Anthony Dickey

From styling hair in his childhood kitchen to creating iconic looks for First Lady Michelle Obama in Chicago, Anthony Dickey’s journey is one of passion, innovation, and groundbreaking influence in the beauty industry. As the founder of the revolutionary Hair Rules brand, Dickey has solidified his reputation as a celebrity stylist and texture expert, transforming the way textured hair is seen and celebrated.

Dubbed a “Style Svengali” by The New York Times and named to the EBONY Power 100 list, Dickey is widely recognized for his ability to shape and influence beauty standards. Known as the “Texture Guru,” he has mastered the complexities of textured hair, creating signature styles for celebrities such as Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Minnie Driver, Solange, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kelis, and Raquel Welch. For over three decades, Dickey has helped thousands of women rediscover their natural texture, turning years of frustration into newfound confidence and empowerment.

Early Life and Inspiration
Born during the Civil Rights era in Seattle, Washington, Dickey was raised with a drive to break barriers. As a biracial child, he experienced firsthand how societal attitudes around skin color affected people’s perceptions and treatment. After his aunt enrolled him in cosmetology school in San Francisco, Dickey began to notice the parallels between how hair texture and skin color were treated in the beauty industry. He set out to challenge these norms and moved to New York City in the late 1980s to pursue editorial styling.

Rise to Prominence
In New York, Dickey honed his craft at world-class salons, including Oribe, John Frieda, and Louis Licari. He quickly became the go-to stylist for clients with hair textures often deemed “unmanageable.” As he worked with women of all textures, he recognized a glaring gap in the beauty market—there were rows dedicated to Black hair and white hair, but nothing for the diverse range in between. This “one-size-fits-all” approach to beauty left many women confused, frustrated, and emotionally harmed. Dickey knew it was time to merge the aisles and create an inclusive standard for hair care.

Author, Innovator, and Educator
In 2003, Dickey authored Hair Rules! The Ultimate Hair Care Guide for Women with Kinky, Curly, or Wavy Hair (Random House), a groundbreaking book that redefined hair care for a multi-textural world. The book became a catalyst for change, raising awareness and setting new standards for textured hair care. Now in its third printing, the book is part of the curriculum at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles.

The Birth of Hair Rules
To meet the needs of his ever-growing clientele, Dickey launched the Hair Rules product line in 2008, creating texture-specific cleansers, conditioners, and styling aids for kinky, curly, wavy, and straight hair. In 2009, he opened the Hair Rules Salon in New York City—the first multi-textural salon in the U.S. Built on a foundation of beauty, education, and community, the salon promotes the healthiest approach to hair care and styling while challenging traditional beauty standards.

Anthony Dickey’s mission is clear: to encourage people to embrace their natural beauty and remind the world that while not all hair is created the same, every texture deserves to be treated with equal care and respect.