For many years I have listened and then watched Wendy Williams first on radio then everyday on her nationally syndicated talk show bearing her name, and over the years I have watched her experiment with different hairstyles and I have to say that Wendy has really evolved in the Wig department. Wendy’s late “Wig-ologist” or ‘Wig” as she lovingly called Antoine Jackson was amazing at giving Wendy hair that fit her style and personality (Antoine passed away in 2016). The question became who could step up and continue with the evolution of the “Wig”? Enter Robyn Michele or “Wiggy” as Wendy affectionately refers to her.
folliclesandFASHION had the chance to talk with Robyn and get the inside scoop on who she is, where she came from and where she is going.. in this Wig Wig world :-)
RM.
Initially I didn’t I was in Fashion, I started doing hair in or around 2000 after receiving multiple bad weave jobs I would sit and draw out various braid patterns that would help achieve a flat install and I would then go to an African Hair Braiding salon to have them braid according to my design and then I would go home and sew it in. I taught myself how to install extensions and not long after my friends and friends of their friends would come and have me do theirs. I would meet them at the hair braiding salons to have their hair braided before bringing them back to my house to sew their hair in. I learned how to braid years later.
fF. Hi Robyn, Thanks for taking the time to talk with us, lets start with Where are you from?
RM.
I am from Central Jersey, I’ve moved away, but have since returned to raise my son here and be with my mother she is literally the help of a whole village and one of my best friends.
I am from Central Jersey, I’ve moved away, but have since returned to raise my son here and be with my mother she is literally the help of a whole village and one of my best friends.
fF. When did you know you wanted to be a hairstylist? and are you licensed or just formally trained in wig making?
RM.
Initially I didn’t I was in Fashion, I started doing hair in or around 2000 after receiving multiple bad weave jobs I would sit and draw out various braid patterns that would help achieve a flat install and I would then go to an African Hair Braiding salon to have them braid according to my design and then I would go home and sew it in. I taught myself how to install extensions and not long after my friends and friends of their friends would come and have me do theirs. I would meet them at the hair braiding salons to have their hair braided before bringing them back to my house to sew their hair in. I learned how to braid years later.
My career in fashion stopped when the economy fell in 2008. I was pregnant at the time with my son Aidan so I did what I knew how to do and started letting people know I was available to do weaves. Later that year I moved to Georgia and placed an ad on Craigslist to do sew-ins and eventually sourced hair from India and started to retail it. Overtime I saw that I was far more invested in hair than I ever expected, I would go to Barnes and Noble to read through International fashion and hair magazines to see what styles, tools and products they were using. I was completely inspired! I moved back to NJ in 2010 and decided to take the leap and enroll at Paul Mitchell and haven’t looked back since. So although initially self trained, I am Licensed and have taken various extension classes as well as classes specializing in wig making by hand and sewing machine.
fF. What would you say has been your "Mama Ive made it moment"
fF. What would you say has been your "Mama Ive made it moment"
RM.
My biggest hair moment to date would be the first day Wendy wore one of my custom Luxe Units tm that I created for her.
I remember being at home depressed, having anxiety attacks about posting my work on Instagram, crying and just praying for God to help me push myself enough to continue to mange the few orders I would get per month. Fast forward to “Here’s Wendy!!!!!!” The doors open and Wendy walks through wearing a custom colored wig that I made, Something I meticulously created on my sewing machine, considering every detail, Something that I was struggling to share on social media for lack of popularity and likes… yet here I am with my work being seen in over 50 countries on a nationally syndicated show and worn by a woman known for her love and daily usage of wigs.
fF. 5 things in your hair/wig kit you cant live without?
RM.
My biggest hair moment to date would be the first day Wendy wore one of my custom Luxe Units tm that I created for her.
(Wendy Williams first show wearing a LUXE unit)
I remember being at home depressed, having anxiety attacks about posting my work on Instagram, crying and just praying for God to help me push myself enough to continue to mange the few orders I would get per month. Fast forward to “Here’s Wendy!!!!!!” The doors open and Wendy walks through wearing a custom colored wig that I made, Something I meticulously created on my sewing machine, considering every detail, Something that I was struggling to share on social media for lack of popularity and likes… yet here I am with my work being seen in over 50 countries on a nationally syndicated show and worn by a woman known for her love and daily usage of wigs.
Wendy in a sleek bob and Textured LUXE unit
My God! I”m still teary eyed thinking of it. I didn’t even pray for this… my prayers weren’t big enough. Grateful that God saw me worthy!
fF. 5 things in your hair/wig kit you cant live without?
RM.
5 things I can’t live without in my hair kit:
Want to know the truth? There’s nothing that I swear by as of yet .
I use babyliss tools and h2pro at the moment. I also like some of IGk products, but I use a mixture of a lot of things. It’s not like I will freak out if I leave my fave hairspray and have to run and grab another. I make pretty much whatever work.
fF. Working for such a big personality like Wendy Williams in a busy city like New York, do you have a morning ritual to help you start your day? or a calming one for the end of the night?
NAMASTE Wendy in a loose wave LUXE unit
fF. Working for such a big personality like Wendy Williams in a busy city like New York, do you have a morning ritual to help you start your day? or a calming one for the end of the night?
RM.
My morning ritual is to be silent, or listen to some praise music or a sermon. I like to think and process my day.
I pray with my son before he goes to school and having my coffee is a MUST.
We always end our day with prayer as well. He is really gonna be a prayer warrior when he grows up. I’m pretty proud of that.
fF. Best advice you've ever gotten? and best advice to pass along?
fF. Best advice you've ever gotten? and best advice to pass along?
RM.
The best advice I’ve ever gotten is to be about what you say you are about. It was from a fashion stylist years ago when, He said one of the worse things you can do is to hype your skill set up to get a job, but when you get the job you can’t live up to it.
Best advice I can give someone is to learn how to see you the way God sees you. Develop an intimate relationship with Him and let him lead you. Balance is so important to me, but having that relationship with God can give you peace and balance in the most disruptive and unsteady situations. Lastly, to not be celeb focused. Worry about being great and innovative and let your character and skill set position you. Celebrity clientele is one part of the equation. There’s so much more to being viewed as successful.
The best advice I’ve ever gotten is to be about what you say you are about. It was from a fashion stylist years ago when, He said one of the worse things you can do is to hype your skill set up to get a job, but when you get the job you can’t live up to it.
fF. What's on the list for you Robyn? Whats next?
RM.
fF. What's on the list for you Robyn? Whats next?
RM.
What’s next for me is my wig line with The Wig Haus. I am proud to create a home for my Luxe Units, Also being an Educator, Brand ambassador, Employer, Mental health advocate, Makeup artist, Wardrobe stylist, Home decor and more lol. This year has been about taking the limits off. Whatever I can do and whatever GOD wants me to do.... That is what you will see me doing.
“I love hair in general, whether working with wigs or a clients own hair. However, I do have a deeper love for wigs and hairpieces because I love that I can give my clients exactly what they want, even if that’s not what they have”.
Robyn Michele
You can find out more about Robyn here; http://www.robynmichelebeauty.com/
and follow her journey on instagram https://www.instagram.com/robynmichelebeauty/?hl=en
