Written by Marian Nimoh
Photo Credit-Nathan Pearcy
Nafisah Carter gives insight to her life and how she is dealing with COVID-19 as a hairstylst.
Like many people with big dreams, Nafisah Carter had a dream and fought to achieve it. She is now an international celebrity stylist and owner of Pyara Hair. The Durham, North Carolina native began her career as a hairstylist in college while styling her friends’ hair. After college, she went to work in her cousin’s salon helping out with washing and styling hair, which sparked a passion in her. Carter made a choice to go to school to become licensed stylist and afterwards, she worked in various salons in North Carolina. She later realized she wanted to do more with her career by working with celebrities. “I was always looking at different celebrities on T.V. or looking at magazines, and I really wanted to know who did their hair and how they got certain looks. I was interested in entertainment,” she said. Carter’s fiery passion led her to expand her curiosity through research. It was through her never-ending investigation that led her to take a leap of faith and connect with hair stylists who worked with celebrities. “I just did a lot of research. I knew that in order to work with celebrities, I needed to be around people who were doing their hair.” By building connections and trust with people in the hair styling industry, Carter moved to New York where she began styling celebrities’ hair.
Carter had been working day and night, but with the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing, Carter has temporarily closed her salon in North Carolina. Carter is currently at home using her time to reflect on ways she can make her brand better. “I am working on re-branding, doing a lot of things I was not able to do while working. I have been testing out products so that I can be better. When it is time to come out, I just want my brand to be better,” she says.
With people losing their jobs, working from home, practicing social distancing, and struggling financially, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected many of us, including Carter, who has not been working. “As a hairstylist, I have decided not to open my salon because I do not feel it is safe right now, and with the numbers constantly increasing and not decreasing, I have decided to wait to open my doors a little while longer.” Despite the negative, she has been taking advantage of the situation and making the most out of it. “The best part is it has given me enough time to work on the things I kept putting off. I have been doing things for myself – learning things, rebranding, and I am cooking more. It has been an unfortunate situation, but I am able to do things I haven’t been able to do before.” Once the pandemic is over, Carter looks forward to seeing her clients, her family and her business go to the next level.”
Carter keeps herself focused through consistency and positive thinking. She is a firm believer of not giving up; advice she would give to upcoming hairstylists. She likes to write in her journal, and review both her short and long-term goals. You can find out more about Carter on instagram @nafisahsbeauties and @nafisahcarter
