Mane Attraction
ClubX|May 2023
Slick, stylish and a keen eye for what's hot... Award-winning hair stylist and fashion guru Jesse Gallant talks the power of hair and how to own the creative space
SAADIQAH SCHROEDER
Mane Attraction

Using your hair to express yourself and showcase your social standing is nothing new, in fact, it's an age-old practice dating back to the Elizabethan era where impressing an audience in court was the highlight of the season. These days, it's all about going big (or bigger) with a kaleidoscope of pink stripes, blue streaks and platinum-blonde locks. The audience? Social media users mindlessly scrolling through reels, stories and feeds to find the latest trend or hair extraordinaire.

One of these go-to gurus is award-winning hairstylist Jesse Gallant who scissored his way to the top by recently winning SABC's reality TV show A Cut Above the Rest. When asked where his passion for hair comes from, he says that he was nudged into it by mommy dearest.

"Growing up I wasn't privileged enough to go to the barber frequently, we just couldn't afford it, so my mom came home with hair clippers one day and said I should start cutting my own hair. She gave me an ultimatum: Either I start doing my own hair, or she'll do it for me. A few months later I made use of the clippers and developed the skill to cut my hair, and later, my friends' hair too," he says. The Gqerberha-born stylist turned what started as a 'nudge' from mom, into an art form and hasn't looked back since.

He started as a student at Images 1 Hair Academy in Gqerberha and, in 2021, opened his salon called Stay Faded where he's serving up stellar looks for a loyal clientele.

He knew that starting a business while the world was still recovering from a pandemic was going to be tough, but it was about persevering and living his passion.

This story is from the May 2023 edition of ClubX.

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This story is from the May 2023 edition of ClubX.

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