prep, with coloured wigs, running rehearsals and making changes, custom cutting wigs, and more hard work went into creating the full experience.

Running a hair business is NO small feat. As Ike said, it's a lot of paper work, invoicing, taxes, communicating with clients and producers. If you don't reframe yourself as a brand and a business, it's very difficult to magically flip that switch.

Ike vividly remembers being tired after hopping from one city to the next to style Sha 'Carri Richardson for Essence Magazine. Despite feeling tapped out, she did her best work and was proud of the outcome. A reminder that the best moments on set may happen when you're running on adrenaline and fumes, but the end result is often worth it.

Network and open your mouth to ask. People will not assume to know what you want and need. Take the risk and ask.

Hair not being properly cared for is still the number one issue. It's not always the no1 in the industry. Simple hair care, like checking scalp health, trimming ends. Ike believes that the basics are missing and we need to go back the beginning.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, Overcast, and YouTube.

🔍 Where to find Jade: Instagram | LinkedIn

🪮 Where to find Mane Hook-Up: Website | Instagram

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themanecut.substack.com

Welcome to the first extra episode of The Mane Cut! This week, Jade and Cataanda talk about the question that seems to be circling around again: to relax or not to relax?

Even though more and more people have returned to their natural hair, we’ve noticed the interest in relaxers ticking up again. But the real question is, why? Is it for convenience? Are people still struggling to learn how to look after their natural hair? Tune into this weeks podcast episode to find out what the team thinks. And if you have any thoughts, feel free to share them in the comments.

🔍 Where to find Cataanda: Instagram | LinkedIn

🔍 Where to find Jade: Instagram | LinkedIn

🪮 Where to find Mane Hook-Up: Website | Instagram

🗣️ Become or recommend a guest

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themanecut.substack.com

This is the mother/daughter team behind Cynthia Erivo’s wig for Wicked, Josee Mampuya, Abigail Anyanna and Naomi Nassor.

Besides running a salon for over 30 years in the heart of North London — that their mum, Josee launched by herself — the trio have also worked on other films like Jurassic World, styling the likes of DeWanda Wise and many more.

With so much experience under their belts, in this weeks episode, we talk to Josee, Abigail and Naomi about their journey into the hair industry, building a salon business from the ground up and their view on celebrity hair styling.

Where to find Josee’s salon, Naomi and Abi: Josee's Instagram | Naomi Instagram | Abigail’s Instagram | Salon website

The interview

Here are all the questions we asked Josee, Naomi and Abigail, so you can fast-forward to the best parts.

[01:17] How did you get started in the hair industry?

[09:38] What made you want to open up a salon and move the business out of your home?

[27:00] How did you find managing the salon as a business after experiencing struggles with the fines?

[30:27] How did it feel knowing that all three of you helped to bring the character of Elphaba to life?

[37:42] How did you all work together to create Cynthia Erivo’s wig in 2.5 days?

[44:27] What has life been like since the film was release? Has anything changed

[49:33] What are some of the biggest issues you're seeing in the textured hair industry and how can we start to tackle this?

[01:01:48] What's your one piece of advice for up and coming stylists?

[01:11:44] What's nest for all of you?

Who have Josee, Abigail and Naomi styled?

Films and celebrities that have been styled at Josee's salon or by herself, Abigail and Naomi (including Cynthia Erivo's wig for Wicked)

Thanks for reading The Mane Cut! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

Some takeaways

For stylists 💇🏾‍♀️

Josee was very fortunate when she started her business, to have a mentor who helped her understand the more people you bring together, the more wealth everyone can build as long as there is a sense of togetherness. As Josee started to get booked and busy months ahead, she started to think about bringing more women into the fold to turn her passion into a bigger business, especially women who, like her, had come from Africa to the UK.

One of the big challenges that Josee had in the early days was the art of running the business financially. She ended up paying £34k in tax penalties when she opened up her second salon because she was unaware of the laws around tax, business management etc. This is something we know stylists tend to struggle with and it just goes to show the domino effect and implications if these things aren’t done effectively. Josee ended up having to leave that shop for another one and had to work around the loss in income as well.

What was truly lovely to see was how inspired Naomi and Abigail were by their mums entrepreneurship from such a young age. Josee was looking after a family of four children, her husband, fifteen young women who were braiders in her salon and hundreds of clients and has supported so many of them in the hair space. It just goes to show what is possible when you pursue a dream, and focus on truly serving your customers.

More on our Substack!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themanecut.substack.com

Meet Jasmyne Garnett

Jasmyne is a celebrity and editorial assistant stylist who is up-and-coming on the hair scene.

Jasmyne has styled some of the biggest names in the world and worked at some of the most well-known events. From Beyonce at the Oscars to Megan the Stallion at Coachella, and working with countless other icons like Kelly Rowland, Cocoa Jones, Winnie Harlow and even more, it’s fair to say Jasmyne has had a star studded start to her career in the industry.

All that said, Jasmyne humbly describes herself as a mid-west girl with big dreams.

In this week’s episode, we talk to Jasmyne about her journey through the hair industry, get an insight into what it really means build a career from the ground up.

