Owner Steve Lacey pulled out all of the stops with respect to local and national style stars to celebrate the 3rd Anniversary of his Christopher Stevens salon this weekend.
Like the infamous Derrick J, whose fabulousness and gender-bending wardrobe selections (including a four-inch minimum for his heels) – seen in Chris Rock’s film Good Hair and on the television show “Real Housewives of Atlanta” – have made him a household name.
Good Hair co-stars Freddie and Tonya were in the building at EXO as well on Sunday for a special showcase with a live presentation for their ability to “snatch heads.”
But even with face time in front of the camera, these nationally renowned stylists played second fiddle to a native son.
“What time is Rico getting here? Is he here yet? Where is he?” one of the guests asked, even before removing her coat. Her entrance must have brought the other celebrities back down to earth.
Some would say that the hoopla for St. Louis’ own DaRico “Rico” Jackson to grace the crowd with his presence was because he was home. Erroneous.
But more than likely the situation would have been the same anywhere else in the nation. Among people who are informed in the industry, Jackson is considered by many to be THE authority for black hair care. And unlike Derrick J., Jackson is in demand for his work behind the scenes – not because of his larger-than-life personality.
He is the man who had sisters everywhere in awe when they saw Tasha Jones’ body-full bob bouncing with as much attitude as her character in Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? Grammy Award-nominated singer Chrisette Michele owes him for the funky pixie cut with bold color that women ask for at salons all over the country.
As a matter of fact, less than two weeks before his return home, Jackson was one of six stylists responsible for creating the hair perfection for the entire ad campaign for L’Oreal products. For any of L’Oreal ads with a black woman featured as a model – anywhere in the world – Rico Jackson was the mastermind behind her hairstyle.
As he graciously made his rounds before the style segment of the night, it was obvious he was the star of the show.
It was hard to believe that in a conversation a few weeks before, Jackson had talked about the acclaim he had received in his career as a hair care authority stylist and how it almost never happed.
“I only went to college for my parents,” Jackson confessed. “I always wanted to do hair.”
He graduated from Dillard University and was well on his way to climbing towards the top of the corporate ladder before he left it all behind and never looked back.
“My father said, ‘You gonna leave your good job to comb hair for a living?’” Rico said.
Before leaving St. Louis for Los Angeles in 2003, Jackson had already done more in his field than many who had long retired in the cosmetology industry. He was a premiere stylist and salon owner, even started two not-for-profit organizations – including his own not-for-profit modeling agency.
But after styling most of the celebrities who would come through town and operating his salon, Jackson knew that although he loved his city, there was only so much he could do from the Midwest.
And so he headed for the West Coast. His talent and dedication for his craft quickly made him the “it boy” for hair care among the who’s who of Hollywood.
Karrine “Super Head” Steffans seductive coif on the cover of her now infamous autobiography Confessions of a Video Vixen, spreads in Maxim Magazine and Italian Vogue and a laundry list of celebrity clients – both male and female – have established him as a celebrity in his own right.
As he has become the poster child for success in the industry, he couldn’t help remember the naysayers who scoffed at his decision to follow his heart with respect to his career and made light of the opportunities for prosperity within the cosmetology industry.
“I’m slighted by people who think lightly of my profession,” Jackson said. “Remember, the first black woman millionaire (Madame CJ Walker) was a hair dresser.
“People are making empires out of doing hair and there are so many avenues you can go with it,” he said, “from product endorsements, making your own products to salon owners. A lot of families raise lineages of hair dressers, and these days there are hair dressers out here that are making money like doctors.”
But for Jackson, when he is creating trends and styles that highlight the beauty of black women, he has more on his mind than money as he literally gets in the heads of men and women.
“Go after your heart,” Jackson said, offering advice to aspiring stylists. “If you have a passion for it and dedication, the money will come, the success will come and the growth will come.”
In the meantime, Jackson soaked up the STL love he received from the stylists and salon owners, many of whom hope to follow in Jackson’s footsteps.
“I don’t know what he’s going to do with it,” said Marc Stevens, owner of Marc Stevens Gallery, who eagerly awaited his turn in the chair as one of Jackson’s models for Lacey’s event.
“I’m just excited and can’t wait to see what he’s going to do next.”
