Behind the Image is an ongoing MODELS.com series taking a more personal look at both established and emerging creative talent.
Naeemah Lafond | Image courtesy of Naeemah Lafond
Naeemah Lafond, Hair Stylist
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Based In: New Jersey
Representation: The Wall Group
You were a court clerk before going into hair. What did that first moment on set reveal about yourself that law school never could?
Being a court clerk for the Brooklyn DA was just a job, to be honest. I wasn’t looking at it as the start of a journey toward a career in law. What my first moment on set taught me was that life is meant to be explored. You never know what you’ll fall in love with until you’re in it, and nothing you do is a waste. It all informs your future self.
What sparked your interest in hair, and was there a defining moment that made you pursue it professionally?
I’ve always been a beauty girl from a very young age, but what sparked my professional interest in hair was discovering the editorial and campaign side of the industry. As a Gemini who gets bored easily, salon life didn’t appeal to me, but once I realized there was a portion of the industry where I could more freely express my artistry through hair and consistently work on new projects, I was hooked.
How would you describe your work? What’s your trademark?
I think I’m known for big, statement hair, but I would describe my aesthetic as lived-in glam.
Texture On Set, which you founded, is now in its third year. What does success look like to you?
Success looks like Texture On Set being able to become an event solely about education, celebration, and community, and less about advocacy.
For Whitney Peak’s 2025 Met Gala look, you drew inspiration from the Maasai warriors. How do you approach cultural references in your work? What does that research process look like?
I don’t necessarily do research for each project as it comes. I’m always learning and absorbing information, whether it’s from books, museums, movies, people-watching, or my travels. I let the moments lead me to the references. Whitney’s 2025 Met Gala look fell under the dandyism theme, so I wanted to reference refined self-presentation when it comes to textured hair, and I immediately landed on the idea of modern-day cornrows. However, I wanted the hair to feel like it was a part of her and not just a hairstyle. That’s when the image of the Maasai warriors came to me. Young men who were warriors but had hair that looked so refined and intricate. The hair was as detailed as the adornments and the weaving of their clothing. I often think of a shape or a feeling, then dig deeper to see how I can elevate it.
What non-beauty/fashion influences shape your creative perspective?
My perspective is often shaped by lines, shapes, and feelings. I often feel first, then let the hair meet the feeling.
What other jobs have you had?
I’m a Gemini. Where do I start? I’ve been a hostess at Fridays, a 311 call center rep, a court clerk, an admin assistant for a private investigative firm, a communications dispatcher at a hospital, calling codes over the PA system, and I was a bartender for one day. I had to quit bartending once I realized how many people I had to engage with in the span of an hour.
What do you love most about what you do?
I love the versatility and creativity of my work, as well as how connected it is to who I am as a person. I never wanted to stay at a job that was just a job. I’ve always wanted a career that felt like more than work.
What have you watched, heard, or read lately that inspired you?
I’ve recently gone down a palm-reading rabbit hole, which I suppose makes sense since I’m slightly obsessed with lines and shapes. I’m not sure exactly how it will be interpreted in my art, but I’m sure I will reference it at some point when the moment is right.
Who’s One to Watch?
Dre Demry Sanders.
Selected Work
Ellen Rosa by Kourosh Sotoodeh | Image courtesy of Naeemah Lafond
Vogue Thailand Beauty June 2023 Cover
My first Vogue cover. A Vogue cover is such an exciting moment as an artist.
Nia Long by Emmanuel Sanchez Monsalve | Image courtesy of Naeemah Lafond
Self Magazine April 2026 Cover
Nia Long is such a beauty icon and was a beauty inspiration for me and many of my friends growing up. It was an honor to style her hair for this Self cover.
Naeemah Lafond and Stephany Amado by Jean Paul Dia | Image courtesy of Naeemah Lafond
Texture On Set, 2026
This was a huge moment in my career, and I love that it was captured in a way that fully represented me as an artist and featured in Vogue.
Whitney Peak | Image courtesy of Naeemah Lafond
Whitney Peak, 2021 Met Gala
This was Whitney Peak headed to her first MET Gala. I’ve been working with Whitney since her very first project with Gossip Girl, so it was such a full-circle moment to be with her for this.
Image courtesy of Naeemah Lafond
Christopher John Rogers F/W 20 Show
This Christopher John Rogers show truly changed the trajectory of my career in a major way. The hair that I did for that show went viral and was highlighted on so many major platforms. It’s the style that introduced me to the world, so to speak. I’m so grateful to Christopher for trusting me and allowing me to breathe life into the hair in support of his vision.
