Hair stylist to the stars Maria Olayinka Raphael , known for stellar work with Toju Foyeh, Toke Makinwa, and more had a chat with BellaNaija Style about how it all started, her background and she helpfully shared a few tips and tricks for taking care of our extensions! The star stylist behind RaphealMaria eveals her favourite beauty products and more in this short Q&A with BN Style!
Tell us about yourself and your brand
I’m Maria Olayinka Rapheal, CEO of RaphealMaria. We offer bespoke hair care services which includes; weave installations, handmade wigs, professional hair colouring, hair revamping and more.
Where do you go for beauty inspiration especially on the looks you create?
Oh! I’ve definitely got a few hair stylists whose pages I stalk all day every day both home and abroad. That list has Sirtroy.Alexander, IamalonzoArnold and VirginHairFantasy right at the top of it. And here in Nigeria, I love the Good Hair brand.
Top 5 must-have beauty products especially for hair?
Hair Serum, Hair Spray, Moisturizing Shampoo, a Deep Conditioner and of course a soft Paddle Brush.
What beauty trends are really being requested by your clients right now?
These days, everyone wants their extensions and wigs to look as natural as possible, so I’d say frontals. Frontals are the top trend at the moment.
What influencers or celebrities are you most excited about working with right now?
Toju Foyeh and Toke Makinwa are on this list and I have thoroughly enjoyed styling them. They are effortlessly beautiful women.
What are some hair styling tips and tricks or quick hacks you can share with our audience?
First off, always brush your wigs or weaves at least twice a day. Remember to use your serum, even a little goes a long way. Wash and deep condition your weaves or wigs whenever you feel it frizzing out. And lastly, always treat your weaves or wigs with love, it’s your crown.
Do you have a preferred extensions brand when adding volume to a client’s hair, for a red carpet or editorial shoot for example?
I’ve used extensions from My Extensionz Hair and Good Hair and they both worked great wonders for my clients.