Celebrity hairstylist Dior Sovoa begins with listening. Before any styling, he pays attention to how a woman feels and how she wants to step back into her life. He sees hair as part of identity, tied to confidence and self-trust, not as a display.

His perspective took shape early, growing up in a salon and learning from his mother that care can help people through hard moments. That belief still guides his work. From working with Mariah Carey to supporting women building their own paths, Sovoa keeps the same focus. He centers the person first, using his craft to remind others that they matter and that they are seen.

You’ve described hairstyling as storytelling. How do you translate a narrative into a hairstyle for a client or celebrity?

By working with a team and creating a narrative based on her mood, how she’s feeling that day, and how she wants to present herself when she steps out. Whether she wants to feel sexy, formal, or glamorous, that emotional space guides how we create the look.

How did your mother’s influence shape your vision of beauty and your approach to styling?

My mother was a hairstylist as well. Even while struggling with illness, she continued to work and kept a smile on her face. Watching her made me want to create the same love for hair that she had and to honor her through my work at the same time.

Your work includes the recent Billboard cover of Mariah Carey, along with red carpet and national television appearances. How do you prepare differently for high-profile projects versus everyday clients?

I always center myself before a big job. I pray and meditate, and that puts me in the right headspace to handle the chaos. High-profile clients are being pulled in many directions, and you still have to get them together. With everyday clients, I know the day won’t be as intense. Those appointments may be three or four hours. High-profile work can be 16-hour days, so I prepare myself mentally and make sure I have everything I need.

As an Emmy-nominated stylist, how do you manage creative planning under public and industry expectations?

I don’t focus on public expectations. The public will always have something to say, whether you’re doing well or not. I follow what’s in my heart and what God places on my spirit when it comes to my creative decisions.

How do you make red carpet–level glamour accessible for entrepreneurs, creators, and leaders who aren’t public figures?

You treat yourself like a public figure. You may not be one to the world, but it’s about how you see yourself. If you see yourself as someone who works hard and wants a certain lifestyle, you create that confidence within yourself, so it shows when you walk out the door.

What does modern luxury mean to you in hairstyling, and how do you achieve it?

Luxury is haircare. It’s about taking care of your hair for the long term, not just making it look good for the moment. Luxury is knowing you’re preserving your hair as you age, understanding trims, deep conditioning, proper shampoos, and what your hair actually needs.

Healthy hair is luxury to me.

Can you share a moment when a hairstyle you created had personal significance beyond aesthetics?

The second time I went viral was when I styled Donna Brazile during the presidential election. People were used to seeing her a certain way. God spoke to me, and the hairstyle took about 20 years off her appearance. That look ended up on nearly every news station and in magazines at the time.

How do you balance honoring classic beauty influences while creating looks for contemporary culture?

I don’t really separate the two. Looks haven’t changed—they’ve just been elevated. Styles from the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s still exist, just with new twists. Everything gets revamped, whether it’s fashion, music, or hair, so I don’t overthink that balance.

What challenges have you faced translating celebrity styling to more routine services?

It’s about understanding the client. Celebrities may have their hair done daily because they can afford that level of upkeep. Everyday clients might come once a week or every two weeks. My job is to create styles that give them that same confidence while staying realistic about maintenance and budget.

Looking ahead, how do you see hairstyling evolving in fashion media and personal identity?

It will always evolve, even while staying the same. There will always be an elevated switch. In 10 or 20 years, who knows—hair might be moving on its own. We grew up watching The Jetsons, so anything is possible. I definitely want to be around to see what happens.