Felicia Leatherwood is the leading global authority on natural and textured hair—an award-winning celebrity stylist, educator, and founder whose work has reshaped how the world understands and celebrates natural hair. Nicknamed “The Hair Whisperer,” she brings 30+ years of mastery to every chair, classroom, and set, pairing creative excellence with practical education to close the knowledge gap in textured hair care.

Felicia’s artistry and healthy-hair philosophy have powered culture-defining looks for Issa Rae (Insecure), Viola Davis, Jill Scott, Lenny Kravitz, Sonequa Martin-Green, Simone Missick, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Ava DuVernay, and Anthony Anderson, among others. As lead stylist on HBO’s Emmy-winning Insecure, she created styles that became instant touchstones—sparking global conversations about identity, versatility, and the politics of hair.

A sought-after expert for Vogue, The New York Times, Essence, Allure, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Variety, and Byrdie, Felicia is as committed to education as she is to innovation. Under her signature mantra, “Loving Your Hair With Natural Care,” she has taught sold-out workshops and panels worldwide. During the 2020 salon shutdowns, her live series “Get Cute While Quarantined” drew up to 1,500 attendees weekly, guiding people through at-home care with science-backed simplicity and trademark warmth.

Felicia is also a builder of brands and pipelines. She founded Texture Management, an elite collective providing on-set hair and makeup services tailored to performers of color—raising the bar for healthy practices and representation behind the scenes. Through her product company Brush With The Best, she developed the award-winning Detangler Brush and a growing line of tools that make healthy styling fast, gentle, and achievable for every texture.

Her leadership has been recognized with Ulta Beauty’s Beauty Muse 100, Curlbox Favorite Hairstylist Award, Create & Cultivate 100 (Beauty), and a Hollywood Beauty Awards nomination for Best Hairstylist. Next up: an anticipated book with Simon & Schuster that expands her mission—equipping readers with practical know-how, cultural context, and radical self-love.

Whether crafting red-carpet moments, consulting on set, or teaching a room of first-time naturals, Felicia’s message is constant: natural hair isn’t complicated—when you have the right knowledge, it’s powerful.

Follow along at felicialeatherwood.com and @felicialeatherwood.