Composite by India Espy-Jones
“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.
“Hair was never the plan,” celebrity hairstylist Edith Donaldson, tells ESSENCE. Although she grew up in the salon, her older sister Jazzie being a hairstylist, “I was in love with fashion.” But, one day, she had somewhere to go and got tired of waiting to get in her sister’s chair. That’s when her plan changed.
“Doing my own hair led me straight into my future,” Donaldson says. “I was doing everybody’s hair in my parent’s basement.” From then on, her mother gave her a choice to go to college, beauty school, or get a job. So, she chose beauty school. More than just something she did, she says hair was about community, creativity, and connection long before it was a career.
“I understood that hair wasn’t just about looking good, it was about how people felt when they walked away from the chair.” From cutting and structure, to face shape and discipline, every client was an opportunity to learn something new. Then, she got a call. It was 10 o’clock at night and her friend who worked at a radio station wouldn’t tell her who. So, out of curiosity, she went. “I walked into the hotel room… and it was Jazmine Sullivan.”
“I realized in that moment I had been preparing long before the opportunity ever showed up,” she says. “That experience taught me something I still live by today. Your talent may open the door, but professionalism is what keeps you in the room.” Since then, her work has been seen on red carpets, like the Met Gala and Oscars, in magazines like Vanity Fair and Harper’s Bazaar, and on celebrities including Monica, Garbielle Union, and for the past 10 years, Teyana Taylor.
Now, Donaldson shares her time between being a mother, wife, educator, celebrity stylist, and even the owner of a salon in Atlanta, Bangs Salon. “I love witnessing transformation in real time,” she says. “Being part of that moment never gets old.”
Below, Edith Donaldson tells us all about her favorite products, the lessons she’s learned, and more.
Her Earliest Hair Memory:
My earliest memory is doing hair for family and friends. I wasn’t pressing, cutting, styling, experimenting and micro waving ponytails. Before I even understood it could be a profession. I realized early on that I loved transforming people and seeing the confidence shift immediately. That moment when someone looks in the mirror and smiles, that hooked me.
Her Current Favorite Products:
I Love Design Essentials, Essations, Influance, and Cécred to name a few. I am drawn to products that prioritize hair health, moisture focused formulas, lightweight oils, scalp care, and heat protection. Healthy hair always shows up better on camera, on the red carpet, and in real life. I believe in products that respect texture and don’t overcomplicate the routine. I have a simple rule for hair growth… a clean scalp with regular trims.
Her Favorite Hairstyle:
Precision cuts will always be my favorite especially short styles like pixies. I love mean bob as well! There’s nowhere to hide in a great cut. It’s about structure, confidence, and letting a woman’s features speak first.
Her Top Tip For Healthy Hair:
Consistency. Healthy hair isn’t built in a day, it’s built through regular care, trims, and listening to what your hair actually needs.
A Hair Myth She’d Like to Debunk:
That growth comes from products alone. Growth starts with scalp health, proper trims, maintenance, and patience. There’s no shortcut to healthy hair.
A Lesson She’s Learned From Her Clients:
I’ve learned resilience. I’ve watched women sit in my chair during some of the hardest seasons of their lives and still choose themselves. That kind of strength stays with you.
How She Affirms Her Clients:
I remind them that confidence isn’t about perfection , it’s about ownership. When you own who you are, everything else falls into place. Be the best version of you!
The Deeper Meaning Behind Her Work:
The chair is a sacred space. Women come in carrying so much, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Sometimes hair is the entry point, but healing often happens along the way. We connect and heal each other.
