In The Chair With: Kendall Dorsey

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

“It started with Barbie dolls,” celebrity hairstylist Kendall Dorsey tells ESSENCE. From a young age, Dorsey has been interested in hair. This included pinning up his dolls’ synthetic wigs, and cutting and coloring his own softly-textured curls. He intrinsically knew his calling as a hairstylist, however, growing up in a small town, the stylist feared his skills wouldn’t be accepted. “At 16 [years old], I would do my best friend’s hair and it would be our secret,” Dorsey says.

Once in college, his career began as a kitchen beautician before transitioning into a salon as their shampooist. “I was so eager and passionate about the industry, I would put myself in environments that would expose me and teach me about hair,” he says. After being an apprentice in New York and working in a Philadelphia salon, his career took a turn once he moved to California to attend Sako Beauty Salon. 

Now, Dorsey is behind the most prominent looks for singers and actresses in Hollywood. Think: celebrity sightings and viral images of Rihanna (including the reveal of her second baby) or her pregnant MET Gala hairdo. He’s also done Solange’s hair for Harper’s Bazaar and L’Officiel covers. That said, it’s no surprise that other big names such as Kelly Rowland, Nicki Minaj and Golden Globe Award-winning Da’vine Joy Randolph book him for their big moments. 

But when he’s not at the chair, Dorsey is busy working as the Dark & Lovely Celebrity Brand Ambassador, building a community of stylists and clients that look like him. “Dark & Lovely is the blueprint and I get to work with so many people who are passionate about what they do,” he says. And this year, he has plans to go even bigger than before.