New Style Idea

Anyone who's been in a salon chair knows: a great hairstyle is more than a few slicks of pomade or a fancy parting comb. It takes skill and dexterity to transform a look from average to exemplary, plus a deep understanding of how to best manipulate each texture into something beautiful.

The problem is, there's a disproportionate number of pro stylists who understand how to work across all hair types - and, more specifically, the intricacies of Black hair - which means people with natural textures are often left out of the conversation. (This truth is so wide-sweeping, in fact, that last year, A-list actors like Gabrielle Union, Viola Davis, and Yvette Nicole Brown called out the lack of Black hairstylists who specialize in Hollywood.)

To celebrate the work of the wildly talented, grossly underrepresented Black hair artists, you can start by supporting their work on social media. If you're looking for inspiration to screenshot and bring to your next appointment, be it braids or other protective styles, or just want practical tips on caring for wavy, curly, and coily hair, there's no better place to find it than on their feeds.

From celebrity hairstylists with a client list that could make a red carpet reporter blush to rising stars in the hair space, we've rounded up the 31 pros worth slamming that "follow" button for on Instagram.