By India Espy-Jones ·Updated May 13, 2026 < /> Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… “In The Chair” spotlights the incredible hairstylists and makeup artists in our community who are giving us major inspiration. Each week, they discuss their personal beauty and career journeys, what they’ve learned from their clients, and their top glam tips.
Growing up in Chicago, hair was woven into hairstylist Jacob Aaron’s life from a young age. “I was naturally drawn to people who had a strong sense ofdecoding="async" src="https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2026/05/SnapInsta.to_684603685_18579427774024258_9036168875530931311_n.jpg" alt="Solange’s Hair Stylist Jacob Aaron Shares Top Tips" width="400" height="532" />Solange Knowles for Pin-Up Magazine via Kobe Wagstaff
From messing with his friends’ hair and being “weirdly particular” about how it fell into their face to adoring >buzz it all off. “There’s something really rewarding about creating a full visual story together.”
Ahead, Jacob Aaron tells ESSENCE all about his favorite hair decoding="async" src="https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2026/05/SnapInsta.to_671767230_18575763295024258_8730030718480368271_n.jpg" alt="Solange’s Hair Stylist Jacob Aaron Shares Top Tips" width="400" height="499" />@solangeknowles / Instagram His Favorite Hair Products:
I’m really into products that enhance texture and movement without making the hair feel heavy. I love anything that keeps hair touchable and natural-looking.
For clients, I gravitate toward lightweight texture sprays, nourishing oils, and products that support healthy hair over time instead of masking damage. I’m not into overly stiff or over decoding="async" src="https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2026/05/IMG_1948-845x1024-1.jpeg" alt="Solange’s Hair Stylist Jacob Aaron Shares Top Tips" width="400" height="484" /> His Favorite Hair decoding="async" src="https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2026/05/Instagram-post-6-scaled-1.jpg" alt="Solange’s Hair Stylist Jacob Aaron Shares Top Tips" width="400" height="500" />Ayo Edebiri for Paper Magazine A Hair Myth He’d Like to Debunk:
That “perfect” hair means every strand has to be in place. Some of the most beautiful hair has movement, texture, and a little imperfection to it. I think people are moving away from overly polished beauty standards, and I love that.
Ayo Edebiri for S Moda What He’s Learned From His Clients:Probably how much trust people place in you without even realizing it. Clients come into your chair carrying stress, insecurity, excitement, heartbreak — all kinds of emotions. It reminds me that this job is bigger than beauty sometimes. I’ve learned that making someone feel seen or comfortable can genuinely shift their whole day.
How He Makes His Clients Feel:I always remind people that confidence shows before anything else does. Hair should support who you already are—it shouldn’t feel like a mask. And, honestly, when someone feels comfortable being themselves, that’s always when they look the best.
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 15: Quen Blackwell attends 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Mark GuiducciArrivals at LACMA on March 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images) The Deeper Meaning Behind His Work:People open up to hairstylists a lot. There’s a level of trust and care involved in what we do. Sometimes clients just need a space where they can relax, feel heard, laugh, vent, or reconnect with themselves a little bit. I think creating that kind of energy for people is really important, and I don’t take it lightly.
Tracee Ellis Ross for Ebony Power 100TOPICS: celebrity hair stylist In The Chair With Solange KnowlesThe post Solange’s Hair Stylist Jacob Aaron Shares Top Tips appeared first on Essence.