Portrait of a Professional

About the Book

Portrait of a Professional by Nathaniel Mathis

About the Author

Nat Mathis is a man of many talents and measures his success in many ways. He opened his first barber shop in 1969 and is the winner of many national and international hairstyling awards and competitions. In 1981, Nat was the first African American to win the International Hair Styling Competition in Cairo, Egypt and his styling team won first at the Paris Festival Mondial de la Coiffure. Mathis was among the first African American hairstylists to embrace and popularize the Afro and, later, cornrows – hairstyles which may view as expressions of black empowerment. Nat seldom expresses a political ideology of hair, but by 1970, he was known among his many satisfied clients and peers as “the Bush Doctor” for his expertise in Afro style and maintenance. He has styled hair for many celebrities; made numerous television appearances; and has been a stylist for several productions at the Kennedy Center, and for two major motion pictures, including Nixon, for which he re-created period hairstyles. Mr. Mathis currently lives in District Heights, Maryland and spends his time as an innovative hairstylist, writer, motivational speaker, community activist and mentor. He operates his award winning salon adjacent to his home.