E.53 My hair and France, where to go and what to buy for fabulous hair - with celeb stylist Ciara

 

Welcome to this week's episode!

Paris based American hairstylist Ciara Costenoble has been styling hair for over 12 years. From styling in Washington DC to Finland, London, and Paris, she has had the opportunity to work with a vast range of clientele. 

As a hairstylist in Paris, Ciara has been fortunate to add her signature touch to influential women and men such as; Taraji P. Henson, Mary J Blige, Solange Knowles, Janelle Monae, Kim Kardashian, Kelela, Larsen Thompson, Omar Sy & Helene Sy, Arizona Muse, Alicia Aylies, Audrey Marnay, Nine Naphat, Rachel & Michelle Yeoh, Sami Miro and many more. Her work has contributed to the international luxury brands of Chanel, Aquazzura, Sisley Paris, Christian Dior Beauty, Couture Design house Galia Lahav, Audemars Piguet, Sony, Us beauty, BMW, FOX, France Television, Tommy Hilfiger, Harper's Bazaar Magazine, V magazine, Dreamingless and Martha Stewart Weddings. Yearly, she continues her love for weddings with luxury bridal events in Paris and Europe and actively participates in Paris Fashion Week.

Listen in below to hear Ciara share with us her hair journey while moving to France and how you can prepare to enter the beauty scene as a client in need of a blow out in Paris. 

 

 
Ciara is an American hair artist who has moved to France and is now a French citizen. She has worked with some big-name celebrities like Taraji P, Henson, Mary J. Blige, Kim Kardashian and so many more!

Ciara grew up in the DMV area of the United States and she knew as a child that she was a lover of hair and a lover of beauty. Growing up Ciara’s Mom took her to the salon every Saturday and since then her vision of beauty began.

Ciara started doing hair very young for her family, friends, and all through high school. While she was in high school Ciara went to cosmetology school and obtained her cosmetology license before she graduated high school. After high school, Ciara worked her way through luxury salons while paying for college.

Ciara went to France for the first time to visit her best friend and she fell in love with Paris and the Parisian lifestyle, she knew immediately that she wanted to be there!

When Ciara moved to Paris she worked for a salon at first then quickly realized she wanted to work for herself. While working at the salon Ciara opened up a Instagram account, set up a website and did a lot of research. Graduating with a market degree in college helped her to know what kind of clients she needed to build her business. She rubbed elbows with photographers, event planners, makeup artists and people she met along the way.

From there the work started organically coming in for Ciara.

Diversity is very important to Ciara, she shares, walking down the streets of Paris you see so many different cultures and so many different complexions. There is so much beauty in Paris, and representing that french beauty is Ciara’s passion.

In building her brand Ciara shares with us that she had some great wins in her career such as working with Taraji P. Henson, american actress and author, which was a beautiful and validating experience for Ciara. Her other big win was being invited to do Mary J. Blige’s hair in London, which was a “pinch me” moment for Ciara.

These two moments were when Ciara realized she had arrived!

Ciara enlightens us on what we need to know and where we need to go while in Paris. Your first need to know:

➤Nothing stays open late or opens early in Paris, generally stores open at 10 am and close by 7 pm.

➤There are many salons to choose from, generally one on every corner!

➤French hair salons have gotten very good at speaking English.

➤Salons are very affordable, generally around 30-40 Euros.

➤What Americans call a ‘Blowout’ Parisians call a ‘Brushing’!

➤For a great stylist who specializes in textured hair Ciara recommends Nicole Pembrook who specialized in extensions and braids.

Ciara also shares her biggest tip for our listeners, she says, ‘don’t hold onto a dream and say, one day. Just do it! Don't wait! Use this time to focus on your real wants. 

If you really want something, thinking about it isn’t enough. Put in the initial actions and everyday think, ‘what can i do this week to get closer to that dream.

It can happen! Go after what you want!

You can find out more about Ciara on her Instagram and her website.

 

                                                  This weeks style guide!