The Stylist Panel is the backbone of Curl.
We select a new Stylist Panel each year. They are our team of four expert curly hair stylists, and we go to them for our facts and information.
Let’s meet them!
2023 Curl Stylist Panel
Leyla Bates
Lov Ley Curls Studio, Manassas, Virgina
lovleycurls.com / @lovleycurls
Leyla is the founder of Lov Ley Curls Studio in Manassas, Virginia, and is an Innersense Organic Beauty educator. She is a published curl artist who has extensive training in the art and science of naturally curly hair. Leyla is versatile in all curl types and is known for her attention to detail and creating precision custom shapes. She is very passionate about educating her clients on simple hair care and clean beauty products. Her goal is to inspire and build confidence in her clients so they gain the freedom to be authentic. When she’s not behind the chair, she enjoys traveling, self-care, and family time.
Michael Gilliatt
San Diego, California
curlgirlmichael.com / @curlgirlmichael
Born with stick straight hair, Michael never dreamed her niche would be curls. From the start of her styling career, she encouraged guests to embrace their natural texture. When her own hair started changing, she enthusiastically learned the art of curls. Finding she loved them so much, she made them her specialty. Focusing first on clean products and healthy, hydrated curls, she blends together intuition, creativity, and knowledge gleaned from many curly certifications to empower all genders and ages to celebrate their unique texture. Outside the salon, you might find Michael out on a beach walk, baking, or curled up with a cup of tea and a cat.
Eric Kelley
Eric Kelley Salon, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
erickelleysalon.com / @hairbyerickelley
Eric has been in the hair industry for more than 20 years, but his curl career began in 2008 when he had the opportunity to train at DevaCurl Academy in New York City. He went on to become Louisiana’s first DevaCurl Advanced Stylist. From that point, he continued diversifying his curl skills while developing a curly hair-exclusive clientele. To date, he is Louisiana’s only stylist certified in Daze Kinetic Curl Cutting, Rëzo Curl Level 2, and Curl-by-Curl cutting, taught by Curly Girl Method creator Lorraine Massey. He is now working on plans to share his extensive curl knowledge through independent education.
Shirin Zakerion
Siren Curl Studio, Tulsa, Oklahoma
beasiren.com / @hicurlfriend / @be.a.siren
Shirin is a hairstylist with over 16 years of experience. She owns Siren Curl Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she and her team provide curly hair education and services. Shirin immigrated to the United States as a toddler and always wanted to be a hairstylist from a young age. She loves educating clients and stylists about her industry and is passionate about her work. She enjoys spending time with her two boys and husband when she’s not at work, as well as making pasta and seeing her favorite artists perform live.
