In Conversation with Dre Demry-Sanders

Dre Demry-Sanders doesn't talk about hair the way most hairstylists do.

She treats it as a language. She talks about emotion, curiosity, responsibility, and creating environments where people feel safe enough to become themselves.

The New York-based hairstylist has built a career at the intersection of fashion, beauty, and culture, creating work that feels both sculptural and deeply human. Her recent projects include contributing to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Superfine: Tailoring Black Style exhibition and leading hair for the choir and orchestra performers at the 2025 Met Gala.

But behind the editorial images and cultural milestones is a simple philosophy: great hair begins with care.

We sat down with Dre to talk about artistry, legacy, community, and why she believes curiosity might be the most important creative tool of all.

Dre was the lead hairstylist behind Soulstice's inaugural launch campaign, photographed in Los Angeles in Spring 2026.

Nancy Twine: Your work feels incredibly intentional. Even your most sculptural looks still feel human. How would you describe your philosophy when it comes to hair?

Dre Demry-Sanders: Hair is always a collaboration. It's a collaboration between me, the hair itself, the person attached to the hair, and whatever story we're trying to tell. The moment one of those things starts dominating too much, it stops feeling human.

I usually come in with an idea, but I'm never attached to it. Sometimes I can't get where I originally thought I was going, and honestly, that's often where the magic happens. I get surprised by what comes out.

As a creative person, that's one of the most rewarding feelings. Something emerges that wasn't exactly what I planned, but it's somehow better because it feels alive.

NT: You described yourself during our conversation as a semi-retired perfectionist.

DDS: Semi-retired. Not fully retired. I still have my moments.

But I've learned over the years that when you let go of control, something beautiful almost always happens. That's true in hair, but it's also true in life. So much of creativity is learning when to guide and when to listen.

NT: You recently worked on the Met's Superfine: Tailoring Black Style exhibition and the Met Gala. What did that experience mean to you personally?

DDS: Honestly, I still don't know if I have the right words for it. The Met is every hairstylist's dream because it's one of the few places where we're invited to create without limits. You're not trying to sell a product. You're not creating something commercial. You're making art.

But for me, it felt deeper than that. It felt ancestral. I found myself thinking about all the people who came before me. The artists who shaped Black beauty. The people who laid the foundation for what we now get to build on. I felt a responsibility to honor that history while also creating something modern.

The project became a conversation between generations. And on a personal level, it affirmed something I'd always wanted to believe about myself. I've always considered myself an artist, but hair isn't always viewed that way. Being part of that exhibition, contributing to something that will live in the Met archives, made me realize that I can fully claim that identity. I am an artist.

NT: Black hair has always carried stories of identity, heritage, rebellion, and self-expression. Do you feel a responsibility to that history?

DDS: Absolutely. I feel a responsibility to pay homage to it, but also to expand it. One of the things I love most about textured hair is that it's constantly surprising me. There are still so many things it can do that people haven't seen yet.

I get excited when I discover a new technique or a new way of approaching something I've done hundreds of times before. I also spend a lot of time challenging assumptions. At fashion shows, there are still moments where people assume textured hair needs a different solution than everyone else's. And sometimes it does. But sometimes it doesn't.

I love reminding people that textured hair can transform into almost anything. I want people to see its possibilities.

NT: What separates beautiful hair from hair that tells a story?

DDS: Hair that tells a story has life. Beautiful hair is beautiful. Sometimes that's exactly what's needed. Sometimes the wardrobe needs to be the focus. Sometimes the photography needs to be the focus. But storytelling hair creates emotion. It makes someone stop, makes them wonder about something, and sparks curiosity. That's always what I'm chasing.

NT: One of the things that stood out to me during our shoot was the energy around you. People seemed to trust you immediately.

DDS: That means a lot to hear. One of the most meaningful things that happens on set is when someone walks into my chair and immediately relaxes. Sometimes I don't even have to touch their hair. A model will see me and say, "Oh my God, I'm so happy you're here."

As a Black woman, I understand what that means. Many women, especially women with textured hair, have had difficult experiences. They've been misunderstood. They've been told their hair is difficult. They've sat in chairs where they didn't feel safe. So sometimes simply being present changes the energy. That's really important to me.

NT: You've said before that creating safety is part of your purpose.

DDS: It is. I grew up having beautiful experiences around hair. My mom took incredible care of my hair. My aunt owned a salon. Hair was associated with care, attention, and love. When I entered the industry, I realized that wasn't everyone's experience. A lot of women carry trauma around their hair. That realization changed everything for me.

Of course, I love the artistry. I love creating. But I also want to create experiences that balance out some of those negative experiences. I want people to understand that a hair appointment can feel good. It can feel nurturing and safe.

NT: You said something during our conversation that really stayed with me. You said luxury is feeling safe.

DDS: I really believe that. When people hear luxury, they think about expensive products or beautiful spaces. Those things are lovely, but that's not what luxury means to me. Luxury is sitting in a chair and knowing you don't have to worry. Luxury is trusting the person taking care of you. Luxury is being able to exhale. That's the experience I want people to have.

NT: Where do you find inspiration when you're not working?

DDS: Everywhere. I'm very emotional and sensory. I need to feel things. I can be walking down the street and suddenly become fascinated by a tree. The texture of the bark. The shape of a leaf. The way light moves across something.

Months later, I'll remember that moment and think, "How do I translate that into hair?" I don't separate creativity from everyday life. The world is constantly giving us things to pay attention to.

NT: What fills you up outside of work?

DDS: Community. Lately, I've been making a real effort to spend more time with people and less time on my phone. I want real conversations. I want to hear what my friends are thinking about. What they're reading. What's inspiring them.

I also need nature. I grew up in Portland, Oregon, and I'll always be a tree girl. I need water. I need fresh air. I need movement. Those things help me reconnect with myself.

NT: What do you hope people take away from your work?

DDS: Curiosity. I want people to walk away wanting to investigate something further. Maybe that's something inside themselves. Maybe it's a new idea. Maybe it's a new perspective.

Curiosity keeps us open, keeps us learning, keeps us growing. And I think that's one of the most beautiful things we can carry through life.