Teyana Taylor is exactly who she says she is!

The Oscar-nominated star answered the internet’s call and gave a Dallas creator a full-on glam tutorial after a viral “epic fail” attempt to replicate the star’s signature cropped hairstyle. The moment, shared in a joint video, is the kind of celebrity kindness that goes beyond likes: it’s mentorship, hair education, and a huge win for Black hair celebration all in one. 

Dallas content creator Chanell Sykes — who posts as @lovechanellenje — went viral in January after trying to recreate Taylor’s curly pixie on TikTok and joking that the look had missed the mark. The clip even landed her a segment on “The Sherri Show,” and it set off a wave of good-natured ribbing that Sykes took in stride. “My audience knows I show up in all my forms,” she told People, explaining that she hit record, shared the unfiltered attempt, and “let it be what it was.” 

What happened next felt almost cinematic. Taylor noticed the post, her team reached out, and Taylor and her glam squad surprised Sykes with an in-person session. In the video, Taylor greets the creator with a simple, playful question: “Alright, so what you going for today?” Then she and her team go to work, guiding Sykes through styling, maintenance tips, and the finishing touches that make the cut recognizable. 

Sykes described the experience as profoundly meaningful. “Teyana’s glam squad is top tier — every hair was in place, the makeup was done to perfection, and her coming in to do the finishing touch just felt like chef’s kiss.” She told People the lesson stayed with her: Taylor not only fixed the style, she also shared maintenance tips so Sykes could rock the look on her own. “It’s a moment I’ll always hold close,” Sykes said. 

This sweet, hands-on gesture is a reminder that Black hair culture is community culture, a public space where learning, generosity, and affirmation matter. It’s also a quiet pushback against gatekeeping: a major star took time to teach a fan, normalizing hands-on care and respect for Black hair techniques. As Sykes put it in the final clip, after Taylor finished the look and they snapped peace signs together: “Full-circle moments like this remind me why I love and will continue to show up as myself, every version of me.”