Where to find Jasmyne: Instagram

The interview

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

[01:43] How did you get to where you are now?

[09:48] How did attending Paul Mitchell help your career?

[19:45] What was it like working with Beyonce's team for the Oscar's and what did you learn from the opportunity?

[25:02] What role did mentorship play in helping you see and overcome the challenges in the industry?

[32:22] What area of hair have you chosen to pursue and why?

[36:40] What are some of the challenges you've faced as building and managing clients?

[39:05] How have you created systems for clients to protect your time?

[43:06] What are some of the biggest issues you're seeing in the textured hair industry and how can we fix them?

[46:05] What's the one piece of advice you have for up and coming stylists?

[48:30] What's next for you?

Who has Jasmyne styled?

Artists and models that Jasmyne has styled, including Queen Bey's dancers at the Oscars.

Thanks for reading The Mane Cut! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

Some takeaways

For stylists 💇🏾‍♀️

Jasmyne didn't plan on being in LA, but after struggling to make Atlanta work, she eventually allowed her path to shift and ended up receiving one blessing after another. Sometimes, changing the plan truly pays off. Afterall, it's really about positioning yourself for opportunities and sometimes that means traveling to corners of the world you may not have planned to be in.

After doing her homework, Jasmyne realised that some of the best textured hair stylists have attended Paul Mitchell's school. Given she wanted to set her career up well from the get-go, Jasmyne looked for ways to enrol in different cities. Education is so key when taking your first steps into the hair industry, so like Jasmyne, do your due diligence on schools and see if you can speak to current students before going all in!

Jasmyne's first few opportunities came through friends who have been in the creative industry for a few years (one of her close friends was one of Beyonce's back-up dancers). Connecting with people who have followed completely different paths is key to building a career. Don't forget to network as far and wide as you can, you never know when one connection could lead you to a life or career changing job.

It's one thing to have the big dream and another thing entirely to do it. Mentoriship played a huge role in helping Jasmyne better understand how editorial styling works. After seeing a mentorship program with the one and only Naeemah Lafond, she applied, got a place and has been eternally grateful for the guidance from one of the G.O.A.Ts of editorial styling. It never hurts to ask even if a mentor seems out of reach because of their experience. You never know what could happen, now or in the future after building that connection.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themanecut.substack.com

Meet Jasmyne Garnett

Jasmyne is a celebrity and editorial assistant stylist who is up-and-coming on the hair scene.

Jasmyne has styled some of the biggest names in the world and worked at some of the most well-known events. From Beyonce at the Oscars to Megan the Stallion at Coachella, and working with countless other icons like Kelly Rowland, Cocoa Jones, Winnie Harlow and even more, it’s fair to say Jasmyne has had a star studded start to her career in the industry.

All that said, Jasmyne humbly describes herself as a mid-west girl with big dreams.

In this week’s episode, we talk to Jasmyne about her journey through the hair industry, get an insight into what it really means build a career from the ground up.

Where to find Jasmyne: Instagram

The interview

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

[01:43] How did you get to where you are now?

[09:48] How did attending Paul Mitchell help your career?

[19:45] What was it like working with Beyonce's team for the Oscar's and what did you learn from the opportunity?

[25:02] What role did mentorship play in helping you see and overcome the challenges in the industry?

[32:22] What area of hair have you chosen to pursue and why?

[36:40] What are some of the challenges you've faced as building and managing clients?

[39:05] How have you created systems for clients to protect your time?

[43:06] What are some of the biggest issues you're seeing in the textured hair industry and how can we fix them?

[46:05] What's the one piece of advice you have for up and coming stylists?

[48:30] What's next for you?

Who has Jasmyne styled?

Artists and models that Jasmyne has styled, including Queen Bey's dancers at the Oscars.

Thanks for reading The Mane Cut! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.

Some takeaways

For stylists 💇🏾‍♀️

Jasmyne didn't plan on being in LA, but after struggling to make Atlanta work, she eventually allowed her path to shift and ended up receiving one blessing after another. Sometimes, changing the plan truly pays off. Afterall, it's really about positioning yourself for opportunities and sometimes that means traveling to corners of the world you may not have planned to be in.

After doing her homework, Jasmyne realised that some of the best textured hair stylists have attended Paul Mitchell's school. Given she wanted to set her career up well from the get-go, Jasmyne looked for ways to enrol in different cities. Education is so key when taking your first steps into the hair industry, so like Jasmyne, do your due diligence on schools and see if you can speak to current students before going all in!

Jasmyne's first few opportunities came through friends who have been in the creative industry for a few years (one of her close friends was one of Beyonce's back-up dancers). Connecting with people who have followed completely different paths is key to building a career. Don't forget to network as far and wide as you can, you never know when one connection could lead you to a life or career changing job.

It's one thing to have the big dream and another thing entirely to do it. Mentoriship played a huge role in helping Jasmyne better understand how editorial styling works. After seeing a mentorship program with the one and only Naeemah Lafond, she applied, got a place and has been eternally grateful for the guidance from one of the G.O.A.Ts of editorial styling. It never hurts to ask even if a mentor seems out of reach because of their experience. You never know what could happen, now or in the future after building that connection.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themanecut.substack.com