“My number one objective is to give the best possible salon service that one can give. And I’m sure that I do.”

An only child, Akeem grew up in Detroit, Michigan where he excelled in school, art, and sports. As an exceptional martial artist, he was able to develop his hand eye coordination, which helped him thrive in his first true love, the game of basketball. He was exceptionally gifted and had the potential of going to the NBA, but injuries and youth trouble derailed his hoop dreams.

Hanging with the wrong crowd, Akeem began to get into trouble. He found himself behind bars from the tender age of 17 until 24. Despite being incarcerated Akeem always knew he’d be successful at something, but he didn’t know what. He also knew that no one was going to give him a chance, and that he’d have to pave his own way.

Finding himself unable to land stable employment, Akeem began doing odd jobs such as construction, demolition, landscaping, cleaning, and telemarketing…and he hated it all. So Akeem decided to enroll in business school until he could determine a career choice. But things would soon change, and a career would be unveiled that he never could have dreamed of.

A woman he was dating suggested that Akeem become a hairdresser. “Hell nah, I ain’t doin’ no hair. I did seven years in jail, I ain’t doin’ no hair.” Two weeks later, he was registered at David Pressley School of Cosmetology, Michigan’s highest rated beauty school. He chose this school because it was in the wealthy suburbs of Detroit, and he wanted to learn how to do high end hair. Not only that, he was determined to work with and eventually become one of the highest paid hairstylists in the world. But first, how?

Two months later, cosmetology classes started and he had amassed a plan. The school had a video library of hair tutorials of the top brands in industry. He borrowed over 300 videos and set his sights on mastering his craft by studying and practicing an additional eight hours after school each night in addition to the seven hours that he was in school daily.

After graduating at the top of his class, Akeem re-enrolled to get his “instructor’s license” which he completed 6 months later. He then began taking clients at Metro Detroit’s number one salon “Curl Up and Dye.” After a short period of working for salons, Akeem began working for himself as a freelance artist, catering to his clients’ individual needs under the mentorship of master hairstylist Winfred Bailey. Akeem still says, ”Winfred’s the best that I’ve ever seen, and to this day, has taught me things about hair that I’ve never seen anyone do.”

Akeem worked with Winfred for two years, and decided the time was nearing for him to make a move. While doing charity work, Akeem landed an opportunity to perform at a fashion show where he cut a woman’s hair into a bob with a pair of scissors in each hand in only four minutes. The video was shared by a top celebrity hairstylist, and he was invited to New York to work on the stylist’s artistic team and in his salon.

Little did Akeem know, it wasn’t going to be as easy as he thought. The salon alone wasn’t busy enough to pay NYC rent and Akeem found himself homeless within a month. But he was determined to make it, so going home was not an option. Sleeping in parks and on the subways, Akeem would wash himself at work before clients arrived, work a full day, and return to the parks after work until the next day. His stint at the salon did not last long, and he was able to pull himself out of homelessness after moving on to another salon with better opportunities for advancement.

However, the journey was just getting started as he found himself bouncing from top salon to top salon. He was tired of assisting and being limited to washing hair when he had already been cutting and coloring hair for years. Everywhere he went, there was another two year assistant program waiting. After the fifth stop, he gave in and did the program. “While I was going through the different salons, I was pissed because I knew I was ready. But now, I’m so glad that I did because I was exposed to so many different levels of service. And now, you can’t get a better service. I guarantee it.”

Akeem has worked under renowned artists including Ted Gibson, Serge Normant, Edris Nicholls, Rodney Cutler, and Joel Warren. Currently, Akeem is an independent stylist in Manhattan’s upscale Flatiron District, distinguishing himself as one of New York City’s premiere talents.

“I believe beauty is hair and hair is beauty. Whatever your skin color or hair texture, you are beautiful. And with Akeem Hair, your hair is too.”