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From styling stars for their biggest red carpet appearances to crafting the iconic styles that become synonymous with their brands, these celebrity hairstylists are shaping the look of Hollywood one strand at a time. Read on to learn how stylists Malcom Marquez, Janet Jackson and Vernon François create pure hair magic. Plus, we share our favourite hair content creators who are serving up major styles on social media.
Malcom Marquez
The Visionary
“My Star Sign is… Aries gang.”
“My Style is… constantly evolving.”
“My Dream Client is… Lady Gaga.”
There’s a universal truth about Doechii right now: She’s one of one in the rap game. Tyla, South Africa’s pop powerhouse? Also one of one. And then there’s PinkPantheress, the British alt-pop girlie; yep, you guessed it—she’s one of one. Here’s another truth: All of these women have worked with hairstylist Malcolm Marquez. So how does the 31-year-old keep booking the most exciting young global talent? “Authenticity,” he says. It’s something the Arizona native feels he has in common with the clients he works with. “Personally, I am drawn to artists who have a strong sense of identity and vision for their look and sound. I’d like to think we see each other mutually in that way.” Marquez is constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible with hair. When working with Symone, RuPaul’s Drag Race season 13 winner, he took an auburn afro-textured wig and cornrowed bangs across the front and then shaped the rest of the hair into five stars—each with individual braids and a string of beads hanging off the corners. What makes Marquez’s looks most memorable is that they aren’t necessarily in line with what’s aesthetic at the moment. But they’re singular. And that’s exciting. “I see myself as a futurist, but the past is one of the most inspiring spaces for me—anything from ancient civilizations to ’90s culture,” he says. “But I’m inspired by the idea of creating work that can stand the test of time, without ‘trend’—something original.” [youtube-video url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggg45-e4oj0″ /] Though it varies between projects, Marquez’s work is always a team-driven undertaking. It’s how he created one of the most viral hair looks of the past decade—when, in December 2024, Doechii took to the stage to perform on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. The Grammy Award winner wore floor-length feed-in cornrows. Each braid was seamlessly woven into the hair of her two background dancers, attaching all three women onstage together with hair like a rope between them. “I have a strong vision, but my goal is to never mould an artist into just that,” Marquez explains. “Hair should bring out the best and most expressive side of someone. The collaboration comes in understanding what the client wants and using my artistic eye to execute something special.”
Janet Jackson
Hometown Heroine
“My Philosophy is… master the basics and then break the rules.” “My Go-To R&R Activity is… a spa day.” “My Best Advice is… for stylists, get your cosmetology licence. It will expose you to different types of opportunities, networks and environments.” “I’m usually that modern, effortless-but-elevated type of stylist. I love creating hair looks that are luxurious but still feel wearable,” says Janet Jackson, a hairstylist based in Etobicoke, Ont., and the founder and CEO of JouJou Hair Studio. With more than 15 years’ experience, Jackson has done just about everything you can do in the industry. She’s worked on music videos, photo shoots and red-carpet appearances with stars like Winnie Harlow and Aimee Lou Wood, styling a breadth of hair types with equal finesse. She was also a personal stylist for international supermodel Iman during her time on Project Runway Canada and is currently a L’Oréal Paris hair expert who lends her advice and expertise on daytime television shows. [instagram-oembed url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/DQouhl1EaaH/?hl=en&img_index=1″ /] “TV segments, especially live ones, are the hardest,” Jackson admits. Once the segment starts, there are no do-overs. On top of that, there’s the choreography of working with the camera. “Demonstrating with the camera on your left side when you’re right-handed…it’s very tricky,” she says. But the challenge is well worth the reward: a chance to platform diversity and show the beauty in different textures of hair. “When I’m doing segments, I like to have different hair types sitting in the chairs—whether coiled, straight, wavy or curly,” she says. “Representation matters for me.” Jackson, who received a degree in social work before pursuing a career in the beauty industry, understands that the impact of her craft doesn’t end when the cameras go down. It’s therapeutic, illuminating and even sometimes an emotional experience. “When you sit in my chair, it’s not just about doing your hair. It’s the conversations and everything that comes with it.”
Vernon François
Mr. Hollywood
“My Most Tresured Possession is… my hands.” “The Most Used Items In My Kit Are… a Bisso brush—which is actually the oldest tool in my kit—and a miniature volumizing boar brush.” “My Best Advice is… go where you are loved, not tolerated. That truth has completely shifted my relationship with myself.” If you’ve ever wondered who’s behind your favourite celebrity’s signature look (think Natasha Lyonne’s big, loose curls or one of Willow Smith’s many sculptural styles), the answer is most likely Vernon François, a British-born, Los Angeles-based stylist and Olaplex global brand ambassador. “I approach hair with deep respect for the person in the chair, their story and the history that lives in their strands,” François says. “It’s never just about the look—it’s about the integrity of the hair, the moment and the message.” [instagram-oembed url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/DJTHF27N8E2/?hl=en” /] François’s styles can seem understated, but they always live in perfect harmony with the client and their makeup and outfit. Take Lupita Nyong’o’s 2025 Met Gala look, for example. To honour the Black dandies that inspired the theme, the actor wore a light-blue tailored Chanel suit. François created a waist-length ponytail using sisterlock extensions. Nyong’o and François share a close relationship, having worked together for more than a decade. He says this look is one of his favourites. “The journey to creating that style was incredible,” he explains. “The hair was handmade in Kenya. I groomed and shaped it in London, and it travelled around the world before ending up in New York City. That level of craftsmanship, intention and global collaboration made it an unforgettable experience.” François, who grew up in a Rastafarian household, has been working with afro-textured hair since he taught himself to braid, loc and twist hair at eight years old. He understands it inside and out. And he respects it deeply. “Afro hair is often treated as advanced, when in reality, it’s foundational,” François says. “Mastering it teaches you everything about structure, form and adaptability. Start with patience and presence, not a product or a brush.” And the results will be transformative.
Scroll, Save, Style
Meet the hair pros lighting up your feed—and your next look—across every platform.
Dr. Ehi Sarah
The Growth Specialist
[instagram-oembed url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/DTcem8jgoKR/” /] Sarah is on a journey to grow waist-length natural hair using science-backed methods. In her popular 75 Hard Hair Challenge, she shares tips on how to avoid breakage, retain length and keep your strands healthy. (Spoiler: Oil your ends!)
Andrea Reed
The Natural Inspiration
[instagram-oembed url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/DTa2MHAEcV1/?hl=en” /] Have you ever looked at your curls in the mirror and asked yourself, “What the f*ck am I gonna do with my hair today?” Well, if you have, look no further. Reed’s content is full of easy-to-do styles. Plus, she gives tutorials on those basic but necessary skills, like how to part, braid, cornrow and add extensions.
Alicia Lartey
The Scalp-Care Expert
[instagram-oembed url=”https://www.instagram.com/p/DRSb9seDB8o/?hl=en&img_index=1″ /] You’ve heard it a million times—hair health starts with the scalp. And your scalp is skin that should be cared for just like the rest of your body. Lartey is an aesthetician and cosmetic-chemistry student who uses her background in skincare to share tips and products that are best for a healthy scalp. This article first appeared in FASHION’s November 2025 issue. Find out more here. Continue Reading
