{"id":171310,"date":"2026-08-26T12:17:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T16:17:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/?p=171310"},"modified":"2026-08-26T12:17:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T16:17:36","slug":"naeemah-lafond-on-bringing-showmanship-to-textured-hair-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/naeemah-lafond-on-bringing-showmanship-to-textured-hair-and-beyond\/","title":{"rendered":"Naeemah Lafond on Bringing Showmanship to Textured Hair and Beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><em>Behind the Image is an ongoing MODELS.com series taking a more personal look at both established and emerging creative talent.<\/em><\/p>\n<style>\n.quote {\nline-height: 1.2em !important;\npadding: 35px 25px;\n}\n.wp-caption {\n    margin-top: 65px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<figure id=\"attachment_141369\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-141369\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-06-12-at-9.10.26\u202fAM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"602\" height=\"599\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-171312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-06-12-at-9.10.26\u202fAM.png 602w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Screenshot-2026-06-12-at-9.10.26\u202fAM-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-141369\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><br \/>\nNaeemah Lafond | Image courtesy of Naeemah Lafond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/naeemah-lafond\">Naeemah Lafond<\/a>, <\/a>Hair Stylist<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Hometown:<\/strong> Brooklyn, New York<br \/>\n<strong>Based In:<\/strong> New Jersey<br \/>\n<strong>Representation:<\/strong> <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/agency\/the-wall-group\">The Wall Group<\/a> <\/p>\n<p><strong>You were a court clerk before going into hair. What did that first moment on set reveal about yourself that law school never could?<\/strong><br \/>\nBeing a court clerk for the Brooklyn DA was just a job, to be honest. I wasn\u2019t 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\u2019ll fall in love with until you\u2019re in it, and nothing you do is a waste. It all informs your future self.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What sparked your interest in hair, and was there a defining moment that made you pursue it professionally?<\/strong><br \/>\nI\u2019ve 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How would you describe your work? What\u2019s your trademark?<\/strong><br \/>\nI think I\u2019m known for big, statement hair, but I would describe my aesthetic as lived-in glam.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/textureonset\/?hl=en\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Texture On Set<\/a>, which you founded, is now in its third year. What does success look like to you?<\/strong><br \/>\nSuccess looks like Texture On Set being able to become an event solely about education, celebration, and community, and less about advocacy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>For <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/people\/whitney-peak\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Whitney Peak&#8217;s<\/a> 2025 Met Gala <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DJU6X9dvyHc\/?img_index=1\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">look<\/a>, you drew inspiration from the Maasai warriors. How do you approach cultural references in your work? What does that research process look like?<\/strong><br \/>\nI don\u2019t necessarily do research for each project as it comes. I\u2019m always learning and absorbing information, whether it\u2019s from books, museums, movies, people-watching, or my travels. I let the moments lead me to the references. Whitney\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What non-beauty\/fashion influences shape your creative perspective?<\/strong><br \/>\nMy perspective is often shaped by lines, shapes, and feelings. I often feel first, then let the hair meet the feeling.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What other jobs have you had?<\/strong><br \/>\nI\u2019m a Gemini. Where do I start? I\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What do you love most about what you do?<\/strong><br \/>\nI 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\u2019ve always wanted a career that felt like more than work.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What have you watched, heard, or read lately that inspired you?<\/strong><br \/>\nI\u2019ve recently gone down a palm-reading rabbit hole, which I suppose makes sense since I\u2019m slightly obsessed with lines and shapes. I\u2019m not sure exactly how it will be interpreted in my art, but I\u2019m sure I will reference it at some point when the moment is right.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who&#8217;s One to Watch?<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/dre-demry-sanders\">Dre Demry Sanders.<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Selected Work<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_141376\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-141376\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Vogue-Cover.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1349\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-171314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Vogue-Cover.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Vogue-Cover-512x640.jpg 512w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Vogue-Cover-1025x1280.jpg 1025w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-141376\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><br \/>\nEllen Rosa by Kourosh Sotoodeh  | Image courtesy of Naeemah Lafond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/vogue-thailand-vogue-thailand-beauty-june-2023-cover\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Vogue Thailand Beauty June 2023 Cover<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\nMy first Vogue cover. A Vogue cover is such an exciting moment as an artist.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_141376\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-141376\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Nia-Long.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1440\" height=\"1800\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-171315\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Nia-Long.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Nia-Long-512x640.jpg 512w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Nia-Long-1024x1280.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Nia-Long-1229x1536.jpg 1229w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1440px) 100vw, 1440px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-141376\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><br \/>\nNia Long by Emmanuel Sanchez Monsalve | Image courtesy of Naeemah Lafond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/self-magazine-self-magazine-april-2026-cover\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Self Magazine April 2026 Cover<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/nia-long\">Nia Long<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_141376\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-141376\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Textured_On_Set10830.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1619\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-171316\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Textured_On_Set10830.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Textured_On_Set10830-427x640.jpg 427w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Textured_On_Set10830-854x1280.jpg 854w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/Textured_On_Set10830-1025x1536.jpg 1025w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-141376\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><br \/>\nNaeemah Lafond and Stephany Amado  by Jean Paul Dia | Image courtesy of Naeemah Lafond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DX5NtNMkQXn\/?img_index=1\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Texture On Set, 2026<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\nThis 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DX5NtNMkQXn\/?img_index=1\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Vogue<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_141376\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-141376\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/WhitneyPeak-MET.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1242\" height=\"1553\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-171317\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/WhitneyPeak-MET.jpg 1242w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/WhitneyPeak-MET-512x640.jpg 512w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/WhitneyPeak-MET-1024x1280.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/WhitneyPeak-MET-1228x1536.jpg 1228w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1242px) 100vw, 1242px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-141376\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><br \/>\nWhitney Peak | Image courtesy of Naeemah Lafond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CTziuT6LJNg\/?img_index=1\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Whitney Peak, 2021 Met Gala<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\nThis was <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/whitney-peak\">Whitney Peak<\/a> headed to her first MET Gala. I\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_141376\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-141376\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/CJR-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\" class=\"size-full wp-image-171318\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/CJR-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/CJR-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/CJR-1280x853.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/CJR-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2026\/08\/CJR-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-141376\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><br \/>\nImage courtesy of Naeemah Lafond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/christopher-john-rogers-christopher-john-rogers-fw-20-show\/1282720\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Christopher John Rogers F\/W 20 Show<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\nThis 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\u2019s the style that introduced me to the world, so to speak. I\u2019m so grateful to Christopher for trusting me and allowing me to breathe life into the hair in support of his vision. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Behind the Image is an ongoing MODELS.com series taking a more personal look at both established and emerging creative talent. 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&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":450,"featured_media":171312,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6476,12752,10414,16,13943],"tags":[12769],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171310"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/450"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=171310"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171310\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":171328,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/171310\/revisions\/171328"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/171312"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=171310"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=171310"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=171310"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}