Kim Kimble

Hair Stylist

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In her almost three-hour interview, Kim Kimble talks about growing up in Los Angeles and the inspiration she took from her mother and grandmother, who were both hair stylists. She discusses her early creativity and attending beauty college with the thought that she would eventually want to study fashion – and instead falling in love with hair styling and hair shows. She recounts how volunteering for a stage production of The Five Heartbeats led to a connection to Robert Townsend and eventually being hired to do hair on his film B.A.P.S. Kimble then chronicles her move into television, including work on The Parent ‘Hood and The Jamie Foxx Show. She talks about her collaborations with Beyoncé on her visual album Lemonade and for her Super Bowl halftime shows, and discusses other longtime clients including Garcelle Beauvais and Zendaya, who helped Kimble get hired on Euphoria. She discusses her work on Euphoria, including specific episodes from the show's second season. She talks about her own reality television show, L.A. Hair, sharing how the series came about, how she learned to be comfortable on-camera, and her favorite moments from the show. Kimble discusses the experience of working on-set during the COVID-19 pandemic and looks further back to her work on the 1997 television movie Cinderella. She offers advice for hair stylists hoping to break into the entertainment industry, including the importance of versatility as a stylist and talks about her own inspiration for going beyond her salon and into film, television, and her own product line. Leah Aldridge conducted the interview on June 2, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Great hair does equal confidence. Let me tell you something, when I get my hair done, I feel better. I feel good. I feel cute. I feel fabulous. ... Even when I work with celebrities, you see them put the hair on and then they get a whole other persona and they start throwing their hair and performing. You can see that confidence rile up in them because they have their complete look."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Kim Kimble on doing hair for Beyoncé's visual album Lemonade

02:33

Kim Kimble on her experience doing hair on the film B.A.P.S., which was her first movie or television experience, and on how she learned the role of an on-set hair stylist on the job

07:11

Kim Kimble on how her reality show, L.A. Hair (which followed Kimble around in her work and at her salon) came about

03:55

Kim Kimble on what she learned about hair styling from her mother and grandmother (who were both hair stylists), and on why "great hair equals confidence"

02:33

Kim Kimble on how she came to be hired as the department head hair stylist on Euphoria, and on doing Zendaya's hair on the show

02:27

Kim Kimble on the collaborative process of creating hair styles for talent when working on a television show

02:23

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On growing up in Los Angeles, and on what she learned from her mother and grandmother, who were both hair stylists; on loving fashion and television when she was young, and on how she expressed her creativity as a kid; on attending beauty college, and on discovering hair shows and hair competitions; on loving the creative and artistic side of hair styling, and on how her creativity and love of fashion have helped her in her career

On how she has gained confidence over time in her career, and on how her mother's work as a hair stylist in the entertainment industry inspired her to pursue that path; on her first job, at a barbershop, after she completed beauty college, and on learning on the job and building up a clientele there; on working on a stage-adaptation of The Five Heartbeats and through that, making a connection with Robert Townsend, which led to her eventually being hired on his movie B.A.P.S., starring Halle Berry

On her experience working on B.A.P.S., and on the new challenges she faced creating hair styles for a film; on learning how to be a hair stylist for a film while on the job, and on learning from makeup artist LaLette Littlejohn; on working with actress Natalie Desselle on B.A.P.S., and on how the fantasy hairstyles she created for the film helped the actresses get into character

Chapter 2

On working as the key hair stylist on The Parent 'Hood, and on the difference between working in film and television; on a typical workweek as a hair stylist on a sitcom, and on the role of a department head as a hair stylist on a show; on working with Garcelle Beauvais on The Jamie Foxx Show, and on the collaborative process of creating the looks for talent on a television show; on how she approaches work with clients both for film and television and for other kinds of productions

On working with performers who work in many genres, including television, live performance, and film, and on adjusting the hair styles she creates based on what's appropriate for the project; on creating the hair looks in the film A Wrinkle in Time, and on the opportunities for creativity in series television; on why she likes working on pilots and why she enjoys a challenge in her work

