No Matter Your Hair Texture, Zendaya’s Hairstylist Has a Tip for You

For women with textured hair, it comes as no surprise that many
professional hairstylists struggle to work across the full spectrum
of hair types. Ursula Stephen, however, is not one of those
stylists. With over a decade of experience as the go-to expert for
the top names in fashion and entertainment, including megastars
like Zendaya, Rihanna, and Kerry Washington, to name a few, Ursula
has been a leading force within the beauty industry, honing her
craft and teaching others how to honor the beauty of any type of
hair in its natural state.

As someone who has recently learned to embrace my own curl
pattern, I understandably jumped at the opportunity to
interview Ms. Stephen backstage as she used an array of TRESemmé
products to create the styles for
Studio 189’s spring 2020 New York
Fashion Week show. Keep reading for her tried-and-true tips for
your texture, Ursula’s take on diversity in the industry, and, of
course, why Zendaya’s hair always looks so damn good.

Ursula says, “Take your styling creme to the next
level and make sure it has a monoi oil in it. It’s one of the best
oils because it mimics our natural hair sebum.”

“In
addition to a great oil, a great leave-in curl creme paired with a
weekly hydration mask is a must for kinky hair. Both products will
replenish the moisture in your hair’s driest areas, providing
optimal curl hydration to detangle hair, tame frizz, and boost
shine.”

“For natural hair, the main thing is to love it—resist the
temptation to pick up your flatiron. And then second is to keep it
moisturized at all times. Having a daily styling product is always
good to keep in your arsenal,” she explains.

“This
gel is also great for wavy textures because it helps eliminate
frizz and gives waves definition. It’s alcohol-free, so it will
not dry or flatten your hair.”

According to Ursula, “A good cut is important, but if
you’re not ready to chop, make sure you invest in a good curl creme
to revitalize your curls.”

“This
product works really well with curly hair! Not only does it
replenish moisture in the hair, but it also gives curls extra hold,
frizz control, and a longlasting boost.”

“For straight hair, it’s always fun to add a bit of
texture. Everyone always wants what they can’t have, so something
like dry shampoo can add a little body to
it,” says Ursula.

“I
especially love the shine serum for anyone with straight hair,”
says Ursula. “It transforms the hair to create the glossy look of
a professional blow-dry style that is full of natural
movement.”

According to Ursula, Zendaya’s perfect texture is the
product of roller sets. “We try to stay away from blow dryers,
irons, or any form of heat on her hair, so we typically let her
hair air dry and add it rollers to create her perfect texture,” she
explains.

Whether you have kinky hair or are just trying to make
your waves as stunning as Zendaya’s, there’s something to be said
about having hairstylists who can advise you on your particular
hair needs. In Ursula’s own words, “We’ve been speaking about the
lack of diversity in the entertainment and fashion space for so
long, and now the problem is actually being fixed. As you can see,
there’s a lot of brown faces backstage here today. I think it’s a
matter of everyone working together and professionals learning how
to work with different textures so that we can all work together
and be a big hair family.”

Shop more hair essentials:

Great
for repairing hair damage.