Kellon Deryck did not set out to become one of the most in demand hairstylists in music. He started the way a lot of people in the industry do, practicing on his sisters' dolls as a kid, then working his way up through a shampoo assistant job in high school before eventually enrolling at Aveda Institute. By 2011 he was already working with the Braxtons, more than 15 years into what has become a career built on bold, architectural hair design.
A friendship that started on set and never slowed down
Deryck met Megan Thee Stallion eight years ago on a music video shoot, and what began as a professional connection turned into one of the closer friendships either of them has. He has said she was the one who pulled him out of his own shyness early on, and the two have stayed close ever since, talking through FaceTime about everything from daily life to upcoming projects. The relationship even made it into her music, with Megan rapping about a forty inch weave by Kellon in her song Don't Stop.
The work that gets talked about
Some of Deryck's most memorable projects include the copper red ponytail he built for Megan's 2025 Met Gala look, inspired by Josephine Baker and requiring nine hours of prep before a forty five minute install, along with the sculptural updo he created for her InStyle September cover. His client list extends well beyond Megan, including Cardi B, Teyana Taylor, and Missy Elliott, for whom he once crafted a serpentine braid spelling out her name across the cover of her Iconology EP.
Precision over everything
Deryck describes his approach in fairly exacting terms, pointing to the cut, the smoothness, and the angles as the details that separate good work from great work, especially for red carpet images that get scrutinized from every direction. He has started using AI mock-ups for virtual consultations with clients, and beyond styling he now owns several salons and has a tinted lace glue collaboration with Ghost Bond, alongside an unreleased product he is developing together with Megan.