On doing hair for Beyoncé's visual album Lemonade, and on her creative process when she begins a new project; on doing hair for live events like the Super Bowl halftime show, and on working with Beyoncé for various performances and events; on working on Hallmark's Sense and Sensibility; on using wigs in her film and television work, and on doing Beyoncé's hair for Austin Powers in Goldmember; on the difference between working in network, cable, and streaming, and on her work on The Sex Lives of College Girls

Chapter 3

On putting together a team with various hair expertise when she is department head on a project, and on studying many different kinds of hair in beauty college; on being underestimated as a Black woman working in the entertainment industry, and on making a name for herself in the business and how that has changed the way some people treat her; on working with big name clients, including Zendaya, and on how her relationship with Zendaya led to her being hired on Euphoria

On working with the cast of Euphoria, and on specific episodes including "The Theater And Its Double" and "You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can"; on doing hair for reality television shows, and on how her own reality show, L.A. Hair, came about; on her experience being on-camera on L.A. Hair, and on her involvement in the development of the show and memorable moments from the series

On working with her family and real employees on L.A. Hair, and on finding her comfort zone working on the show; on the representation of women of color on her show, and on how reality producers know how to draw out characteristics from their subject; on the L.A. Hair reunion, and on what she enjoyed about doing the show; on working during the COVID-19 pandemic, and on the challenge of following the pandemic protocols on set

On her admiration for Oprah Winfrey; on starting her own haircare product line, and on how the industry has changed over the course of her career; on how the rules for joining the union for hair stylist has changed over time, and on the advice she would give to hair stylists hoping to get into the entertainment industry

On how she would like to be remembered, and on the importance of oral histories; on the breadth of projects she's worked on in her career, including unexpectedly being photographed by Karl Lagerfeld, and on the many opportunities that hair styling has opened to her in her career; on doing hair on the 1997 television movie Cinderella, and on receiving an Emmy nomination for her work on that movie; on where she sees herself in ten years

Shows

Cinderella (1997)

Kim Kimble on being the department head hair stylist on the 1997 television movie Cinderella, starring Brandy and Whitney Houston

03:07

Kim Kimble on being nominated for an Emmy for her work on Cinderella

01:49

Kim Kimble on her hair styling work on Cinderella

02:20

Dancing With the Stars

Kim Kimble on working as a hair stylist on Dancing with the Stars and returning to work during the COVID-19 pandemic

02:28

Euphoria

Kim Kimble on how she came to be hired as the department head hair stylist on Euphoria, and on doing Zendaya's hair on the show

02:27

Kim Kimble on doing hair for various characters on Euphoria, including "Cassie" (Sydney Sweeney) in "The Theater And Its Double"

03:31

Kim Kimble on doing hair on the Euphoria episode "You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can," which featured recreations of iconic paintings and movie scenes

01:52

Jamie Foxx Show, The

Kim Kimble on working with Garcelle Beauvais on The Jamie Foxx Show

01:45

L.A. Hair

Kim Kimble on how her reality show, L.A. Hair, which followed Kimble around in her work and at her salon came about

03:55

Kim Kimble on how she felt transitioning to being on-camera on her reality show L.A. Hair, and on her most memorable moment captured on the show: when she did Miss Piggy's hair for the Oscars

02:54

Kim Kimble on working with her family and real employees at her salon on her reality show L.A. Hair, and on planning different events and jobs for her to do on the show

02:14

Kim Kimble on how she found her way into being comfortable on camera on her reality show, L.A. Hair, and on coining the phrase "Kimbleize"

01:27

Kim Kimble on bringing Jonathan Antin (from Blow Out) on L.A. Hair

00:42

Kim Kimble on the representation of women of color, as portrayed on her reality show, L.A. Hair

02:32

Kim Kimble on the L.A. Hair reunion, which was filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and on what she enjoyed about doing the show

01:39

Lemonade

Kim Kimble on doing hair for Beyoncé's visual album Lemonade, and on her creative process on that project

03:40

Kim Kimble on working with Beyoncé as a hair stylist on Lemonade, and on her inspiration for the looks she created for the project

02:33

Parent 'Hood, The

Kim Kimble on working as the key hair stylist on The Parent 'Hood

04:10

Sex Lives of College Girls, The

Kim Kimble on her work as hair stylist on The Sex Lives of College Girls

01:20

Super Bowl

Kim Kimble on doing hair for performances at the Super Bowl halftime show by Shakira, Beyoncé, and Destiny's Child

