THE ARTIST. THE EDUCATOR. THE WOMAN BEHIND AKANDE ARTISTS.

If you had told my high school self that doing my friends' hair for school dances would eventually turn into a luxury bridal hairstyling business, I probably would have laughed.

Although, looking back, maybe the signs were always there.

By my senior year, I had a logbook filled with back-to-back hair appointments for every school dance. And yes, I charged my friends $20. HA! I guess I've always had a little entrepreneurial spirit.

I went on to attend Western Michigan University and the Aveda Institute in Chicago. Big city, big dreams. I loved the creativity of hairstyling, but I was equally fascinated by the business side of the beauty industry. That combination eventually led me to work with some of the industry's top professional haircare brands.

But something was missing.

A friend of mine was a successful bridal hairstylist, and one day I asked if I could tag along to help with a wedding. My skills were admittedly a little rusty, and I was incredibly nervous.

But I remember leaving that wedding feeling something I hadn't experienced before.

The energy. The excitement. The emotion of being part of someone's most important day.

I was hooked.

It was never just about the hair.

Over the years, I've had the privilege of styling some truly incredible brides. And while I take enormous pride in creating beautiful, timeless hairstyles, I've learned that what happens in the bridal suite goes far beyond the finished look.

It's how you make someone feel.

It's bringing a sense of calm to a busy wedding morning. It's knowing when to offer reassurance, when to step back, and when to make someone laugh. It's understanding that the hairstyle you're creating will live in photographs for generations.

That's something I've never taken lightly.

I believe exceptional bridal hairstyling requires more than technical skill. It requires preparation, professionalism, emotional awareness, and an obsessive attention to the little details most people never notice.

And those details? They're everything to me.

Why I created Akande Artists.

As my career evolved, another passion became just as important to me as styling brides: education.

I've always loved teaching. There's something incredibly rewarding about helping another hairstylist understand not just how to create a beautiful hairstyle, but why certain techniques work.

And the more I taught, the more I recognized an opportunity to do something different within the bridal beauty industry.

I wanted to build a team. But not just any team.

I didn't want to simply gather a group of talented hairstylists, put them under one name, and send them out to weddings.

I wanted to develop artists.

Artists who are as invested in the preparation as they are in the finished result. Who understand that beautiful bridal hair should look just as incredible in person as it does in photographs. Who take pride in their professionalism, their presentation, their communication, and the experience they create for every bride.

That's why Akande Artists was born.

Every artist who joins our team is personally hand-selected. Talent matters, of course, but so does character, attitude, professionalism, and the willingness to continue learning.

Our artists participate in comprehensive training and ongoing education throughout the year, because I believe being good at something is never a reason to stop getting better.

The standards I've spent years developing don't disappear when I'm not the person holding the curling iron.

They're the foundation of this entire brand.

Raising the standard.

My vision for Akande Artists is simple: to create a bridal hairstyling team recognized not only for exceptional work, but for the exceptional people behind it.

I want our brides to feel confident from the moment they inquire. Whether they're working with me personally or one of our artists, I want them to know that the same level of care, preparation, and intention goes into every booking.

We specialize in refined, modern, timeless bridal hairstyling. Beautiful hair that feels polished without being overdone. Styles that complement the bride, her dress, and the entire vision for her wedding day.

We aren't here to be everything to everyone.

We're here for brides who appreciate the artistry, trust the expertise, and understand the value of having experienced professionals by their side on one of the most memorable days of their lives.

And as Akande Artists continues to grow throughout Detroit, Northern Michigan, and beyond, my commitment remains the same.

To keep learning. To keep teaching. To keep challenging the standards of our industry. And to create opportunities for talented artists to build careers they're truly proud of.

Because for me, success isn't just about how many brides we style.

It's about the standard we leave behind.

And when I'm not talking about hair...

You'll usually find me spending time with my husband, our son, and our feisty French bulldog.

After years of living in Chicago, we moved back to my home state of Michigan in 2022, and we've loved making it home again. We also spend time in Antigua, where my husband grew up, which has only fueled my love for travel and destination weddings.

I'm a hairstylist at heart, an educator by passion, and someone who genuinely believes there's always room to dream a little bigger.

I'm incredibly proud of what Akande Artists is becoming, and even more excited about what's ahead.

Thanks for being part of the journey.

XOXO,

Ronda

ronda akande