Meet Noah Scott, The Wig Maker Behind Ariana Grande And Nicki Minaj’s Perfect Hair

At simply 24 years previous, celeb wig maker Noah Scott is a little bit of a revelation.

In 4 years his firm WhatWigs has not solely created wigs and hairpieces for the likes of Ariana Granda, Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry, however turned over seven figures in gross sales with a lean, imply group of 1.

“I grew up in a brilliant small city with virtually nothing to do, so like nearly all of our technology, I grew up watching YouTube movies,” the Virginia native tells me, tracing the tracks that led him to develop into one among Hollywood’s most in-demand wig stylists.

“I had a fascination with hair items from a younger age. I’d watch lots of of movies on the best way to make a wigs, then I’d make my dad and mom take me to the native magnificence provide retailer, get the most cost effective hair that they had and attempt to replicate what I’d watch from these movies.”

By the point Scott turned 17 he had perfected his craft however knew there was restricted scope for gross sales or purchasers in his mountainside hometown, so determined to maneuver to San Diego.

“It wasn’t that straightforward,” Scott admits. “I nonetheless needed to make a residing, so I labored a retail job that I used to be depressing at.”

In that point, Scott would typically create wigs for his pals to wear down in town. Gorgeous, flowering items that used lace-front and full-lace closures to imitate the look actual hair.

Items that all the time caught the eye of strangers that wished to know the way they, too, might obtain good, lengthy hair.

After three years he determined to make the leap, stop his job, and dive deep into wigmaking with the launch of a one-man wig enterprise, ‘WhatWigs’.

He would make a web site, create the entire wigs, and mix natural social media advertising and celeb endorsements to present the enterprise its finest shot.

“The primary time I labored with a star I really met up together with her at a fuel station in the course of Los Angeles to present her a wig,” he laughs. “It was an expertise I’ll always remember.”

Within the early days, challenges had been plentiful. For photograph shoots, performances and extra, celeb purchasers typically require uncommon lengths, colours, and textures.

“I as soon as made a wig that value about $20,000 and was about six ft of the rarest hair on the earth—it’s virtually inconceivable to search out hair of that high quality and size!”

Nonetheless, his arduous work paid off. Quickly after, a wig he created for the singer Kehlani sparked one thing of a star domino impact. The Kardashians, Demi Lovato, a handful of RuPaul’s Drag Race queens, Paris Hilton, and extra had been quickly to observe as purchasers.

“I believe my greatest lesson discovered can be that closed mouths don’t get fed,” he says. “If you would like one thing put it out into the universe and go get it. Should you don’t at least put your self on the market you gained’t obtain something.”

Living proof, the hairpiece he made for Ariana Grande when she headlined Coachella in 2019.

“It’s my favourite piece I’ve ever made—a brilliant lengthy, silky darkish brown ponytail that flowed within the wind fantastically the complete efficiency,” he says. “That was a brilliant thrilling second for me because it was my first main consumer and I received to see my work in motion for the primary time ever.”

Even with a worldwide pandemic at play, enterprise didn’t appear to gradual. Partaking with the hair tutorials and hair-tastic portraits shared on his @WhatWigs Instagram account, clients flooded in as quick because the celebrities.

At this level, his work is cut up between web site gross sales (60%) and customized creations for his celeb clientele (40%), although the latter brings in additional revenue.

“I really feel like my connections within the leisure business have undoubtedly grown tremendously in a brief period of time and I’m very grateful that these folks select me and my craft.”

He’s even, lastly (!), employed a second group member to assist handle the workflow.

“I noticed my enterprise was rising an excessive amount of for me to handle the whole lot alone,” he admits. “I’m such a management freak and like the whole lot performed a sure means but it surely was one of the best factor I might have performed.

“I by no means anticipated to see my enterprise develop in such a brief period of time.”

Within the subsequent 5 years he would like to open a flagship WhatWigs retailer in addition to a product line to deal with and take care of its hair.

“Apart from that, I simply wish to proceed to make stunning wigs and assist males and lady internationally really feel stunning in and out.”