Gather ‘round, friends. We are so, SO excited for you to meet Nakia (she/her), who will be working at the Tigard location once it has opened. In the meantime, though, you can experience her hair genius in our Multnomah Village location!
Having worked in the industry since 1997 and continually prioritizing learning and keeping up with the latest trends, Nakia KNOWS hair and what it takes to create a personalized style. And if you love crafts, cooking, and reading… well, let’s just say you’ve hit the jackpot with Nakia.
Let’s learn a little more about her, and be sure to stick around for a few quick busy-day styles!
Q: What inspired you to become a hairstylist?
A: I just have always done it. I like working with my hands and most people appreciate getting their hair done. It was a natural fit for me very early on.
Q: Tell us about a favorite feel-good moment you’ve had behind the chair.
A: Some of my favorite moments have been giving people great cuts and color after they grow their hair back from chemo treatments. It’s such a long and difficult experience and the hair often comes back with a different texture for a while. So to be able to give someone the feeling of being themselves again and to have some control over their bodies is just a lovely thing to be able to share with people.
Q: Let's talk about our tagline—'We don't just love hair, we love people.' How do you see Ginger & Maude being authentic to that and how do you bring it to life?
A: We offer a variety of services here at Ginger & Maude. In one week I might do some deep detangling on a person coming out of a significant health event, a kid’s back-to-school cut, a silent service for someone that has anxiety making small talk, or a glamorous new blonde ‘do for someone excited to try something new. Acknowledging people’s needs and providing solutions through hair services feels like a way for me to show that I care and can help. Plus, it’s fun.
Q: When you aren’t in the salon, how are you most likely to be spending your time?
A: Listening to audiobooks while making stuff and working on projects. If I’m really lucky, taking a nap in a sunbeam with my cat.
Q: If you could collaborate on a crafty project with anyone in the world, who it would be? What would you make together?
A: Samin Nosrat! She’s a chef and a natural teacher. Her genius is gentle and generous and her energy is joyful. I would be so lucky to plan and cook a meal with her.
Q: Any styles and trends that have you particularly excited right now?
A: I love that big, bouncy blowouts are back. They are such a fun way to feel polished without feeling too fancy or uncomfortable. And they can last for days!
Even better, if you get to day two or three (or even four!) and decide you want to freshen things up, these three styles are incredibly quick, and only require one tool: a hair comb.
For the unfamiliar, hair combs are those little hair-styling tools that look (predictably) like shorter versions of the tool you use to comb your hair without a handle. They come in a wide variety of materials (we see plastic and metal a lot) and sizes to accommodate different hair thicknesses and levels of hold, offering versatility and simplicity in styling. If you don’t already have one lying in the bottom of your hair accessory bin and want to give these looks a whirl (we recommend it!), there are tons of affordable options online and you can often find them in local stores with a hair care section. (For fancier occasions, you can even get ones that are decorated!)
Style #1
Great for opening up your face and making it look and feel like your hair is done in about two seconds flat, this style works best with a side part.
- Working with the hair on the smaller half of the part, take a small hair comb and comb the hair up (the teeth of the comb should be toward your face) until you reach just past your ear.
- Then, use your comb-free hand to hold the hair in place while you push the comb back toward your face and into the hair you just combed to secure it.
- That’s it!
Style #2
Achieved using the same motion as Style #1, this one offers a great alternative to bobby pins for securing those little wispy hairs that fall out from the bottom of your high ponytail or bun. Perfect for get-up-and-go days.
- Start with a ponytail or bun nestled higher up on your head.
- Taking a larger hair comb, position it near the base of your neck with the teeth angled down.
- Brush up toward your ponytail to gather any flyaways, then push the comb back into the hair you just combed to secure everything in place.
Style #3
An absolute favorite for all occasions. This is the French Twist, a deceptively simple style ideal for practical, everyday elegance or even formal, dressier events. The comb used is called a French comb and can be identified by its gently curved shape.
- Start by creating a low ponytail (do not secure it).
- Position your free hand at the base of the ponytail, with your palm facing away from you and your thumb pointed up. Two things to note here:
❥ To ensure your positioning will allow for a full rotation as you twist up, your fingers should be able to lie flat against your neck before wrapping them around the ponytail.
❥ This works right- or left-handed, and the hand you use will determine which direction the hair twists (right hand will twist to the left, and left to the right).
- Grab hold of the ponytail, and rotate your wrist, twisting the hair as you bring it up.
- Keeping it held taut against your head in an upward position, continue twisting the length of your hair to form a sort of rope.
- Holding the base of the twist in place, bring the length of your hair back down, tucking it into the seam of the twist (depending on your hair length, you may need to bring it back up and down a few times; continue tucking it into the seam on each pass through).
- Position the teeth of your French comb across the top of the twist angled away from the seam.
- Comb across until the comb is resting against your head and the teeth are aligned with the seam, and push it in to secure, staying close to the scalp.
These are all beautiful as is, but feel free to dress them up or down and arrange face-framing pieces as you like. Try them out, and see what you think!
And be sure to get your appointment scheduled with Nakia before she books up! Whether chatting about British-style murder mysteries or hyping you up for your next project, she is an absolute joy. We are so lucky to have her with us. 🫶