“I’ve been around hairdressing my whole life,” celebrity hairstylist Devante Turnbull tells ESSENCE. His first hair memories include sweeping the floors to shampooing clients in his mother’s salon. At the time, however, he says he had no interest in it. “I simply wanted to be hanging with friends.”
It wasn’t until 11th grade did Turnbull finally see a future with hairdressing. “A friend challenged me to do hair, and I surprised myself with the results,” he says. “That moment made me realize I had a gift—one I needed to develop and take seriously.” Since then, he’s worked with celebrities like Kelly Rowland and Bresha Webb, backstage at Super Bowl LIX, and most notably, on tour with SZA as a K18 Hair ambassador.
“Working with a brand like K18 helps me feel more confident in knowing I can get creative without jeopardizing my clients’ hair in the long term,” he says. From voluminous curls to trending color, “seeing that shift in someone’s energy after a great hair moment never gets old.”
Read on for Devante Turnbull’s top tip for healthy hair, a hair myth he’d like to debunk, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.
His Favorite Part About Hairstyling
What I love most about what I do is helping people feel like the best version of themselves. Hair is such a personal, transformative part of someone’s identity, and being able to restore confidence—especially by repairing and reviving damaged hair is incredibly rewarding.
His Favorite Hair Products
While on tour with SZA, I’ve been using K18’s new heat protectant HeatBounce™ , which has truly transformed the way I prep her hair. The product protects hair through high-heat styling use to explore a variety of fun styles for the stage. It’s unlike anything I’ve used before and conditions the hair without any weight – whether damp or dry hair, I know I’m protecting against that heat damage. I’ve been using K18 in all of our looks for the last year!
His Favorite Hairstyles to Do
I work across a variety of different textures, colors and styles. I love working on SZA, she’s always down for an iconic color look and fun, bouncy styles. At the heart of my work, I try to fuse self-expression with fun.
His Top Tip for Healthy Hair
My top tip for healthy hair is to focus on restoring and maintaining your hair’s inner strength. It all starts from within – so incorporating a treatment like the K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask into your routine makes a huge difference. It repairs damage at a molecular level, which means healthier, stronger hair with every use. I rely on protective products, especially with my clients who I use heat on consistently.
A Hair Myth He’d Like to Debunk
One hair myth I’d love to debunk is that hair health happens overnight. Real repair takes time—it’s about consistency and giving your hair what it actually needs to rebuild from the inside out. Healthy hair is still a journey, not a quick fix.
The Biggest Lesson He’s Learned Behind the Chair
Something I’ve learned from my clients that’s really stuck with me is how deeply connected our hair is to our self-worth. Whether someone’s growing their hair back after damage or just needs a fresh start, the emotional impact is real. It’s reminded me that this work isn’t just about the look—it’s about helping people feel seen, confident, and empowered in their own skin.
How He Makes His Clients Feel
I love to use hair styling as a form of self expression. For me, that means giving them a look that makes them feel like their best selves while also knowing that their hair will be protected in the process.
The Deeper Meaning Behind His Work
Being a hairstylist often feels like being a healer. People can carry so much stress, insecurities, life changes, and hair can be a reflection of all of that. Helping someone feel seen, cared for, and confident again can be incredibly powerful. Sometimes, it’s not just about the haircut—it’s about holding space for someone to reconnect with themselves.”