Meet Marva Stokes
Marva Stokes is a celebrity textured hair stylist with over a decades experience in film, television and editorial hair styling.
Marva has been the key hair stylist for some of our most beloved TV shows and films such as The Black Panther, Mixedish, Us and Legion and has worked with a long list of celebrities like Tracee Elliss Ross and Lupita Nyong’o.
In this episode, we speak to Marva about how she built such a stellar career in the industry, what advice she has for the next generation of stylists and how we can …
Where to find Marva: Instagram | Website
The interview
Here are all the questions we asked Marva so you can fast-forward to the best parts.
[01:18] How did you go from 7 year old that loved hair to where you are now?
[10:50] What advice do you have for stylists who are trying to break into the industry?
[15:00] What struggles did you face as you were breaking into these spaces?
[20:35] What practical steps do stylists have to take to pursue TV and film styling?
[28:55] What have you enjoyed working on the most and a memory you'll never forget?
[36:33] How do you feel about people judging women who wear wigs/weaves and assuming they don't have healthy hair?
[43:42] What other misconceptions about textured hair need to go in the bin?
[53:30] What are the core elements of your hair routine and what should people do to ensure they're looking after their hair?
[01:00:10] What's the next big thing for you?
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Who has Marva styled?
Some takeaways
For stylists 💇🏾♀️
Marva has been doing hair since she way 7 years old. Even when she momentarily stepped away from hair and found jobs else where, she quickly found herself doing everyone's hair (even when she worked at a Casino!). It goes without saying that, when something is part of your calling, it will follow you wherever you go and people will start to recognise your talent. Bear that in mind and pay attention to what friends, family and clients love most about your work.
Always be teachable. There is so much to learn within the realm of TV and film, and it's not the same as being in any other industry. Make sure you're looking for opportunities to learn from all of the people around you to take the skills to the next job.
Try to create a sense of balance for yourself. There will inevitably be times where you're busy with a tonne of clients or a very big job, but try to make sure the job doesn’t become all consuming. Spend time creating a routine that works for you and allows you to earn, have a great career and see your family/friends.
You can't always look for the money immediately when you're breaking into TV and film. Sometimes it is about building your portfolio and resume first. Marva explains that she did 18 hour days for just over $100 and in some cases for free to network and build a name for herself in her early years.
For customers 💛
Trim those split ends. Otherwise they will just continue to break up the hair shaft. Cut off everything that could cause long term damage to your hair (you’ll thank yourself for it later).
The length and health of you hair will very much depend on how your treating your body. Are you drinking enough water? Eating well? Getting enough sleep? Bear in mind that your hair goal can be hampered if you're not prioritising your overall health.
Product Recommendations from Marva
Listen now on Apple, Spotify, Overcast, and YouTube.
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🔥 Survey time
Global Crowns: Emotions Surrounding Natural Hair of Black Women Around the Globe
A few weeks ago, we caught up with Dr. Nicole Jenkins, an Assistant Professor at Harvard who has dedicated her career to understanding the experiences of women in the African Diaspora.
Dr Jenkins is currently looking for people to take part in a survey that uncovers the most impactful memories and emotions that people have experienced around their hair. If you’re interested in taking part, click the button below to start the survey.
See you in the next episode!
From,
The Mane Hook-Up team
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