Today we’d like to introduce you to Troy Turner.
Hi Troy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Growing up in Baltimore Maryland a lot of men didn’t do hair especially not in my family. I remember at 17 coming to my mother telling her I wanted to do hair and being told it’s only for woman. So we made a promise, I go to college and I would get a new car. (They held that car over my head for 2 years it was like, here is a reward for you not to do what you want to do. I started working in education as a special needs inclusion teacher while in undergrad. Baltimore education system for the “special needs program at the time was ran so poorly. Majority of the children where suffering behavior issues but thrown into the program and disrupting the process of why the program suppose to accomplish. Being frustrated with how poorly ran this program was I had to get out of this field. You put so much of your own money your own time and heart into failed system. I had to get out. I got an internship at Sony records in NYC that lead to a full time position in artist development. I Dropped out of collage and moved NYC full time and gave back the car. After 3 years of working for Sony records I was ask do I want to be laid off or contracted projects. I said to myself well if I’m going to try and do this hair thing here is the time. Here I am now laid off and going to empire cosmetology school in NYC. 7 month program 1000 hours. I naturally already did hair but empire gave me the foundation tools. After graduating I worked as a assistant to a great stylist who was mean as hell. But learned a lot specially about wig making and extensions.after a year my best friend called me for a favor. It was a photoshoot he needed different color wigs. I randomly had some cause I was doing a play so I brought those with me to set. Not know who the person was I just went with it. And in walks LIL KIM and after that shoot I was with her for 4 years. Then all the rest became history I turned into a sought after celebrity hairstylist traveling the world.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been the smoothest ride because you learn a lot. Your prices and your time and your time is worth a lot I didn’t get that at first.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m an everything hairstylist. I do it all. I wanted to learn it all. Colorist, 9 extension techniques, wig maker, natural hairstylist. Cutter. Creative director. I’m proud of everything cause I have been blessed to be apart of some amazing projects. Vogue, complex, Elle. Broadway “catch me if you can”
InStyle magazine with Marc Jacobs.
Hiphop honors with Salt n Pepa
Music videos with singer Mya in Jamaica.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Doing my older sisters dolls hair.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @troystylez
- Twitter: @troystylez
Image Credits
Stylist and photographer
Candace Richardson
@candacelrich
