Celebrity Hairstylist Ursula Stephen On Learning to Do It All

“I didn’t give anybody an opportunity to not believe in me,” says Ursula Stephen over the phone. “There was no chance for anyone to tell me that hairstyling was a good idea or a bad one.” The salon owner, global stylist for Fenty Hair and renowned celebrity hairstylist (whose clientele includes Rihanna, Zendaya, Kerry Washington, Rita Ora, Mary J. Blige and Laverne Cox) is a hair-industry legend.

She’s also behind some of the most recognizable celebrity hairstyles ever, such as Zendaya’s Challengers press-tour looks and many of Rihanna’s iconic ’dos (like her asymmetrical bob back in 2007 and her pixie cut in 2012).

“I had tunnel vision,” says Stephen of her steadfast to succeed. “When I was in beauty school, I did whatever my teachers told me to do. They said we wouldn’t learn everything in class and needed to get hands-on experience, so I got a job at a small salon after school. I worked at a seniors home to learn how to cut straight, fine hair. I did everything I was supposed to do.”

Stephen’s client list began to grow and consisted of “assistants at record labels and people who were more behind the scenes in the entertainment industry,” she says. “In that world, people are always looking for new hairstylists, so everything just snowballed from there. People started recommending me for jobs.” Eventually, Stephen got an opportunity to go on a six-week tour with Kandi Burruss of Xscape.

“I dropped out of school to go on that tour,” she says. “Honestly, I feel that being naive played a big role in my success. I said yes to every job, every opportunity, whether I was getting paid or not. I remember I’d sometimes get to a job and realize ‘Oh, this is a soft-porn shoot — maybe I should have asked more questions.’ But they still needed their hair done, so I was like, ‘Here we go!'”

On top of her open-mindedness and do-anything attitude, Stephen says her ability to do all types of hair has been one of her greatest assets.

“I had two favourite teachers in cosmetology school; one was Black and one was white,” she says. “And my teacher who was white would sometimes get challenged by the other students who assumed she couldn’t work on textured hair. And she proved them wrong every time. My teachers taught us to do straight hair, curly hair, coarse hair and kinky hair. I can actually do a really great cut on elderly white men! The teachers made sure we weren’t afraid to work with any hair texture.”

Stephen cites Fenty Hair, the latest brand in Rihanna’s beauty portfolio, as one of the brands moving things forward in the haircare category. “The products are truly universal,” she says. “What Rihanna has done with Fenty is bring people together. Back when I was growing up, we didn’t have any products that were specific to Black hair. If we’d had Fenty Hair back then? Oh my God, we would have benefited from it in a major way.”

Besides being a global hairstylist for the brand, Stephen played a large role in the product development and testing stages of Fenty Hair. “I was using it on-set, and the stylists at my salon were trying it without knowing what it was and I’d ask for their feedback,” she says. “We tested it on different hair types, textures and lengths.”

Stephen, who has been working with Rihanna since 2006, says the singer’s evolution from singer to beauty-brand mogul “just makes sense; everything she’s ever said she wanted to do, she’s done. It’s been beautiful to see.”

Take a look at Fenty Hair’s must-try product offerings.

The Comeback Kid Instant Damage Repair Treatment

This bond-building treatment repairs damage, breakage and split ends caused by heat styling, colouring and chemical treatments.

The Gelly Type Strong Hold Gel

Need to perfect your sleek ponytails, slick-backs and topknots? Reach for this strong-hold gel, which lasts all day.

The Rich One Moisture Repair Shampoo

Want to get rich? Look no further than this hydrating, nourishing shampoo — it works on all hair types.

The Richer One Moisture Repair Deep Conditioner

This ultra-hydrating deep conditioner is a must-have for dry, damaged hair that needs moisture. Formulated with wild-mango butter, it instantly detangles and leaves hair feeling soft and smooth.

This article first appeared in FASHION’s Winter 2025 issue. Find out more here.