01:43

Topics

Advice

Kim Kimble on advice for a hair stylist who hopes to get into the entertainment industry

01:30

COVID-19 Pandemic

Kim Kimble on working as a hair stylist during the COVID-19 pandemic, and on having to shut down her salon due to the pandemic

01:30

Kim Kimble on working as a hair stylist on set during the COVID-19 pandemic

03:28

Creative Influences and Inspiration

Kim Kimble on attending beauty school, which she thought would allow her to eventually attend school to study fashion, but which instead led to her realizing that she loved doing hair and wanted to participate in hair shows and hair competitions

04:23

Kim Kimble on her inspiration for starting her own haircare product line

02:15

Emmy Awards

Kim Kimble on being nominated for an Emmy for her work on the 1997 television movie Cinderella

01:49

First Big Break

Kim Kimble on doing hair for the film B.A.P.S., which was her first experience working on a movie

07:11

Health and Medicine

Kim Kimble on working as a hair stylist during the COVID-19 pandemic, and on having to shut down her salon due to the pandemic

01:30

Kim Kimble on working as a hair stylist on set during the COVID-19 pandemic

03:28

Historic Events and Social Change

Kim Kimble on doing the hair for Hallmark's 2024 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility and the challenge of recreating Regency hairstyles, particularly for women of color

05:06

Kim Kimble on being underestimated as a Black woman working as a hair stylist in the entertainment industry, especially early in her career

04:52

Kim Kimble on the representation of women of color, as portrayed on her reality show, L.A. Hair

02:32

Kim Kimble on working as a hair stylist during the COVID-19 pandemic, and on having to shut down her salon due to the pandemic

01:30

Kim Kimble on working as a hair stylist on set during the COVID-19 pandemic

03:28

New Media

Kim Kimble on the difference between working as a hair stylist in network, cable, and streaming

02:59

Overcoming Adversity

Kim Kimble on being underestimated as a Black woman working as a hair stylist in the entertainment industry, especially early in her career

04:52

Pivotal Career Moments

Kim Kimble on attending beauty school, which she thought would allow her to eventually attend school to study fashion, but which instead led to her realizing that she loved doing hair and wanted to participate in hair shows and hair competitions

04:23

Kim Kimble on doing hair for the film B.A.P.S., which was her first experience working on a movie

07:11

Kim Kimble on her inspiration for starting her own haircare product line

02:15

Kim Kimble on being underestimated as a Black woman working as a hair stylist in the entertainment industry, especially early in her career

04:52

Representation on Television

Kim Kimble on doing the hair for Hallmark's 2024 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility and the challenge of recreating Regency hairstyles, particularly for women of color

05:06

Kim Kimble on being underestimated as a Black woman working as a hair stylist in the entertainment industry, especially early in her career

04:52

Kim Kimble on the representation of women of color, as portrayed on her reality show, L.A. Hair

02:32

Sports

Kim Kimble on doing hair for performances at the Super Bowl halftime show by Shakira, Beyoncé, and Destiny's Child

01:43

Super Bowl

Kim Kimble on doing hair for performances at the Super Bowl halftime show by Shakira, Beyoncé, and Destiny's Child

01:43

Television Industry

Kim Kimble on the difference between working as a hair stylist in network, cable, and streaming

02:59

Kim Kimble on how the industry has changed over the course of her career -- and how it hasn't changed ("the hair is still the hair")

04:34

Kim Kimble on advice for a hair stylist who hopes to get into the entertainment industry

01:30

Underrepresented Voices

Kim Kimble on doing the hair for Hallmark's 2024 adaptation of Sense and Sensibility and the challenge of recreating Regency hairstyles, particularly for women of color

05:06

Kim Kimble on being underestimated as a Black woman working as a hair stylist in the entertainment industry, especially early in her career

04:52

Kim Kimble on the representation of women of color, as portrayed on her reality show, L.A. Hair

02:32

Women

Kim Kimble on the representation of women of color, as portrayed on her reality show, L.A. Hair

02:32

Professions

Hair Stylist

View Profession

Kim Kimble on the experience of working on her first film, B.A.P.S., and on how she learned to be a professional hair stylist on a movie set, which was different from her previous work in a salon and at hair shows

