10 Black Celebrity Hairstylists You Should Be Following On Instagram

You've donated to the cause, signed the petitions, written to your local government officials demanding change, shopped Black-owned brands, and taken to the streets to protest. If you're looking for more ways to support the Black community and call for racial justice — not just this week, but always — you can also use your Instagram feed to follow, share, and amplify Black creatives who are using their craft to bring much-needed representation to Hollywood and beyond.

Ahead, you'll find a gallery of the industry's most influential Black hairstylists, all of whom use their platforms to spotlight the beauty and versatility of hair — with muses like Zendaya, Zoë Kravitz, Logan Browning, and Solange to help them showcase their work. From luscious curls to intricate braids and protective styles, their feeds are a stunning celebration of Black beauty and artistry. Find 10 stylists you should be following, ahead.

Nikki Nelms

To sprinkle your feed with the most gorgeous editorial styling — from sculptural braids wrapped in gold wire to twists dripping in beads — Nikki Nelms is the next-level creative to follow.

Nelms, who has worked with Solange for over a decade, styled her hair for every video in her 2016 album, A Seat At The Table. This beaded lob, accented with cowrie shells and wooden beads, is among her iconic looks.

Lacy Redway

Jamaican-born stylist Lacy Redway is a true hair artist. On her feed, you'll find a diverse range of styles, from a sleek blowout on supermodel Jourdan Dunn to an elevated pearl-studded updo on actress Tessa Thompson.

This sleek ribbon ponytail on Thompson embodies what's so cool about Redway's style: it's powerful and commanding while simultaneously romantic and feminine.

Ursula Stephen

What's more impressive than hairstylist Ursula Stephen's killer client roster — studded with names like Zendaya and Rihanna — is her commitment to educating younger stylists on how to cut and style natural hair.

Following Stephen is like having nonstop BTS access to styling tutorials and red-carpet looks, including this amazing purple ombré lob on singer/influencer Justine Skye.

Vernon François

Stylist, educator, and brand founder Vernon François is one of the most recognizable names in the celebrity hair industry today. He went from practicing braids on mops to styling beauty icons like actress Lupita Nyong'o. Now, he uses his platform to talk about the ways hair impacts identity across cultures.

François started working with Nyong'o during her press tour for 12 Years A Slave, and the two have been creating red-carpet magic ever since.

Marcia Hamilton

Hair artist Marcia Hamilton has her finger on the pulse of every hair trend, and styles them on young Hollywood influencers like Yara Shahidi and Zolee Griggs.

We love that Hamilton doesn't shy away from color, influencing women everywhere to try neon-bright braids.

Takisha Sturdivant-Drew

Not only does Takisha Sturdivant-Drew style some of the most inspirational women in Hollywood, like Kerry Washington, Frances Turner (seen here), and artist and activist Cleo Wade, she also runs a salon in Brooklyn and has her own hair-care line, TSD Hair.

Among the many reasons to follow her, Sturdivant-Drew's account will inspire you to get creative with hair accessories. This bejeweled look on Ashleigh Murray is a knockout — and she also styled Washington for this year's Academy Awards using a $12 bejeweled bobby pin. (No surprise, it stole the red carpet.)

Felicia Leatherwood

Beyond being a curl expert and celebrity stylist, Felicia Leatherwood also travels the world to educate audiences on the importance of texture inclusion in the hair industry at large.

If you've ever admired one of Issa Rae's gorgeous, detailed hairstyles — on a red carpet or while watching Insecure — chances are, you can thank Leatherwood.

Nai'vasha Johnson

Hairstylist Nai'vasha Johnson has artfully designed some of the most high-end fashion campaigns with Tracee Ellis Ross and Alicia Keys, and is most well-known for her romantic approach to hair.

Case in point: this delicately braided updo on actress Logan Browning for the 2020 SAG Awards.

Chuck Amos

Chuck Amos, a Hollywood hair legend known for his infectious joy on set, uses his platform to showcase everything from BTS photoshoots to throwbacks of Naomi Campbell and Beyoncé.

Along with giving followers curl inspiration for days, Amos uses his feed to spread positivity and light in the industry.

Kim Kimble

A third-generation hairstylist who trained at the Vidal Sassoon Academy, Kim Kimble elevates hairstyling to a true art form. Her work might not be hanging in museums (yet) but you have seen it on Beyoncé, Shakira, Mary J. Blige, Evvie McKinney (seen here), and Zendaya.

Part art, part science, Kimble's work defies convention and bends your understanding of what's possible in hairstyling. Case in point: Beyoncé's intricate beaded Ivy Park braids, which Kimble tells us took hours to plan and execute.

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