Andre Walker
Andre Walker, five-time Emmy Award winner and personal stylist to Oprah. A native of Chicago, Andre Walker started playing with hair as a young man using his mother and sister as models. When his sister-in-law saw a newspaper article about an amateur hair competition, he decided to enter. That decision won him a partial scholarship to Pivot Point International, Inc. The education and training he received helped launch a career that would make him one of the most respected and well-known hair stylists in the country.
A five-time Emmy Award winner, Andre believes his Pivot Point education continues to be important, even today. “I still use the ‘scientific approach’ whenever I run into a problem. I use it in everything I do – it has never left me,” he says.
After graduation Andre worked in several top Chicago salons before eventually opening his own. “Then about 15 years ago I heard through the grapevine that Oprah Winfrey was looking for a hairstylist. I sent her flowers with a note that said, “I am dying to get my hands on your hair.” She called and Andre went for one tryout, and then another and another, before he joined Oprah’s staff full time. He has been doing her hair ever since and also serves as her wardrobe consultant. “I really believe that helping other people feel better about themselves is my purpose in life, and Oprah is a wonderful person to work for. She respects artists and lets them do what they want. She does give me some guidelines, but lets me be creative.
A typical day for Andre begins about 7:30 am at the Harpo Studios in Chicago where the Oprah show is produced. His day ends about 3:30 or 4 pm. Andre also goes on location with Oprah, giving him the opportunity to visit many wonderful places. Recently he came back from Washington D.C. where Oprah interviewed First Lady Laura Bush. “I had never been to the White House before and it was exciting to tour the residential wing.” If visiting charming locations like the Bahamas, attending the Oscars, and meeting celebrities like Barbara Bush, Debbie Allen and Halle Berry sound like a heavenly job, Andre’s advice is “to put yourself in positions and places where you will meet people. You have to be aggressive!” Several years ago Andre decided to write a book. “It has always been in the back of my mind. I wanted to document some of my experiences as well as provide information on styling for different hair types. When Simon & Schuster approached me, I decided the time was right.” In the Foreword to Andre Talks Hair! Oprah writes, “The thing about Andre that I really appreciate is that he understands hair and he loves it. He loves what hair does, he loves its texture, he loves to play with it. Whenever you find someone who loves their work, they’re usually better at it than anyone else.”
To learn more about this distinguished Pivot Point graduate, purchase his book: Andre Talks Hair! Available at most major book retailers or on-line Click Here.
Pivot Points: Andre graduated from Pivot Point in 1976.