Lena Y. Mingo: Reality TV and Hair Extraordinaire

Lena Y. Mingo

Reality TV and Hair Extraordinaire

ena Y. Mingo, the owner of “HairBumpers” in Houston, Texas and Creator-Executive Producer of The Real Hair Junkies of Houston, TX was born in Boykin, Alabama. A young Lena moved to Mobile, