
While Caidy Brasure enjoyed styling her sisters and friends for cheerleading, school dances and pageants as well as braiding yarn into potholders with her mom at a young age, she had no idea it would lead her to her future career. She was just having fun. It was while she was pursuing a degree in sports writing in college that she had her wake up call. After that, she did not look back, even when fellow students told her that braiding would never work out. That dedication and mastery of her craft led her to a successful styling career and a 2023 North American Hairstyling Award (NAHA) in Styling and Finishing. Go with us and Brasure as we go on her hair journey to ultimately what led her to become an award-winning stylist.
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Journey with cover artist Caidy Brasure (@caidycreate) from school dance stylist to NAHA 2023 Winner in Styling and Finishing.
While Caidy Brasure enjoyed styling her sisters and friends for cheerleading, school dances and pageants as well as braiding yarn into potholders with her mom at a young age, she had no idea it would lead her to her future career. She was just having fun. It was while she was pursuing a degree in sports writing in college that she had her wake up call. After that, she did not look back, even when fellow students told her that braiding would never work out. That dedication and mastery of her craft led her to a successful styling career and a 2023 North American Hairstyling Award (NAHA) in Styling and Finishing. Go with us and Brasure as we go on her hair journey to ultimately what led her to become an award-winning stylist.
Beauty Launchpad (BLP): Tell us about your journey in the industry? What led you here?
Caidy Brasure (CD): One day my professor asked what my true passion was in life, and at that moment, it clicked. I left sports writing behind and enrolled at Paul Mitchell The School Great Lakes the next day, never looking back. From there, I knew I wanted to specialize in braiding and styling. Unfortunately, when voicing my interest to others, I was told I would never make it because that area of expertise was not what one goes to cosmetology school to become. Pushing the negativity aside, I followed my heart and am indeed a proud Braiding and Styling Specialist where I now work on photoshoots and films and travel all over the United States as well as out of country for bride’s wedding days, in addition to providing education to other professionals within the industry on how to elevate their own artistry within braiding and hairstyling. Caidy Brasure is the 2023 North American Hairstyling Award (NAHA) in Styling and Finishing winner.Courtesy of Caidy Brasure
BLP: Tell us why you entered NAHA? Why did you choose the styling and finishing category?
CB: I entered NAHA because I wanted to push my own creativity and explore what my artistry was truly capable of achieving. NAHA is something I’ve wanted to enter a collection into since the start of my career but never really knew where to start. I finally took a leap of faith in setting up a shoot, but even in the days leading up to it, I still felt unsure on the direction I wanted to fully take my hair designs in because of how much I wanted to showcase within just three images. With my specialty being intricate braiding and formal hairstyling, I decided to create a collection that encompassed both of these passions in a unique and inventive way. The Styling and Finishing Category was the perfect option for me to showcase my layered braided hair designs, while also adding both textured and sleek hair elements, into one cohesive collection. I couldn’t be more proud with how the hair designs came together!
BLP: What was the process like to create your finished looks?
CB: Most of my intricate braided hair designs take hours, and sometimes days, to create. I love utilizing hair extensions, so that I can prepare some of my braided hair elements in advance. For this specific collection, I created several different braided hair pieces to then braid into my model’s natural hair come the day of the shoot. I also wanted to showcase a combination of sleek and textured hair by tailoring my designs to celebrate both options. I also wanted to have a ‘clean face’ feel to the model’s skin with foil glitter accents for contrast, which my makeup artist Megan Walker executed perfectly. Additionally, I had onset assisting with Mariah Price and Madison Pendergrass to help ensure the entire shoot went smoothly while Miles Marie created the most incredible lighting for photographing my amazing model Maya Riddle.
BLP: Where did you draw inspiration from to create your looks?
CB: I wanted to create balance between mystery and excitement, almost as if you have to take a second look to really see all of the exposed detail within the hair designs. The contrast of the dim light setting paired with the brightness of the braided hair designs, in addition to the softness of the curled hair and sleekness of the smoothed hair, was inspired by old black and white films I remember my parents watching together when I was young. I wanted to create the elegance in the hair I would see on TV but in a completely different and unexpected way. The braided hair components were an elevated twist that I wanted to showcase for dimension, as well as the foil glitter for captivity. Overall, this collection embodies the past and the future. I couldn’t be prouder of the end result.
BLP: What advice would you give stylists that want to enter an awards program?
CB: Do it! So often we feel as if we need to wait for ‘the right time’ or until we are an ‘established artist’ to make our next move when really, why not do it now? The experience you gain, the confidence you create and the connections you make along the way are worth more than any doubts that may fill your mind. By stepping outside your comfort zone and trusting your passion, you may just surprise yourself in the best way possible. Brasure's winning submission for the 2023 NAHA Styling and Finishing category.Courtesy of Caidy Brasure, Photography by Miles Marie
BLP: Why did you specialize in braiding and styling? Why did you choose that avenue?
CB: I really chose this path at a young age without even realizing it. Growing up, my mom was very passionate about crafting, which my two sisters and I would often help and, in turn, do as a family. One craft in particular that really unlocked my creativity was making woven potholders. I loved threading the yarn into an almost braided layering design to create a really unique pattern. I’ve found that the techniques learned at a young age, from making something as simple as potholders, has ultimately inspired some of my most beloved hair designs. When it comes to choosing this specific avenue, I think at times it chose me in the sense that braiding is something I’ve had an interest in long before I ever thought of braiding hair specifically. It’s an escape, a calming place and something I truly never want to live without because of how much joy it honestly brings to my life.
BLP: If you could go back in your journey and do anything over again, would you?
CB: If I altered one thing about my journey, it would be to trust myself more. So often there are outside opinions about your goals, what path you’re taking to achieve those goals and if you’re actually capable of making your dreams a reality. When you hear enough that what you want won’t happen, sometimes you start to believe it. Don’t believe it. You have to get to a point where you trust yourself and believe in yourself. Even if someone else doesn’t understand your journey, you are the one in the driver’s seat. You are the one that is able to create and manifest any life you want. It all just depends on how bad you want it.
BLP: Where do you see the salon industry headed?
CB: The salon industry is forever evolving with endless avenues to pursue. It’s also an industry that allows you to be exactly who you are and accepts all forms of individuals. I think the most beautiful thing about our industry is that we have the ability to literally change lives, and, in turn, have our lives changed as well. With that, we are able to be there for our clients through some of the most magical moments they will experience, the most traumatic hardships they will encounter, the in between challenges they navigate and everything else along the way. We are so much more than the services we offer as the connection and relationships we build with our clients is unmatched to any other industry. The salon industry as a whole will continue to inspire, empower, uplift and create connection to the community of professionals, so that we may offer the best possible experience to each guest we are honored enough to service.
Cover Credits
Hair: Caidy Brasure
Photographer: Miles Marie
Makeup: Megan Walker
Model: Maya Riddle
Photoshoot Assistants: Madison Pendergrass and Mariah Price
Get The Look: Cover
- I utilized the GHD Platinum + Styler 1” Flat Iron to smooth the hair and create polished, sleek hair sections in addition to the GHD Thin Wand - 0.5” Curling Wand to create textured coil curls.
- I then used the Moroccanoil Smoothing Lotion to help eliminate frizz and fly away hairs when braiding, the Dry Texture Spray to add volume and fullness, the Luminous Hairspray for a touchable yet structured hold, the Perfect Defense to help protect the hair from heat prior to any hot tool use and the Treatment Oil to help redefine the curls and add shine to the overall hair designs.