One of our rising tang starlets has hit the big time, sort of. Atlanta hair stylist and owner of a plethora of sicknan designer hand bags and pumps Derek J was recently profiled in Creative Loafing. Get ready for the maple syrup sandwich of love!

How did you get started?
I’ve been doing hair now for 10 years. My aunt used to do hair out of her house, so I used to watch her. I liked the transformation of women. You would see a woman come in and she was having a bad day, and then she would get her hair done and feel so much better. With a woman, when she has a physical change she has an emotional change.

Where would you say your inspiration for your style comes from?
If I want to come to work with some booty shorts on and have an off-the-shoulder top with some thigh high boots, that’s what I’m going to do. When I first started wearing heels, I would wear them with a dress slack so you couldn’t really tell I had a heel on. Then I moved to skinny jeans. I used to say I will never wear my toes out, and then I put on a peep-toe. It’s about pushing the envelope and seeing how people respond. To see people’s reactions and their acceptance makes me strive to do more.

What is the experience of competing in hair competitions like?
Hair show competitions in general are very political; you have to tread lightly, because your peers are the people that are judging you. My resume might read better than their resume, yet they’re judging me. I don’t want to brag or anything, but I put on a better show than anybody else. I’m not a big prop person; because of that, I give you a straight show. It’s just me, three models and eight dancers, and we will show you up all day long.

You have styled a few of the “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Whose hairdos are you responsible for?
I’m responsible for NeNe cutting her hair short. You’ll see on the new season that Kim’s wig is a lot better. When it looks bad she did it herself, but when she’s doing an interview or something I most likely did it. I used to do Kandi’s hair. I haven’t done her hair for over a year now, but we are still friends.

Who is the man behind the hair?
Once I step out of all of my fabulousness, I’m a homebody. I lie on my bed. My television stays on Cartoon Network at all times. I just chill. I wear tennis shoes, shorts and T-shirts. I just flip into a whole other mode.