Interview With Celebrity Stylist and Wig Maker Darnell Wold Part 2

In Part 1 of our interview we met Darnell Wold a  multicultural hairstylist and wig* maker from New York City. Here we delve further into his line of wigs and fashion and his celebrity clientele.

You have a fabulous wig line, and you take great care in bringing quality products to your clients, what are your thoughts on using wigs and extensions as a protective style? Do you have any exclusive wig secrets you can share with us?

Thank you so much. I think using wigs, as a protective style is brilliant. I am a huge fan of the natural hair movement and I think it is wonderful that so many women are becoming more and more educated in regards to their hair.

Fortunately, through the world of wigs* transitioning is so much easier because you have more options when dealing with “the big chop” or simply on those days when you just don’t want to be bothered.

Wigs have given woman the flexibility to switch up their style as frequently as they’d like, while not having to lose their hair’s integrity through chemical processing and the damage of heated tools. The majority of my clients are natural and love using wigs* for protective styling because they can be completely custom made and everything from the color, texture and curl pattern can be altered to their liking.

As far as my exclusive wig secrets are concerned I must say that there are wigs out there for everyone’s budget. Now keep in mind that in most cases the price of the wig will determine the quality of the unit.  However, this does not mean because you can’t afford a thousand dollar wig that you can’t look just as fabulous wearing a synthetic unit.

There are tons of tricks and secrets to making a synthetic wig look very natural and realistic. For example you can use a tweezer to create a very natural and realistic parting or hairline on a lace front wig. You will use the tweezer to pluck away bulky hairs and thin out the parting to mirror your natural part.

Another great trick is to put a little baby powder or vinegar over synthetic hair to get rid of that plastic shine and dull it down to resemble realistic human hair. You can also take your synthetic wigs to your hairstylist and have the wig restyled and cut however you’d like.

The important thing to always remember about wigs is that they are meant to look realistic and look like they’re growing from your scalp. You want your wig to lie as flat to the head as possible so make sure to avoid and bulky braids underneath your wig cap*.

As for lace front wigs the hairline is not supposed to begin in the middle of your forehead. Yank those lace front wigs up and place them exactly where your real hairline would be (unless you’re applying glue or tape). A lace front wig* looks most realistic when you leave a pinch of your real hairline exposed leaving you with a very realistic and seamless installation.

What are some of the risks to wearing extensions and wigs and how can we ensure that our hair remains healthy while rocking these protective styles?

There are many risks to wearing extensions* and wigs. It is unfortunate that so many people would rather cut corners instead of going to a professional to get their hair done. Now I know not everyone can afford to go to a professional and they have to work with what they have, however saving a few dollars can sometimes lead to permanent hair loss.

The number one problem is tight braids, which can ultimately cause breakage and permanent hair loss. I know a lot of women feel like their hair has to be braided as tight as possible so that it can last and they can get their money’s worth, however they don’t realize the damage this will do over time. Another huge problem is women relying on YouTube videos and self proclaimed Guru’s who have no formal training or education in cosmetology.

I have watched endless videos where these gurus are giving out horrible tips and tricks to thousands of women all around the world. Don’t get me wrong some of these guru’s are great, however a good portion of them will have your edges on amber alert. You do not want to ever abuse lace front glue, bonding glue or tape and you do not ever want to place any of these bonding agents over your real hairline or edges without extreme precaution.

It is important that when you’re wearing a wig or a weave* that you are still treating your real hair, hydrating your scalp, conditioning and shampooing your hair, massaging your scalp and most importantly giving your hair time to breathe. Make sure to research what form of extensions* works best for your hair type, a braided sew in is not for everyone and can sometimes do more damage than good.

There are also several hair extension methods, which will damage your hair if not done correctly. Do not hesitate to ask your stylist for pictures of their work as well as proof of their licensing and training.

Most of us have only heard about how crazy New York fashion week can be, please tell us about your experience and what you advice you would give another beauty professional who is looking forward to working during fashion week.

New York Fashion week is very high energy, it is chaotic and everything is happening at the speed of lightening. You definitely have to be prepared for anything, you have to be a self-starter and you have to remain focused on the task at hand as you can easily get distracted.

I was fortunate enough to work on several fashion week events very early on in my career and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t completely overwhelmed and flabbergasted. As crazy as it may have been it was amazing and I wish I could do it every single day. The chaos and madness gets your adrenalin pumping and you’re seriously on a creative high.

The best advice I would give someone who is interested in working fashion week would be to have a well prepared kit and be prepared for anything. As a hairstylist I make sure my kit is well stocked with not only things that I would need as hairstylist, but also things that a seamstress, makeup artist or even a manicurist may forget. You want to go in full of energy, confident and willing to do anything and everything.

Who would you describe as one of your best celebrity clients and why?

