Hairstylists Marshall Hatley and Kevin Walsh maintain some of the most famous hair in Texas, and around the country:
That of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders
Hatley with DCC girls who are clients of Tangerine on the final day of auditions. (Photo courtesy Jerett Walters)
DAVID TAFFET | Senior Staff Writer
Marshall Hatley and Kevin Walsh are excited about where their careers are headed. Tangerine Salon, where both have worked for a decade, has been chosen as the sponsored salon for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders for the next five years as well as for Rhythm & Blue, the squad’s hip-hop dance group.
A lot of work and a little bit of luck have turned the pair into two of the busiest hair stylists in Dallas.
One of the other stylists at the salon was doing DCC Director Kelli Finglass’ hair. Hatley was doing her children’s.
“We’ve been cultivating a relationship with her,” Hatley said.
When the contract with the cheerleader’s previous salon ran out, Finglass chose Tangerine for the squad’s hair and makeup.
“The girls are amazing to work with,” Walsh said. “Bubbly. Exactly what you’d expect.”
Hatley and Walsh started by working on some of the veterans. The 2016-17 team is just now being
finalized.
Kevin Walsh and the director of the Rhythm & Blue Dance Squad, Jenny Smith
In April, Walsh judged Rhythm & Blue auditions, and Hatley was among the judges — one of three new ones this year — for the cheerleaders’ auditions. The other judges were Candace Romo, wife of Cowboy’s quarterback Tony Romo, and NBC5 anchor Meredith Land.
The audition scorecard had lists of items under a variety of categories. When it came to hair or makeup, other judges and staff turned to Hatley and Walsh for their opinions.
“Can you make her look DCC ready?” Walsh said they asked.
The cheerleader auditions began with 500 women from around the world. In the first round, that number was cut to 105. The second round of preliminaries cut the roster of hopefuls down to 50. Then they brought in the veterans.
Judges, Finglass and DCC choreographer Judy Trammell chose 44 women to take to camp, where they are now. That number will be cut to 36 in time for football season.
“They love their long hair,” Walsh said of the DCC leaders. “They want their girls to look classic and traditional.”
By that, he explained, they mean they don’t want the cheerleaders wearing stylish fads. No trends. He and Hatley viewed videos going back a number of years and noted that the cheerleaders’ hairstyles haven’t changed much over the past several years.
During the season, Hatley and Walsh said they’ll not only be styling many of the cheerleaders, but teaching them maintenance as well. “We’ll teach them how to do a certain curl and maintenance,” Walsh said.
They also choose the right color. Hatley gave an example of one cheerleader who is Latina. He said her hair was too blonde. So, he said, “We brought her hair to a warmer color.”
Marshall Hatley with fellow DCC judges (left to right) Charlotte Jones Anderson, Kelli Finglass and Judy Trammell
Working with the cheerleaders involves more than preparing them for performing on the field during football season. It also involves appearing on Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team, the reality series that’s been running on CMT since 2006. One episode will be filmed in the salon. A premiere date hasn’t been announced yet, but the eight-episode season should start the beginning of August.
Hatley said they’ve been watching the old episodes to know what to expect and have everything they’ll need on hand.
It’s not OK to tell one cheerleader she needs extensions and not have them on hand, he said. All the filming has to be done in one day and they need to be prepared for any situation that may arise.
Filming also took place during the final round of tryouts and Hatley may be in that early episode in the series as well.
Both Hatley and Walsh have been with Tangerine since the beginning of their careers. Hatley said owners Brandon and Janet Hensley hired him out of cosmetology school and have nurtured his career ever since.
Hatley and Walsh grew up together in Coppell. Hatley came out at 13, Walsh at 16. Walsh took a year off before following his friend’s path through cosmetology school and a career at Tangerine.
Since the two joined the salon, the Hensleys’ company has grown from one location in Coppell to four in the Dallas area. Hatley and Walsh work in the newest shop, on the corner of Walnut Hill Road and Central Expressway.
Both stylists have developed a close relationship with their salon’s owners.
“If I were getting married , they’d be there,” Hatley said. “If my parents didn’t support me, they’d be walking me down the aisle.”
Brandon Hensley said he was proud of his staff that has made his company what it is.
“While our main job is to make people look and feel their best, the byproduct of success is seeing young men like Marshall Hatley and Kevin Walsh develop into world class stylists and people,” Brandon Hensley said. “Just 10 years ago, they joined our company as budding talent when it was only 12 people and one location. Now, with four locations and more than 100 professionals, we couldn’t be more elated to see our team serving such clients as the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.”
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition May 27, 2016.