Today we’d like to introduce you to Erinn Courtney.
Erinn, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m originally from Baltimore, MD. I decided that once I finished hair school that I was moving to Los Angeles to figure out how to get into celebrity hair. I graduated cosmetology school on February 26, 2012, and was in LA on March 3. I didn’t have a plan, didn’t know anyone, and definitely didn’t have money, but knew I needed to be here.
A few months into living in Los Angeles, by chance, I met a girl named Stephanie Hall who’d just started working on the management team for a rap artist from Atlanta. They were shooting a video in Beverly Hills, and she needed someone who knew how to do locs. She remembered that natural hair was my thing and called to see if I could come to set IMMEDIATELY! When I arrived, the artist was Future. The video was for the song “Never End” with Kelly Rowland. That was in 2012, and I’ve been doing Futures hair since then. That started my career here, and since then I’ve worked with people such as Offset of the Migos, Willow Smith, Eva Marcille, and most recently Karruche and Jada Pinkett Smith. This natural hair journey has taken me so many places in the last seven years.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I honestly can’t say that my journey has been difficult. I’ve always been the type of person to stay on the road that feels right to me. But even that has its obstacles. I’ve learned so much, but most importantly, how to go with the flow of my life. How to accept where I am and know that where I want to be will come when the timing is right and when I’m prepared.
Please tell us about your work.
I am a premier natural hairstylist in Los Angeles. I specialize in natural/curly hair care, loc’ing, braiding, and styling. I’d like to think that I’m known most for Locs and braids. One of my most iconic styles to date are Eva Marcille’s ankle-length box braids. We created that trend. I’m also an original engineer of the Goddess Faux Locs created by Dr. Kari.
As a natural hairstylist, I’m most proud of the integrity of my work. I love neat styles on healthy hair that last and are versatile. I put a lot of love into the work that I do. I love transforming struggling curly hair into healthy, strong tresses. I love teaching my clients what’s best for their hair and how to maintain it at home. Doing your hair is a form of self-care that everyone deserves to know.
More recently, I’ve created a workshop called Peace N Curls. It’s aimed toward non-POC adoptive parents, biological mixed-race families, and single dads of children of color, to provide a safe space for learning, healing, appreciating and celebrating the natural hair journey. I’ve partnered with my therapist and friend Syreeta Butler to blend family therapy and hair care to bridge the cultural gap between transracial families and their children of color. I believe we have to start self-care and healing at a young age, and it starts at home.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from childhood is dancing. I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and we listen to “club music.” It’s fast and has its own style of dance. A lot of fast footwork. I also did contemporary dance in high school. Unfortunately, I tore my left ACL and meniscus my senior year. That was the shift of what I thought was my future in dance to my present-day in natural hair care and styling.
Contact Info:
- Email: bookerinnc@gmail.com
- Instagram: @e_scizorhands
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Erinn-C-359371321572088/
Image Credit:
Image credit for image on Miguel – Ajarina Hitomi