03:56

Kim Kimble on being the key hair stylist on The Parent 'Hood, and on the difference between working in film and television

02:41

Kim Kimble on a typical workweek as a hair stylist on a sitcom, and on how that differs from work on a drama or a new pilot (especially in streaming)

02:49

Kim Kimble on the role of the department head as a hair stylist on a television show

00:40

Kim Kimble on the collaborative process of creating hair styles for talent when working on a television show

02:23

Kim Kimble on the importance of hair in the development of character in film and television, and on how she approaches her work with clients on non-film and television performances in a similar manner to her work on film and TV

02:42

Kim Kimble on being a hair stylist who works with clients who work in many different genres, including television, live performance, and film, and on adjusting the hair styles she creates based on what's appropriate for the project

06:07

Kim Kimble on her creative process when approaching a new project as a hair stylist, and on using visual references from magazines and Pinterest to collaborate with clients

03:06

Kim Kimble on the importance of putting together a team with various expertise in hair styling and cutting in order to do the best work and make actors the most comfortable

03:58

Kim Kimble on changes to the rules for getting into the Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild over the course of her career

02:01

Kim Kimble on advice for a hair stylist who hopes to get into the entertainment industry

01:30

Stylists

View Profession

Kim Kimble on the experience of working on her first film, B.A.P.S., and on how she learned to be a professional hair stylist on a movie set, which was different from her previous work in a salon and at hair shows

03:56

Kim Kimble on being the key hair stylist on The Parent 'Hood, and on the difference between working in film and television

02:41

Kim Kimble on a typical workweek as a hair stylist on a sitcom, and on how that differs from work on a drama or a new pilot (especially in streaming)

02:49

Kim Kimble on the role of the department head as a hair stylist on a television show

00:40

Kim Kimble on the collaborative process of creating hair styles for talent when working on a television show

02:23

Kim Kimble on the importance of hair in the development of character in film and television, and on how she approaches her work with clients on non-film and television performances in a similar manner to her work on film and TV

02:42

Kim Kimble on being a hair stylist who works with clients who work in many different genres, including television, live performance, and film, and on adjusting the hair styles she creates based on what's appropriate for the project

06:07

Kim Kimble on her creative process when approaching a new project as a hair stylist, and on using visual references from magazines and Pinterest to collaborate with clients

03:06

Kim Kimble on the importance of putting together a team with various expertise in hair styling and cutting in order to do the best work and make actors the most comfortable

03:58

Kim Kimble on advice for a hair stylist who hopes to get into the entertainment industry

01:30

Genres

Reality TV

Kim Kimble on being a hair stylist for reality television shows

02:29

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

Kim Kimble on being the hair stylist for Hallmark's 2024 television movie Sense and Sensibility

05:29

People

Ava DuVernay

View Person Page

Kim Kimble on doing hair for the film A Wrinkle in Time directed by Ava DuVernay, and on how she found inspiration for the look of fantasy characters

02:27

Beyoncé

View Person Page

Kim Kimble on doing hair for Beyoncé's visual album Lemonade

02:33

Kim Kimble on doing the hair for various Beyoncé performances and videos, including Coachella, "Formation," and Super Bowl halftime shows

03:08

Kim Kimble on working as Beyoncé's personal hair stylist for the movie Austin Powers in Goldmember

01:30

Brandy

View Person Page

Kim Kimble on being the department head hair stylist for the 1997 television movie Cinderella, starring Brandy

07:21

Oprah Winfrey

View Person Page

Kim Kimble on her experiences working with and meeting Oprah Winfrey, and on her admiration for her

01:16

Robert Townsend

View Person Page

Kim Kimble on volunteering to do hair on a stage-adaptation of The Five Heartbeats early in her career, which led to making a connection with Robert Townsend and eventually led to her being hired on his film B.A.P.S.

08:57

Kim Kimble on doing hair on Robert Townsend's film B.A.P.S.

03:15

Steve Carell

View Person Page

Kim Kimble on doing Steve Carell's hair for The Morning Show

00:41

Whitney Houston

View Person Page

Kim Kimble on getting to work with Whitney Houston on the 1997 television movie Cinderella

01:32