Stephen, who has been styling all her life (but professionally for 17 years), is one of the most sought after stylists in the industry, mainly due to her ability to innovatively switch up your entire look and cause the world to follow. Her client list is filled with burgeoning style icons like Rihanna, Keyshia Cole, Michelle Williams, Mary J. Blige, Paula Patton and Zoe Kravitz. She says that when she is working with artists like these, it’s important to keep the creativity flowing and just have fun with it.
“I think when you start looking at it as a ‘process’ is when you take the fun out of it,” she told GMO. “I just like to have fun and experiment. Don't get me wrong, there are definitely some strategic hair moves—but for the most part, I'm doing what I do.”
With the now infamous “Rihanna bob,” Stephen confessed that she never expected it to cause the trend that sent local women flocking to their hairdressers with pictures of the “Umbrella” singer in tow.
“I never expected that reaction,” she said. “And it’s funny because I think about it from time to time—if it would have taken off [if I had done it] on someone else. I don't think so. To me, it was more than the hairstyle. It was the person and personality behind it; plus, timing played a big part as well.”
Stephen, who said that she has never had a job other than being a hair stylist (“Oh, I did pack bags at the grocery!” she remembers), says that she gains her inventive and inimitable style sense simply from being a girl.
“I'm a girl!” she exclaimed. “Who loves to look and feel good! I put myself in the client’s position. And I know what it feels like to have a hairstyle that makes you feel so pretty—it just brings out personality. Your hair is your beauty!”
Currently, Stephen is a spokesperson for Motions hair products, which she says gives her the opportunity to do something in the beauty world other than hairstyling. “It gives me an opportunity to ‘talk’ hair,” she said. “And I’ve realized that I have a lot to say!”
But overall, Stephen is looking forward to continuing to be an entrepreneur. “Hair is what I love, and I wanna take it to all levels possible.”
“For the summer, try not to flat iron your hair so much—the sun will cause enough damage! Invest in a heat protectant cream or spray.”