Ep 20: Gabrielle Corney on building a lasting career in TV & editorial hair styling

The Mane Cut Podcast

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Ep 20: Gabrielle Corney on building a lasting career in TV & editorial hair styling

Mane Hook-Up

and

Jade Buffong-Phillips

Feb 12, 2025

Transcript

Meet Gabrielle Corney

Gabi is a celebrity and editorial stylist with over three decades of experience in the game.

Gabi has styled mane people we know and love. From the likes of Kela Walker to Kripa Joshi, Mara Campo and Shaun Robinson. Not to mention, Gabi has also worked on some amazing sets like Love & Hip-Hop Atlanta and shows such as New York Fashion Week (which she’s currently working on now!).

In this week’s episode, we talk to Gabi about her journey through the hair industry and how she has built such an incredible career from the ground up.

Where to find Gabi: Instagram

The interview

Here are all the questions we asked Gabi so you can fast-forward to the best parts.

[01:08] How did you get into the hair industry?
[02:22] What has made you stay in the hair industry for your entire career?
[03:02] What challenges have you faced in the film and TV space?
[04:14] What role has community and mentoring played a part in building your career?
[05:18] If you could revisit a mistake, what would you do differently now?
[06:44] How have you found the business side of being a stylist?
[08:46] What are some of your favourite moments in your career?
[10:47] What are some of the biggest issues you see in the textured hair industry and how can we fix that?
[14:10] What role did working in a salon play in helping you build your career?
[16:17] What has fashion week been like this time around?
[19:00] What brands do you recommend stylists consider using?
[20:36] What advice would you give to an up and coming stylist getting into the editorial scene?
[22:00] How did you pull yourself out of burn out?
[25:46] So, what's next for you?

Who has Gabi styled?

Celebrities and models that Gabi has styled, including Kaela Walker at the Met Gala.

Some takeaways

For stylists 💇🏾‍♀️

Gabi worked in a salon for almost 12 years before getting into TV and film. And said that these formative years played a key role in preparing her in a 33+ year career in the industry. There are many stylists who immediately go solo, but this goes to show that time building a tribe in a salon serves stylists career wise as well.
Community has played a huge role in helping Gabi get to where she is today. She mentions the key people who have mentioned her name in rooms that she otherwise, wouldn't have been able to get into. When you have advocates who are willing to put you forward, its possible to get opporutnites pouring in. So, it's important to make sure the right people are beside you along the way.
As a stylist, you are not just a creative but a business person as well. Gabi explains that the business side of things hasn't been her favourite, but she has surrounded herself with a team of people to help her along the way. From finding the right accountant at the beginning of her career at 18, to assistants and agents, it has all played a role in allowing her to build her business too.
Gabi had to work her way through burn out, going to work every day, it was a time when her personal life has fallen apart. She went to therapy and made time for it, even for just 10 minutes on set. It takes a lot of courage to go through therapy, but Gabi set an amazing example to demonstrate that 10 minutes of therapy can do far more than you expect.