Sh*t Curly Hair Is My Canvas

Hi friends - 

First of all, a huge apology for being gone so long. After taking an adjunct professor role this fall, my schedule has been a little hectic and I haven’t been able to work on the podcast as much as I would like. I’m hoping I can get back to consistently releasing episodes, and here’s the first one. I think you’ll love it.
Thanks for sticking around! 💜 - M

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Sh*t Curly Hair Is My Canvas

If you’ve been following this podcast, you know that 2023 was a big year for me—I turned 40, I quit my job, and I did the most frightening thing of all: I got bangs. 😱

I love my hair. I can say that now, but when I was young, I struggled with it—it didn’t fit the beauty ideals of straight, sleek locks I would see on every magazine and on TV. I tried to hide it, control it, constantly pulling it back into a bun. But over time, as I gained confidence and embraced who I was, my hair became an expression of my personality—bold, unapologetic, and deeply tied to how I feel. Now, it’s one of my signature traits, and my guest today is one of the few people I trust to do anything with it, even though she doesn’t have curls herself.

In this episode, I sit down with Nicolle Lemonds, an incredibly talented hair colorist known for her expertise in working with curls. After walking into a curly hair salon almost 14 years ago, Nicolle knew she’d found her calling and never looked back. For Nicolle, her work isn’t about having the same experience as her clients; it’s about understanding the power of individuality and helping others bring out their uniqueness.

Nicolle shares how she turned her passion for color and creativity into a thriving career that goes beyond styling—she’s passionate about changing societal beauty standards one curl at a time. We discuss her journey from working in malls in the south to becoming a sought-after colorist in NYC, overcoming client skepticism, building a successful brand on Instagram, and eventually launching her own business after more than a decade in a single salon.

This episode is more than just a discussion about hair and career journey — it’s about identity, community and the freedom that comes with self-acceptance. 

Follow Nicolle on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NicolleLovesCurls/

 Key lessons learned:

• How embracing what makes you unique can build confidence and authenticity in both personal and professional life.

• The power of empathy in building connections, even when your experiences differ from others.

• Why creativity, whether through your appearance or career, is a powerful form of self-expression.

• Practical advice on navigating change and uncertainty when taking bold steps or reinventing yourself.

Episode Notes

[00:00] - Introduction and Life Updates

[05:21] - Nicolle's Career Journey

[09:53] - The Importance of Education and Support

[17:05] - Moving to New York and Career Growth

[23:47] - Challenges and Triumphs in the Salon 

[29:16] - Embracing Inclusivity in the Curly Hair Movement

[33:50] - Empathy and Emotional Labor in Hairdressing

[40:31] - Building a Personal Brand

[43:34] - Transition to Entrepreneurship

[46:01] - Challenges During COVID-19

[52:01] - Deciding to Go Solo

[56:46] - The Power of Social Media

[01:01:49] - Future Aspirations 

[01:05:49] - Conclusion and Final Thoughts