By Akili King ·Updated February 4, 2026 /> Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

“In The Chair” spotlights the incredible hairstylists and makeup artists in our community who are giving us major inspiration. Each week, they discuss their personal beauty and career journeys, what they’ve learned from their clients, and their top glam tips. 

With clients like Jill Scott, Wunmi Mosaku, Samara Joy, Golda Rosheuvel, and more, you’d be surprised that hair stylist Dionne Smith wasn’t always planning to head down thissrc=”https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2026/02/IMG_9530-scaled.jpg” alt=”Hair Stylist Behind Jill Scott & Wunmi Mosaku Shares Top Tips” width=”400″ height=”533″ />

As for what she considers the thing that changed the trajectory of her career? “This guy, a photographer, randomly walked into my shop one day and said, ‘you need to enter into the hair awards. I think you could win,’” she explains. “And then I entered. And I did win.” From there, she began doing hair for magazines like Black Hair, and more. 

When the social media era came around, she began sharing her work there. “Venus Williams reached out to me one day,” after falling in love with Smith’s work. “She was my first big person I worked with. And then