NAI’VASHA
The hairstylist Nai’vasha kicked off the year in swinging fashion, giving Tracee Ellis Ross a sleek, hip-grazing ponytail. “Ain’t no more tailing a pony could do!!!!” the actress commented on Instagram, with a couple heart emojis for good measure. Long before Nai’vasha earned her place in the top ranks of red-carpet glam, the Memphis native was busy flexing her two natural talents. Her voice was one, which led her to attend a performing arts high school and moonlight as a backup singer for Barry Manilow and gospel artists. And then there was her unofficial role as the neighborhood hairdresser. “I was that cool kid who could give you braids, who could give you color,” she says, recalling her own asymmetrical Salt-N-Pepa-inspired hair from that era. “It’s almost like it was ingrained in me.”
In 2018, Nai’vasha poured her industry knowledge into Curl Queen, creating products as much for performance as for feel-good nourishment. The line’s signature glove acts like a hybrid between a paddle brush and a scalp massage tool—an innovation born out of being “super tender-headed,” she says with a laugh. “I don’t like getting my hair detangled. I feel like they’re pulling it out from my soul!” Nai’vasha credits her mother with being an early beauty inspiration, from her immaculate nails to her serious lipstick collection. “All of her church friends use Curl Queen,” says the hairstylist of the community co-sign, and now her fellow members of the VIOLET GREY Committee—some with brands of their own—have tested and approved the line. To have her products on THE SHELVES is more than validation. “It’s like the tightest hug that I could ever receive.” There’s even more to love in Nai’vasha’s BAG.
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I’m my most elevated self with this scent. It’s a head-turner. This brand really understands the power of persuasion through fragrance. Growing up, my mother had a vanity full of perfume and lipstick and nail polish and skin care. I love beautiful scents.
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There is no glam day with my clients without this product. I can achieve most styles with this mist. It’s a strong-hold formula without the residue and crunch, leaves a beautiful shine, and brushes out gently.
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Growing up, I always viewed a red lip as glamorous. I never really found the perfect one for me until now. I have a tube of this highly pigmented masterpiece in my purse, my car, my vanity, and my work bag. I wear this lip day and night.
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This is multipurpose magic in a tube. I detangle with this product and use it as a heat protectant, and it adds shine and bounce to all textures. Very much a kit staple.
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Did I mention that I love to luxuriate? Mutha Body Butter definitely does it for my mature and melanated skin. I received it as a gift a year ago, and now I’m obsessed! The cream lasts all day and leaves an illuminating shine on my skin. Definitely my favorite beauty product.
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The red-carpet hairstylist must-have for all textures is this luxurious brush. My personal fave is the boar bristle and nylon mix, which smooths and shines. Hair floats beautifully with the Mason Peason.
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My Dyson flat irons are not only high-tech and sleek but also multipurpose. I can straighten, curl, and wave with them, creating textures that last.
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Intention and self-care help me prepare for a major carpet like the Oscars. I do that with scrubs, oils, and good music. The Grounding Amethyst scrub is my go-to. The amber scent is so relaxing.
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I was introduced to this by one of my dear friends. The moisture factor is sooooo rich, and I’m left with a beautiful glow. Funny story: When I initially got it, I saw ‘moisturizer’ and started slathering my entire body with it. My friend came over and said, ‘Ummm, what are you doing? You only need a dot for your face.’ I screamed!
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