Meet Darnell Davis
Darnell is a celebrity stylist and wig engineer with decades of experience in the textured hair industry.
Darnell has made wigs for many celebrities, from Nikki Mudarris to Tamron Hall and even Queen Bey herself, he has been the man behind many iconic styles and moments in Hollywood.
In this episode, we talk to Darnell about his journey in the industry and the art of wig making.
Where to find Darnell: Instagram | Website
The interview
Here are all the questions we asked Darnell so you can fast-forward to the best parts.
[01:17] How did your journey start and how did you get to where you are today?
[12:30] How did you end up with your first gig with a celebrity in LA?
[25:28] What are some of the most important lessons you've learned in your career?
[33:34] From the moment asks for a custom wig, what does the process look like?
[46:50] What are some of the biggest problems you're seeing in the textured hair community and how can we fix them?
[57:20] What's the next big thing for you?
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Who has Darnell styled?
Some takeaways
For stylists 💇🏾♀️
Darnell decided that he wanted to shift all of his clients from one type styling to another. He moved from natural hair, to extensions and then all to wigs. It is possible to shift your portfolio from one type of style to another to specialise in a specific area. Remember, to mould your career around the parts of the industry that you love as well.
The more people are educated, the more they'll understand the value of what they're purchasing from you. This is something Darnell lives by and, as an educator who has worked in salons and AVEDA, he knew that the key to getting clients to embrace different types of looks with wigs, he had to teach them along the way.
Darnell strategized his shift over to wigs and weaves. He moved to LA — a place where people were on TV and in film — knowing that people already relied on this style. His mission was then to encourage clients to opt for customised wigs. As a stylist, think about your customer base before making a transition and that will help them you build up a strong base over time.
Even in a state of homelessness, Darnell pushed himself to create a show, which led to his wig being on national television. In the most challenging of circumstances there may be small steps that you can take to progress. And, it could even provide you with a way out of painful circumstance.
We all have specific and unique goals that only we can accomplish and need to remember not to be envious of the position that another person is in. In an industry where there is more than enough for everyone to be successful, your time will come. The focus should be sharpening your skills as a stylist and putting yourself in a position to be seen for an opportunity.
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, Overcast, and YouTube.
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See you in the next episode!
From,
The Mane Hook-Up team
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