“A lot of times I like to freestyle and see what I come up with but still making sure it’s tailored to my subject.”
Music artist and fellow Souldega Sister Leen, styled by Koplah Tinubu
It all started when…
SOULDEGA: How did you get into the world of styling?
KOPLAH: When I was young I always loved the idea of putting clothes together and feeling pretty after my mom would do my hair. At the age of 3 years old when my mom dropped me off to preschool, I’d always wait for her to leave to switch up the outfit she originally dressed me in! Like I would pull my belt out of my pant loops, untuck my long shirt and wear my belt on top of my shirt to synch my waist! Ha! As I got older, my mom grew sick with with her arthritis and other things so she couldn’t always help with my hair since her hands would be in pain. With that being said, I was forced to do my own hair. I would teach myself how to braid by using shoe laces or anything I could find lol ahhh good times. Anyways, I eventually ended up in beauty school learning more about hair and makeup. While in school I worked in fashion retail and went on to do visual merchandising and styling.
SOULDEGA: What has been your most exciting and challenging project so far?
KOPLAH: I would have to say the last shoot I did recently called “Moss” where I was doing hair was the most exciting and challenging. It was 2 months of planning! It was such a wonderful experience with a group of talented people.
SOULDEGA: We love your ability to transform your subjects, what is your process in cultivating a vision for wardrobe, make up and hair?
KOPLAH: Hmmm well the process varies. It usually comes from people and objects that inspire me and I just take it from there. A lot of times I like to freestyle and see what I come up with but still making sure it’s tailored to my subject.
SOULDEGA: Who are some of your favorite stylists and why?
KOPLAH: I loveeeeee Patti Wilson and June Ambrose. These women are amazing and they think outside the box. They’re pretty much what I aspire to be.
SOULDEGA: Being the Renaissance stylist that you are, did we miss any other talents you would like to share?
KOPLAH: I’m actually classically trained in music! I majored in vocal music in school were I sang a lot of opera - yes opera! I also use to play the Tenor saxophone when I was a kid.
SOULDEGA: If you only had 10 minutes to pack for a trip to Morocco what would you bring and why?
KOPLAH: My wig, some accessories and good shoes! I’ll buy clothes when I get there lol. As long as I have those things I can make it work!
“I would teach myself how to braid by using shoe laces or anything I could find”