I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some awesome celebrities in the industry and they’ve all been delightful however, working with the rapper Lil’ Kim was an epic moment for me. Not only because she knows exactly what she likes and is completely down to earth, but because her and her team were very pleasant and easy going.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Lil’ Kim and growing up I always loved the fabulous wigs* she wore created by the Legendary Eugene Davis, so to have the opportunity to make her a wig was a monumental moment in my career.

Picture this; a woman is trapped on a desert island, if you had the opportunity to give her just one hair product and one skin product what would be your top picks?

This is so hard for me because I am such a product junkie and natural remedy hoarder. If I had to narrow it down to one product for hair I would have to say castor oil*. Castor oil actually strengthens each individual hair strand, which will not only help improve your overall hair health, but it will also prevent breakage and hair loss.

Castor oil* serves a bunch of purposes but the fact that it strengthens your hair and also conditions your scalp makes it a go to product. It is also has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, which will protect your hair and scalp from infection. It is made up of Omega-9 fatty acids, which will prevent the scalp from drying and stimulate hair growth.

As far as skin care is concerned I would have to recommend grape seed oil, which is a produced from the seeds of pressed grapes during to process of winemaking. There are many benefits of using grape seed oil on the skin, as it is high in vitamin C*, which will actually brighten your complexion and can even reduce fine lines.

The good thing about using grape seed oil is that it works well with all skin types and has even been noted to work just as well as some of today’s leading skin care products.

If you could stop one ratchet beauty habit that a woman might have, what would that be?

One ratchet beauty habit that I would put an end to would be product overload, especially on weaves* and wigs*. There is nothing attractive about a woman who looks like she saturated her hair in a gallon of grease before leaving her house.

Hair should definitely be lubricated and conditioned and oils* are great for the hair and scalp, HOWEVER they should not be abused. Not only does this look horrible, but also it’s also unhealthy for your hair and scalp. Make sure you’re paying close attention to the ingredients in the products you’re using, because more than likely they are doing more harm than good.

Some women are just not into makeup and having perfect skin is everything. What beauty or health habits would you recommend for flawless skin?

Once again I would have to say that diet is number one. Whatever you put into your body is what will determine what’s on the outside of your body. For healthy skin you want to make sure you’re eating a well balanced diet that includes lots of water and plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Something as simple as juicing, once a day will make a drastic difference in your skin as well as your overall health. Following a healthy diet accompanied with a daily skin care regimen and vitamins* will promote gorgeous skin and slow down the clock on aging.

For the ladies who aren’t big on makeup something as light as a little tinted moisturizer or a little lip gloss and mascara will go a long way for those special occasions and a night out on the town.

A Woman’s best feature! GO! (You can highlight more than one, we don’t mind lol)

I would definitely have to say that a woman’s best feature would have to be her eyes. As they say the eyes are the windows to the soul and through the eyes true beauty and expression is depicted. Being that the eyes are such a gorgeous feature they should really be accentuated and be the focal point to a woman’s face.Something as simple as a little mascara on your lashes and a little Vaseline on your eyelids will bring your eyes and your overall beauty to life.

The same goes for a woman’s lips and mouth. Accentuating your lips and maintaining good dental hygiene is also at the top of the list. The natural beauty in woman is endless but accentuating your femininity and soft features like eyelashes and glossy lips instantly brings you to life.

What plans do you have for your hair extension and wig business and how do you plan to take things to the next level?

As far as my extensions* and wig business is concerned I plan to offer something to women all around that is different in the sense that everything will be custom to your needs.

Ladies will have complete creative control and access to ordering custom made extensions* and wigs*. They will be able to have creative control over the lengths being used, the colors, the textures as well as the price range.

My goal is to have a line of products that is affordable to everyone and make sure that you are getting the best possible quality for your hard earned money. My mission is to change the hair world in the sense that this is not only about business, this is about education and this is about promoting healthy hair and protective styling.

It is unfortunate that the hair industry is a billion dollar market; however there isn’t a huge amount of education being put out to the consumers who are investing in these products. I am not only a passionate hairstylist and wig maker, but I am also a social work major and my goal is to bring these two worlds together as a humanitarian and form a business that is going to truly benefit people.

Ultimately, I would love to own a non-profit organization that will be affiliated with my wig* and extension line, which will cater to woman and children dealing with illnesses that cause hair loss.

Where can we find you on the web, and where can we go to view and purchase some of your fabulous pieces?

Great question. You can find me on the social networking sites twitter and instagram under @HairHeGoes where you can follow some of my creations and witness some of my work as well as hair tips.

My wig* and extension line and website will also be launching this month, which will be called Powder Room D and the website will be PowderRoomD.com

Ladies can also reach me via email here with any questions, comments or to inquire about having a custom wig made.