Getting to the root of fantasy hair icon Weaven Steven

BY LENORA CLAIRE

If you've ever seen Steven Noss aka Weaven Steven the sometimes gold-grilled, golden haired, flamboyant dynamo styling outrageous and occasionally spinning hair creations on shows like Ricki Lake, America's Next Top Model, Split Ends, you would know he is as impossible to forget as any of his rainbow-hued designs. We had a moment to catch up with Steven while on break from promoting his new book Hair Wars, that is simply to dye for.

FRONTIERS: What got you started doing fantasy hair?

WEAVEN STEVEN: I got involved in doing fantasy hair back in the early 90's after I attended Hair Wars in Detroit, Michigan. This is a hair entertainment showcase in which African-American hair designers display their work in an entertaining fashion. I was so amazed at some of the creative hair designs that I saw coming down the runway. After attending the show for a few years I approached show producer David Humphries questioning him how I could get involved. When I hit the stage back in 2000 the crowds went wild seeing this booty poppin' white boy doing fantasy hair designs and giving extremely energetic stage presentations.

How is doing fantasy hair different from, say, working at a salon and doing the POB (the Posh bob) or some stringy Paris Hilton-esque extensions?

When I am creating a fantasy look I use weave-in colors like pink, blue, green, and all the rest of the color of the rainbow. I spritz, mold, flat iron, hot curl, gel, and then detail with rhinestones, sequins, braids etc.

What is it like to be a gay man in the fantasy weave world?

It's very exciting being a white gay male being recognized as a talent in the black hair industry. We as gay males are generally more creative as a whole. This gives me the chance to utilize my favorite hobby, designing the most creative fantasy hair I can think of. During the creating process and putting a show together it gets a little crazy sometimes getting into situations like running out of supplies and the shopping takes forever. Or hair not wanting to cooperate and even models not wanting to cooperate! That's when I turn into a royal bitch and set everybody straight!

What celebrity would you most like to design a weave for?

The celebrity I think that I would most like to design her weave is New York (and her mother). The reason being is that sometimes her weaves look a little heavy and I would like do some on her that don't look as "wiggy." She wears a lot of different looks, which makes her versatile so I would have a lot of fun designing some new ‘dos for her.

Tell us about the new Weave Wars book.

Photographer David Yellen contacted me about a year and a half ago because he was interested in doing a photo shoot of my creations. I ended up being the biggest contributor to the book and landed the cover spot. All of my photos in the book have stories behind them, including the world’s only flying hairdo to the very first men’s fantasy creation.

Meet Weaven Steven for book signings at A Different Light Bookstore, West Hollywood on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. and at Arclight Cinema Hollywood on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. He will also appear at the breast cancer benefit “Merry Titmas“ at the World of Wonder Gallery, 6650 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m.