By: Rainy “Country Cutie” CatesEvery stylist has a beginning. For some, it’s braiding cousins on the porch or experimenting in the kitchen with a hot comb. For Gabrielle “Onyx” Bates, the spark started with something many women of color remember from childhood, a Kenya Doll and a whole lot of curiosity.
“My grandma used to buy me those Barbie heads,” Onyx says with a laugh. “I would mess them up with curlers and everything I wasn’t supposed to use. But I loved it.”
What began as childhood play quickly revealed itself as purpose. By the age of twelve, Onyx was already experimenting with real techniques, using her allowance to buy packs of hair from the beauty supply store. One day she attempted her first quick weave on herself. The results surprised even her.
“I did it so good people thought it was my real hair,” she recalls. “That’s when I was like… okay, I might actually be good at this.”
Originally from South Florida, Onyx eventually took her talent to Atlanta, a city known for its competitive and highly respected beauty scene. It didn’t take long for her work to turn heads. Placed in the front window of the salon where she worked, she found herself drawing attention from people walking by who stopped just to watch her style.
“People would come in and tell me I inspired them,” she says. “That’s when I knew Atlanta was going to be different for me.”
Her background in Miami gave her an edge. The way she layered, curled, and styled hair carried a distinctive flair that quickly set her apart in a city filled with talent.
But success didn’t come without its challenges. Early in her Atlanta career, a salon situation didn’t align with the respect and environment she believed professionals deserved. Instead of shrinking in that moment, Onyx turned the experience into motivation. Within six months of moving to the city, she opened her own salon, Vanity Trap of Atlanta in Buckhead.
“That situation pushed me to move fast,” she explains. “Everything aligned so quickly. I found the space and built something that was mine.”
Owning her own salon allowed her to create a culture rooted in leadership and dignity. She had seen firsthand how stylists could be undervalued, and she was determined to do things differently.
“I saw how other people ran their businesses, and some of it just didn’t sit right with me,” she says. “When I opened my own salon, I could finally say, ‘We’re not doing that here.’”
That philosophy carried into every aspect of her work. Clients weren’t just appointments. They were guests deserving of care, comfort, and excellence.
Today, as Onyx expands her presence in Los Angeles, that mindset continues to shape the experience she offers. Sitting in her chair isn’t just about getting your hair done; it’s about stepping into an atmosphere of luxury that feels intentional and welcoming.
“We do luxury over here,” she says. “You shouldn’t have to go all the way to Beverly Hills to get that level of treatment.”
From refreshments and relaxing touches during appointments to an environment designed to help clients unwind, Onyx focuses on creating moments where beauty and well-being meet.
“You never know what someone is going through when they sit in your chair,” she says. “I want them to leave feeling better than when they walked in.”
Her ambition didn’t slow when she became a mother in 2018. If anything, it intensified her drive.“Motherhood slowed me down, but it also sped me up,” she says.
“You start thinking about what kind of life you want to build for your children.”
Balancing business and motherhood meant working smarter and dreaming bigger. It also reinforced her belief that women don’t have to choose between family and ambition.
For Onyx, the two exist side by side.
Her journey has already taken her from South Florida to Atlanta and now Los Angeles, but she sees the next phase of the Onyx Empire stretching far beyond U.S. borders. Cities like Paris, London, and even Tokyo are already on her radar.
Because for Onyx, success isn’t just about location, it’s about impact.“There’s nobody like me,” she says confidently. “And you’re supposed to feel that way about yourself.”
And the Honor Goes To…
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Hype Hair proudly honors Gabrielle “Onyx” Bates as one of the industry’s standout stylists. A visionary redefining luxury, leadership, and excellence behind the chair.
From styling dolls as a young girl to building a beauty empire that stretches from South Florida to Atlanta and now Los Angeles, Onyx continues to raise the standard for what it means to lead in the beauty industry.
Now it’s time to show her some love.
Connect with Gabrielle “Onyx” Bates, explore her work, and experience the luxury she brings to every client:
Instagram: @k.onyx1
TikTok: @k.onyx
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Follow her journey, support her work, and celebrate a stylist who continues to inspire the next generation of beauty professionals.
Because when talent, vision, and confidence meet behind the chair, the results speak for themselves.
The Spotlight Continues
At Hype Hair, honoring stylists like Gabrielle “Onyx” Bates is about more than recognition. It’s about celebrating the women shaping the future of beauty.
Women who build businesses.
Women who uplift their communities.
Women who transform creativity into legacy.
This Women’s History Month, we proudly spotlight Onyx for her innovation, leadership, and commitment to excellence behind the chair.
But the spotlight doesn’t stop here.
Across the country and around the world. Talented stylists are building their own empires, one client at a time.
So we want to know:
Who should Hype Hair honor next?
Because the next beauty icon may already be out there and when she is, Hype Hair will be ready to celebrate her.