Meet Porshawna Nicole
Porshawna is a celebrity hairstylist who has worked across several industries from TV and film to commercials, fashion shows, music videos and print.
Porshawna has worked on some incredible sets from How to Get Away With Murder (with one of our all time favourites, Viola Davis) to Criminal Minds, Love and Hip Hop Hollywood, All American, Girls Trip, LA Fashion Week and the list goes on and on.
On this episode, we spoke to Porshawna about her journey as a textured hair stylist and get her views on how the textured hair community can improve.
Where to find Porshawna: Instagram | Website
The interview
Here are all the questions we asked Porshawna so you can fast-forward to the best parts.
[01:31] How did you career as a stylist start and how did you get to where you are now?
[03:28] When did your parents find out you had been sneaking off to cosmetology school?
[04:25] How have you managed to work your way into all of these spaces? Especially given they're not easy to get into.
[06:30] What challenges did you face as you were trying to enter these rooms?
[08:14] Is the industry still the same? Do brands pay stylists that are early in their career?
[09:17] What advice do you have for stylists trying to get into a Union?
[11:18] Can you explain how stylists can get into a Union?
[14:05] Do the Union days have to be done consecutively?
[16:30] How can we create more diverse crews on set to make sure actors who are women and men of colour get access to stylists who understand their hair?
[22:22] What dos stylist/customer transparency look like? and how can stylists be more transparent with their customers?
[26:47] How do you work with clients who don't want to give you core information?
[29:15] How do you feel about educating your clients about managing their hair?
[33:20] How do you deal with clients that have experienced hair trauma?
[35:51] What product ranges do you love?
[39:36] What misconceptions about hair need to go in the bin?
[44:44] What are the recurring questions that clients ask you?
[46:35] How do you feel about stylists asking customers to come with a certain amount of prep done?
[50:01] How have other stylists played a role in getting you to where you are today?
[52:26] What's next for you?
Psst… want to ask one of our guests a question? Submit your questions at the bottom of the newsletter.
Who has Porshawna styled?
Some takeaways
For stylists 💇🏾♀️
Porshawna started sneaking to Cosmetology school when her parents made it clear she couldn’t go straight into hair styling. After going down the traditional route, she snuck away to Cosmetology school and shortly after graduating, landed her big break working on a music video. This goes to show that not everyone will understand your vision, but if staying on the course (even if it’s behind closed doors) can pay off in the end.
Having worked in TV, film, music, fashion and editorial, Porshawna is one of few stylists that has worked in almost all of the major creative industries. Her advice is, say yes to every opportunity that comes and figure out how to make it work afterwards.
Half of the credits from the beginning of Porshawna’s career weren't paid for. While money wasn’t on the table, these gigs helped Porshawna to build up her portfolio and her brand. Bear in mind that Fashion, in particular, is unlikely to pay you for unless you have a huge following. One of the realities of breaking into this industries is, you will likely work for free for a period of time. It's important to bear that in mind before making the decision to pursue TV & film.
It took Porshawna 8 years to get into her union and she applied 5 times before being accepted. On four occasions she thought she had enough days to get in but didn't. Evidence that you need to keep track of every call sheet and a pay stub to make sure you have a paper trail.
The most popular way of getting into TV & film is through a Star Waiver. This is when a celebrity asks the production to bring you on set, giving you an opportunity to be approved to be on a union set. But, in order to be get into the Union itself, you have to have 30 days, on the same production and you have 1 calendar year to qualify for these days before you can get in.
When these days expire, you can work 60/60/60. Which means you work 60 days within a calendar year for 3 years straight to get into a Union. BUT, if you don't have those days in a calendar year, they will start to drop off.
For customers
Protein overload is a thing. When you create home made hair products that are predominantly protein based can damage your hair. Stick to what's on the shelves as these products have been tried tested and formulated by people who understand the science behind hair. As Porshawna put it, leave the food in the kitchen because it could cause more harm than good to your hair.
Many people have been on the receiving end of traumatic hair experiences. So it's important to ask stylists questions as they're doing their hair, don't be afraid and make sure you communicate the bad experiences you've had in the past to make them aware of what you’re feeling and why.
Consultations are key and customers need to be honest about what have happened with their hair in the past. Form medication to stress and sleep and chemical treatments, it all counts and if a stylist doesn’t know, your hair may not come out the way you want it to. Remember that withholding information only stops stylists from being able to help you in the best way possible.
Products Porshawna recommends
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See you in the next episode!
From,
The Mane Hook-Up team
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