Dana Oliver

Mar 4, 2025 | essence.com | Dana Oliver

In an industry where there is an overwhelming amount of product launches daily, Product Of The Week helps you cut through the noise. To help you find your new beauty and wellness favorites, this series highlights the tried-and-true products that our writers can’t live without. Even though I’ve had my driver’s license for over 23 years, I am a proud passenger princess.

Oct 2, 2024 | essence.com | Dana Oliver

“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.  Born in the ‘80s and raised in the ‘90s, Stephan Swearingen was intrigued by the Gumby haircut and zig-zag designs made popular by Bobby Brown and Big Daddy Kane.

Sep 18, 2024 | essence.com | Dana Oliver

“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.  Erinn Courtney’s “God-given gift” of hairstyling was revealed to her when she was just nine years old, braiding the hair on mannequin heads. “A passion came out of that because I realized how good at it I was,” Courtney tells ESSENCE.

Sep 5, 2024 | essence.com | Dana Oliver

courtesy of Aminata Kamara You’ve probably seen videos or read posts on social media from Black models sharing stories of what it is like to sit in the chairs of stylists who are not trained or skilled at working with their hair. There are endless tears, bouts of frustration and, not to mention, the literal damage it causes to models’ tresses.

Sep 4, 2024 | essence.com | Dana Oliver

“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.  When Brandon Horsley-Thompson was a teen applying for a summer job in his hometown of Colombia, Missouri, he had his eyes set on the hair salon. But he admits that it was a lie that got his foot in the door.