This interview appeared in the March 2020 issue of GAY TIMES.

Photography Charlotte Rutherford at LMC Worldwide
Fashion Jordan Boothe at LMC Worldwide
Words Daniel Megarry
Set Design Natalie Fält at LALALAND Artists
Digital Artist Metapoint
Photography Assistants Natalie Obermaier and Simone Niamani
Tokyo's Team Winnie Stackz
Location The Dream Factory Studio, LA

“Not to sound cocky, but I truly believe I was born with my talent to do hair,” says Tokyo Stylez. We’ve managed to catch the hairstylist-to-the-stars in between a session with rap’s hottest thing Cardi B - other clients include Kylie Jenner, Naomi Campbell, Rihanna, the list goes on - and she’s rightfully confident in her ability to turn out a wig like no other. If you’ve been gagged by a red carpet serve or magazine cover over the last five years, chances are Tokyo’s had something to do with it - or at least inspired whoever’s behind it. Kylie’s black bob at her Met Gala debut? That was Tokyo. Rihanna’s iconic grey hair on the cover of Tush? Tokyo. Cardi’s yellow pussycat wig on her Invasion of Privacy album cover? Yes, that was Tokyo, too. The girls know that if they want a show-stopping look, there’s one name to turn to, so it’s no surprise Tokyo’s in high-demand. “I always imagined myself doing hair,” she says, “I just never thought in my wildest dreams that it would take me around the world doing everything I wanted to accomplish in life.” 

Tokyo was a creative child, and had an interest in styling from an early age - experimenting on Barbie dolls helped - but it wasn’t until she started doing her sister’s hair that she discovered her calling. “I guess you could say my sister was my first victim,” she jokes. After their mother was incarcerated, a young Tokyo was left to look after her sister, and that included a special request to make sure her hair was kept well. “My mother did what she had to in order to survive and take care of us, and she will still do anything for us, but at the time it was hard watching her go away and we didn’t really understand at the time what was going on,” she recalls. Her mother only expected something simple like a ponytail, but Tokyo thrived, picking up different styles very quickly. “I had to step up because I didn’t want her looking crazy,” she adds. “I have a great family that made sure we were good while [my mother] was away, but we didn’t have it easy and I knew [my sister] had my back and I had hers and we got through it.”