For more than twenty years, S. West has been at the forefront of hair and beauty. She started doing hair for family and friends as a teenager and transitioned to cosmetologist, master barber, author, educator, medical prosthetic provider and global stylist. Her talented hands and business acumen has taken her from her upbringing in Queens, New York, all around the world. S. West is renowned for her pixie cuts and custom wigs. 

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Originally obtaining her license in 2002, S. West doubled down and pursued her Bachelor’s in Business Administration. With a firm plan in place and the skills needed to expand, S. West purchased her first salon in 2010 and renamed Queen of the Wink to Hair Art. Through her mentorship she encouraged each stylist to freely practice their art. S. West believes that ‘helping women of color feel more beautiful and confident is rewarding’. 

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Of her many accomplishments, most notable are her features in Hype Magazine (a magazine she coveted growing up), working with Richard L. Greene of Crown and Glory in NYC and maintaining successful businesses in New York and Virginia. Several videos of her styles have gone viral and she’s adored by almost 14,000 Instagram followers. 

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As a custom wig maker, S. West set the bar on meeting the needs of those with medical conditions that created the loss of their natural hair. For many years, this need was overlooked for women of color. So, she defied the norm and created an avenue for her custom wigs to be accepted by medical insurance companies. Now, women suffering from hair loss due to medical conditions to have access to premium, quality, custom units. 

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In 2019, she sold her business to focus on education and outreach. S. West authored her first book, ## to help stylist find ways to save and plan for retirement or what comes after they step away from the chair.

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Although Simone isn’t planning on stepping away anytime soon, she loves educating stylist on techniques, business foundations and wig making.