“In The Chair” spotlights the incredible hairstylists and makeup artists in our community who are giving us major inspiration. Each week, they discuss their personal beauty and career journeys, what they’ve learned from their clients, and their top glam tips.
With clients like Jill Scott, Wunmi Mosaku, Samara Joy, Golda Rosheuvel, and more, you’d be surprised that hair stylist Dionne Smith wasn’t always planning to head down this path. While the London-native grew up with a “kitchen beautician” as a mother (in other words, it’s in her blood), “I never thought it would become a career,” she says. “But I do recall my father making me do my little sisters’ hair growing up,” she tells ESSENCE via Zoom. “I didn’t think anything of it, though,” she adds.
Later, hair was always something she did on the side of her bus driving and pub owning jobs. “And then I just started to get busier and busier with doing hair, to the point where I was like, actually, I’m making really good money,” she says. “I’m enjoying this. I’m starting to fall in love with the hair that I was getting creative with. I needed to make a choice. I had to stop working and put everything into it.”
Since then, she’s touched many different sides of the industry. Think: everything from owning her own salon, to working major fashion shows for Vivienne Westwood and Amanda Wakeley. “But I didn’t love working on the fashion side as much,” she expresses. “I was like, ‘oh my God, this is crazy,’” she adds with a laugh. “It was very fast-paced and there was lots of shouting.”
As for what she considers the thing that changed the trajectory of her career? “This guy, a photographer, randomly walked into my shop one day and said, ‘you need to enter into the hair awards. I think you could win,’” she explains. “And then I entered. And I did win.” From there, she began doing hair for magazines like Black Hair, and more.
When the social media era came around, she began sharing her work there. “Venus Williams reached out to me one day,” after falling in love with Smith’s work. “She was my first big person I worked with. And then from there, it was a domino effect.”
And the blessings continue to reign in. “Meeting new people keeps me excited,” she says. Earlier this year, “working with Jill was just amazing,” for example. “I so appreciate her trusting me,” she adds. “I just love genuinely good people. So I look forward to meeting more of them, in addition to building on relationships that I already have.”
Below, Smith discusses her top healthy hair tips, favorite products, and much more.
The Hair Products She’s Loving Right Now:
Gummy Edge Control. I cannot live without that product. I probably have 10 of them stacked. Additionally, I love the Got2B gel spray. That gives me a really good hold. I’m also loving the Cécred hair oil. I use that a lot. And I like the Living Proof hairspray, L’Oreal Paris Hairspray, and loving AMIKA—especially the serum and the Detangling Primer. Last but not least, I’m also liking The Doux for curls and coils.
Her Favorite Hair Styles To Do:
I like sculpted hair. Most people know me for that. So anything creative where I can sculpt hair and include wires and just be really outrageous and showstopping… I like that kind of stuff. But I’m also happy with simple hair—a clean bun, for example.
Where she draws her inspiration from:
As an artist, I think it’s just naturally there. And then the more you do it, the more you want to push boundaries. Sometimes I’ll go to Pinterest and I’ll look at different hairstyles and ask myself how I can make it my own.
Her Top Healthy Hair Tip:
I feel like people are so caught up on length and it drives me absolutely mad. And I’m like, it’s not about length, it’s about health. That said, the ends need to get regular trims. I always say to people, it’s better to have short hair that’s full and healthy than long hair that’s thin and rackety.
A Hair Myth She Wants To De-Bunk:
I want people to know that water is a good thing. Especially for Black women, it’s the best thing for our hair.
Something She’s Learned From Her Clients:
I’ve learned that clients can truly become friends. I trust them. I share stuff that I probably wouldn’t even share with some of my own friends. They know it’s a safe space and they can open up to me as well.
How She Uplifts Her Clients:
I think what I love most is definitely the art of hairstyling—how I can create and have fun with textures and different hairstyles. But more than anything, I love the relationships that I have with my clients and the trust they give me. Their excitement, after getting their hair done, makes me excited and it makes me full. There’s nothing that can replace that feeling when they look in the mirror and they’re like, ‘oh my God.’ And they just feel really, really happy. I’ve brought women to tears just from looking at their hair. That stays with you.