With clients like Naomi Campbell, Beyoncé, and Megan Thee Stallion (to name a few), it's safe to say that Jawara Wauchope is kind of a big deal in the hair world—and that's even before taking into account the fact he led the bombshell blowouts at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show this year, or the many magazine covers and luxury fashion campaigns he's dreamed up the hair for: Doechii's perfectly fluffed fro for Vogue's August 2025 cover and spread, Solange's sculptural spikes for the Love Magazine cover, and a diverse series of styles ranging from a mohawk to a heart-shaped afro on Anok Yai for D La Repubblica to name a few. The Brooklyn-born, Jamaica-raised hairstylist credits his artistry to his aunt Elizabeth, who owned a beauty salon where he first learned about how to work with all types of hair, and his Jamaican upbringing, for inspiring some of his most iconic looks.
It wasn't a straight path to international hairstylist glory, though: After attending the Fashion Institute of Technology, Jawara took a detour into the world of fashion merchandising before finding himself back on the path that his childhood inspired. Now, he's one of the most sought after talents in the industry, as well as the relatively-newly crowned International Brand Ambassador for Hair Rituel by Sisley.
Between toasts and engravings of hair perfume bottles, I caught up with Jawara at a Hair Rituel by Sisley's cocktail party to learn how he feels about being a Pisces, working with Black hair, and the joy of a Chipotle run.
instagram.com/jawaraw
What's your astrology sign and do you relate?
"I'm a Pisces. I identify with it so much. It's literally shaped my whole personality, and I wish someone did not tell me what a Pisces do, because I think I fall right into everything that a Pisces is."
How would you describe how you're feeling today in three words?
"Happy, elated, strong."
What's a core memory from your time at FIT?
"A core memory from my time at FIT is whenever I would get really stressed out at classes, I had this break between classes and I would go to Chipotle and buy food and margaritas and go back to school very happy."
What's one hair product that you consider essential?
"Hair Rituel by Sisley has a hair mask that I think works on all hair types: straight, curly, wavy, coily—and it's not just because we're [at the store right now], I'm serious. It's so amazing. It makes the hair feel really good and it makes the hair feel really rich and gives it a good shine."
Do you have a favorite campaign that you worked on?
"Damn, that's hard. I think the Tom Ford campaign that I did in 2023 was incredible. I was very proud of that campaign."
What's your favorite memory from this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show?
"Oh my gosh. Just the pandemonium of beautiful women feeling super strong and empowered and the fact that I was able to lend myself to that feeling felt great. I was really happy about that."
Courtesy of Jawara
What's your favorite Jamaican dish?
"Oxtails with a little bit of curry goat on the side, rice and peas, and plantains."
What's your strongest childhood memory?
"My favorite childhood memory is actually being a kid in Jamaica, just running around, playing and joking and playing games, like Dandy Shandy and football, and just having a great time."
What would you say to people who describe Black hair as "difficult"?
"It's disappointing. I feel like they should educate themselves a bit more and have an understanding that Black hair is actually the most versatile and we can do everything with our hair. It's just disappointing that people are still thinking in that way."
instagram.com/jawaraw
What color is your aura?
"Green. Because I like to produce."
Who's the first person you would call in a crisis?
"My mother."
What's your first memory with hair?
"Being a young kid and seeing my Aunt Elizabeth do hair in her salon. She was so talented and she was the one who taught me. I'm very thankful."
instagram.com/jawaraw
Describe your perfect day:
"Getting up in the morning, having an amazing breakfast, being in Jamaica or in New York, doing things like massages and treatments, and then attending an Anita Baker concert."
What are you manifesting for the rest of 2025?
"Great health, but also amazing business decisions and just growth as a person, but also growth in my community. I want to also build more of a community with the people that I know and love and have everyone be proud of what I do."
What do you want to be remembered for?
"Being authentic and helping my community."
