Interview With Celebrity Stylist and Wig Maker Darnell Wold Part 1
Meet Darnell Wold a well-seasoned multicultural hairstylist and wig* maker from New York City who has over a decade of industry experience.
He began his career and education with the Aveda Institute in Manhattan where he gained an intense cosmetology foundation, which allowed him to perfect his expertise in cutting, coloring and styling hair as well as skin care and cosmetics.
He has been trained with some of the industry’s leading professionals, such as Ted Gibson, Nick Arrojo, Ruth Roche and many more and has worked with the likes of Cherrie Martinez, Natalie Nunn, Christina Milian and Lil’ Kim.
In addition to this he has made his mark in the editorial and fashion world, where he was able to do hair for several fashion week events and editorial shoots.
Aside from his successful career as hairstylist, Darnell also began dabbling in areas of skin care and cosmetics, where he established himself as a top selling makeup artist and cosmetics manager for some of the beauty industry’s leading beauty companies such as Clinique, Sephora and Estee Lauder.
He didn’t stop there, he also developed a luxury wig* and hair extension line where he completely customizes and hand sews high quality wigs* for clients worldwide.
His clients are happy because he uses his master stylist expertise to create gorgeous wigs*, using high quality virgin hair and applying custom coloring, styling and cutting to exceed their expectations.
We had fun getting a male perspective on everything from natural hair, to protective styling, healthy hair, skin care and make up; sit back and let Darnell tell you his thoughts on all things beauty!
Darnell, your work and education is impressive, what influenced your desire to work in the beauty industry and what are some of the hard truths that you have learned and that have kept you going in your business thus far?
Thank you so much; I have had a passion for doing hair since I was a very young boy. I remember being as young as four years old and being completely obsessed with any toys or dolls that had hair.
As I got older my passion for hairstyling continued and it only seemed right to pursue a career in an art that I loved so dearly. I loved having the ability to completely change and alter a person’s appearance and make them feel beautiful and confident.
Unfortunately, for me doing hair out of my mother’s kitchen was nothing in comparison to stepping into such a competitive industry. From the moment I entered cosmetology school I realized the hard truths of the business, not only was there a lot to learn in regards to my skills and education, but I had to grow a thick skin for criticism and competition.
As I mentioned earlier I was playing with dolls growing up and there weren’t exactly any box braiding or flat twists contests. Sports were out the question and the closest competition I may have experienced was a spelling bee. This new world was intimidating to me, but my passion to learn and develop my talent made me hungry for more.
I’ve never been the type of person to be easily defeated, I’ve experienced all types of boulders and disappointments throughout my path, but my passion is greater than my losses. The beauty industry is forever evolving and changing and I see this as such a great form of art and expression that I could never imagine myself doing anything else.
We know you are an avid Supporter of BHI and what we are trying to do in terms encouraging healthy growing hair whether you are relaxed or natural, what are your top three tips that you can you share with our ladies about keeping our hair healthy and growing.
Yes. I am a huge fan of BHI and all of the great information and research you ladies are making accessible. I am a firm believer in everyone having at least a foundation in hair care knowledge and manageability.
I feel that as a hairstylist it is our job to educate each and every one of our clients and provide them with the necessary tools to maintain their hairs integrity outside of the salon. In regards to my top three hair tips I would have to say eating a healthy well balanced diet is key to a head of healthy hair.
Foods that are rich in protein, zinc*, and vitamins* C and D help keep hair strong, shiny and beautiful. Some of the best foods for our hair include walnuts, salmon, spinach, eggs, blueberries, and chicken. Making sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water is crucial not only for your hair but for your skin, body and health as a whole.
It is clear that if we are healthy and beautiful internally we will have the same results externally. The majority of people are so caught up in hair products and what they are putting on their head that they forget to worry about what they are ingesting.
Aside from keeping a healthy diet and taking vitamins*, the second most important tip for healthy hair would be to avoid heated styling tools as much as possible. It is inevitable that we must use some type of heat on our hair; however it is important not to abuse it and to always use some type of heat protectant*.
This is something that is key for a healthy head of hair, along with the awareness of exactly what chemicals and products we are applying to our hair. One product that almost everyone uses that can really damage our hair health is shampoo. It is important that we do not abuse shampooing our hair and we only do so when necessary.
Keep in mind that this does not mean completely removing shampoo from our hair regimen, as shampooing is necessary to remove product build up and clogged pores of the scalp. Hand in hand with shampooing comes conditioning, which is very important for our hair health and should be done frequently, however not excessively. By following these three easy steps we will ensure healthier, shinier locks of hair.
Many of our readers have made the decision to ‘big chop’ and embark on what we like to call a natural hair journey, what advice would you give to a young lady who might not be feeling as confident as she should be while wearing a low hair cut or who is going through that awkward stage of hair growth.
This is a great question and happens to be a popular issue amongst the majority of woman who are transitioning away from chemically relaxed hair. Fortunately, there are many different stretching methods and styling methods to enhance and temporarily change ones natural curl pattern without the use of heat or chemicals.
I would recommend for women to be open to trying out different hairstyles that will actually compliment them and boost their confidence until they find something that works for their individual needs. Please keep in mind that what works for one does not mean it will work for all.
Your hair is individual and you do not have to limit yourself to what you see the majority doing. Have fun with your hair; embrace the use of extensions*, wigs* and hairpieces. There is no reason why one should settle for being unhappy with their “big chop” or unmanageable tresses.
The hair industry is forever evolving and there are endless options for the natural ladies that don’t involve a relaxer. Especially since there are talented wig makers like myself who can create realistic looking custom made wigs* that can be used for protective styling and provide you with the flexibility of alternating your style.
Sometimes you can’t help but admire women who can really rock a red lip, or any bright bold lipstick, what are the do’s and don’ts of rocking a bold lippie?
I totally agree with you. A bold red lip is very sexy, it’s complimenting to the face and definitely enhances ones beauty. As for the problems that I’ve been witnessing with the bold lip, what works for one does not work for all. Makeup is not universal, makeup must be chosen according to ones facial features and complexion.
A lot of people feel that they can’t pull off a red lip or that a red lip simply isn’t for them because of their skin tone. That is completely wrong. There is a shade of red lipstick for everyone, you just need to know which one is right for you. Some ladies would need to use a cooler shade of red, while others may need a warmer shade of red.
Unfortunately, through the power of social networking and the media I’ve noticed that certain lipstick colors become a hit and everyone has to have that one specific color and what ends up happening is 80% of the people wearing it look insane.
For instance Nicki Minaj put the light pink lipstick on the map and it was everywhere and the next thing you know we have millions of “barbies” who are all beautifully different wearing baby pink lipstick and looking certifiable.
You want to definitely do your research, go to a professional makeup artist and have them find you that perfect shade of red or that nice shade of pink. Just make sure it is chosen for you, your features, your skin tone and most importantly your lifestyle.
We love to hear the male perspective on women embracing their natural hair; frankly some guys are still flat out unsupportive. How do you feel about the natural hair movement? And what advice would you give to a woman dealing with a guy who is unsupportive of her new look.
I am a huge fan of natural hair and I am so happy to see so many women all around the world embracing their natural hair texture and giving them the freedom to wear their hair however they desire. I am a huge fan of “whatever makes you happy”I am just as supportive of woman who like their hair relaxed and prefer to have their hair chemically processed.
My personal movement is to empower women to do as they please with their hair. Hair does not make you who you are, hair is a form of expression and if you want to shave it bald, that’s fine. If you want to bleach your hair blonde and have a weave*, that’s fine too. As long as you’re taking care of your hair, you’re educated on maintaining the integrity of your hair and you’re happy then I‘m happy.
As for men who are not supportive of your natural hair? Honestly, if a man isn’t supportive of your hair then that’s totally up to you weather you want to meet him half way and adjust your look to somewhere where he is happy. Personally, I’m not a fan of a woman having to alter her image to please any man, but that’s just my opinion.
In your Bio you have described your education in detail and women with natural hair have found it very difficult to find stylists who actually ‘know’ how to manage their hair without a flat iron* or a texturizer, how have the beauty schools evolved, if at all, to embrace women of color with hair that is curly or kinky*?
I’m going to be completely honest. I went to cosmetology school about ten years ago and we received zero education in regards to working with curly or kinky* hair. I was in a class of about 15 students and I think I was the only one who was able to style and blow out kinkier textured hair.
It is unfortunate that cosmetology schools don’t focus on a wider spectrum of hair textures, because realistically speaking not every single client that walks into a salon is going to have silky bone straight hair. Students need to gain a strong enough foundation to the point where they feel confidant tackling any hair texture or scenario.
As far as beauty schools evolving I would have to say that it seems like they have evolved a lot more. I do see a lot more students venturing out into different extensions* methods, wig* making, and a lot of students are making it their business to receive the proper training to be multicultural stylists.
Part 2 of Darnell’s interview will be posted tomorrow. For the time being you can find Darnell on twitter and instagram under @HairHeGoes