Get To Know: Faith

Last year in issue 03 of Sanxtuary Magazine we interviewed Faith @faiththedesigner and chatted with her about creative process, inspirations, and braiding work!

Hi Faith, lovely to speak with you, and welcome to the Sanxtuary! First question, where did your journey with hair sculpting begin? 

Growing up in South London and experiencing both my Jamaican and Indian culture, I grew up constantly seeing aunties braid, cornrow and adorn hair. I would say my love and respect for braiding started from there. But my hair sculpture journey began 3 years ago right from my bedroom. I had just finished uni, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do but I knew that I loved creating hairstyles, and so I would sit for hours and hours just braiding, designing and making hair sculptures in my room. I began to film my pieces and upload them to my socials, and then from there it started to slowly take off :) 

You went from having this incredible concept to now collaborating with brands? Tell us about how you started to turn your art into an income. 

I’m very grateful to have collaborated with so many amazing brands and artists. And I look forward to collaborating with so many more! But I didn’t start off uploading my art thinking it would gain much attraction or make an income from it, I just uploaded my work for the love of it. But once I started to upload my hair sculptures to my socials, I started to slowly but surely receive messages from brands and other artists interested in collaborating & buying. And then from there I began to learn how to price my art and turn what I love into a income. 

Are there any artists or actors that you would want to collaborate with? 

Yes! I have so many, the list is endless lol so I’ll keep it short but for one Solange, I have so much love for her art. As well as other artists like: Erykah Badu, Grace Jones and sooo many more, as well as so many more talented South London artists. Big up South brupbrup! 

How long does it take you to create a hair piece? 

Now it usually takes me between 1-4 days to create a piece. This time period usually depends on how detailed the piece is, or how small or big I’m creating the piece. As I’m braiding by hand, sewing, stitching and molding.

Is there a favourite piece of yours that you created?

Omg! I have so many favourite pieces, but so far my top fav pieces are my: waterfall fountain, cherry blossom tree, “I will give you my heart”, samurai sword and baubles hair sculpture. 

Amazing speaking with you! Anything you are working on for us to keep an eye out for? 

Thank you for having you for having me <3 I’m currently working on a few projects to come out later on this year with some new artists, which I’m very excited for! *winkwink

Is there any advice you’d give to any queer or poc creatives who want to get into hair sculpting?

I would say trust, trust, TRUST your ideas, practice your craft, be eager to learn, don’t compare your work to others (comparison is the stealer of joy) and don’t undersell yourself & your art.

Last question! Since this issue is inspired by the inner child, how has sculpting healed or moved your inner child?

My mum has always been my biggest support & best friend. But growing up I did feel lonely as a child and overlooked by others. And so I would escape time to draw from my imagination and daydream for hours. And so for being able to now create new hair ideas that not only moves me but others, really heals the inner child part of me, it really makes her feel seen and appreciated. My mum was also a sculpture artist and used to create wax figures for Madame Tussauds and so we used to have our mummy and daughter bonding moments over sculpture. Those nostalgic memories also heal baby Faith. 

For the latest exclusive interviews grab issue 03 here!