Nikki Nelms facts for kids

Nikki Nelms is a famous American hairdresser. She is known for creating amazing and unique hairstyles for many celebrities. Some of the stars she has worked with include Solange, Janelle Monáe, Zoë Kravitz, and Yara Shahidi.

Nikki Nelms is especially famous for her work on Solange's music video "Don't Touch My Hair." She also styled Janelle Monáe's hair in the "Pynk" music video. Nikki is known for using unusual items and bold shapes in her hairstyles.

Becoming a Hairdresser

Nikki Nelms grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida. She started learning how to do hair by herself when she was a teenager. She practiced on her classmates and her eight aunts.

Nikki went to Florida State University for a few years. But she decided to leave college to follow her dream of becoming a hairstylist. Later, she went to beauty school to learn even more.

Starting with Celebrities

Nikki began styling hair for celebrities in 2004. She met the musician Lil Wayne in New Orleans. This meeting helped her start working in the entertainment world.

Some of her first jobs were styling hair for music videos. She worked with famous artists like Kanye West and Timbaland.

Nikki's Unique Style

Nikki Nelms is known for her creative way of doing hair. A writer from Vogue magazine said Nikki mixes new, artistic ideas with classic techniques.

She often uses everyday objects as hair accessories. For example, she might put several combs into a tall ponytail. Nikki also uses materials like wire to create strong, sculpted looks. She finds many of her unique accessories at places like Home Depot, craft stores, and thrift shops.

Nikki likes to "collaborate" with her clients. This means she works with them to decide on the perfect style. She also talks about how versatile Black hair is. Sometimes, styling natural Black hair is seen as very bold, even if that's not her main goal.

Working with Stars

Nikki Nelms has many famous clients. These include La La Anthony, Beyoncé, Serena Williams, Bianca Lawson, and Jurnee Smollett. She is the main hairstylist for actress Zoë Kravitz.

In 2019, Nikki styled Yara Shahidi's hair for the CFDA Awards. She created a braided chignon (a bun) that was inspired by a look Diana Ross wore in the 1975 movie Mahogany.

Styling Solange Knowles

Nikki has been styling Solange Knowles' hair since 2006. They were introduced by a friend. One of the first styles Nikki did for Solange was bangs. This helped cover up a case of pinkeye Solange had.

In 2014, Nikki styled Solange's hair for her wedding. She used tiny baby's breath flowers in Solange's afro. Nikki also did a lot of styling for Solange's 2016 album, A Seat at the Table. This included every look for the "Don't Touch My Hair" music video.

The beaded braids Solange wore in the video became very popular. Many fans copied the look on social media. The style was inspired by jazz singer Patrice Rushen.

Collaborating with Janelle Monáe

Nikki Nelms often works with Janelle Monáe. They first worked together at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.

Nikki styled Janelle Monáe's hair for big events like the 2019 Met Gala and the 2020 Academy Awards. She also styled Monáe's hair for the "Pynk" music video. For this, she created a fun look with bright pink pompoms on a top bun.

Personal Life

Nikki Nelms lives in Brooklyn, New York City.

Awards

• 2020 – Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Award for Best Contemporary Hair Styling in a Feature-Length Motion Picture (for Birds of Prey)