#TLApproved: MEET DEMI VALENTINE aka DVGlam
MIZANI ARTIST: DEMI VALENTINE
Instagram: @DVGLAM
Describe what you do in one sentence.
Change lives.
As a child, what was your dream career?
A dancer and singer.
Yeah? You got the skills?
Oh I got the skills!
What motivates you to show up 110% on those days you feel less than?
My passion for what I do and knowing my clients depend on me to give them what they need to make it through. A lot of times, we are like psychologists, it's not just [about] hair.
Describe that defining moment when you knew being a stylist was meant to be.
When I resigned from my good-good federal government job of 18 years in 2006 and I started doing hair full time!
What does success look like to you?
When what you love to do takes care of all the things you need it to take care of.
What called you to become a MIZANI Artist?
I wanted to belong to something...a brand; and I happened to meet Evie (Johnson) through a mutual friend of ours. That's how I auditioned and ended up coming on to the team and I have been here ever since.
How long has that been?
Over 5 years.
If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Understand that your time and energy is precious. Don't give it away to just anybody or anything.
What is the legacy you want to leave?
I just want to empower women and boys to be who they want to be, whatever that is!
What advice do you have for the aspiring stylists out there?
Do the ground work. Once you've identified that this is what you want to do, stop thinking its easy, its not easy. It is not going to be handed to you on a silver spoon. Don't expect for someone who is already working in it to bring you where they are. Be humble with it and understand that it is okay to learn from the ground up; so that when you get there, you'll appreciate it.
Share with us the three products/tools you never travel without.
Interesting. If I'm wearing my natural hair, it will be my flat iron. If I'm wearing a wig...the wig!
So wig, flat iron and tweezers.
Finish this sentence: If in doubt...
If in doubt, redirect.