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Larry Sims Talks Creating Hair Magic With Gabrielle Union & Embracing Our Imperfections
Get to know the man behind the manes of such faves as Gabrielle, Tracee Ellis Ross and Lupita Nyong’o.
SH: What about those with straight or blown out hair?
Larry Sims: I do love bone straight hair, but at times I do embrace the inconsistencies in texture because it gives you a bit more versatility. When you do your press out, the roots don’t have to be all the way straight. Embrace a little kink. Embrace what that will provide — which is a level of volume. And, you don’t have to worry about sweating it out if it’s not bone straight from the root.
SH: What’s the most common question your clients ask you?
LS: How do I pull this off when you’re not around? [Laughs]
SH: And you say…?
LS: I don’t know! [Laughs]. No, seriously, in all honesty, tie your hair down. Everything that everybody says: Silk bonnets, scarves, pillowcase. And, if you can get away with it, [only] use heat once a week. Try not to over process and allow it to be imperfect.
SH: Besides the basics, what other advice can we all use?
LS: Number one, treat your hair on a vacation. Just like you want to get a massage, take your hair to get massaged and a steam deep conditioning treatment. Number two, always, always use a heat protectant. Don’t blow dry, flat iron or hot comb your hair without a heat protectant. Even if you are laying out in the sun on a beach, the UV rays can damage hair. Number three, put your body before your hair. Don’t worry about a sweat out – the workout is going to benefit your hair in the long run.
SH: You’re pretty busy now working on Gabrielle’s hair for Being Mary Jane and red carpet looks. And, you’re spokesperson for Göt2b and Smooth ‘N Shine. Do you have anything else on your plate?
LS: I’m doing a TV show and we’re scheduled to start shooting in October. It’s my first show of my own — I’m really excited. I can’t mention the show, yet, but I can say it has been green-lit for eight to 10 episodes. Me and Gabrielle are also working on a special beauty collaboration together.
A condensed version of this interview originally appeared in the October 2016 print issue of Hype Hair Magazine.
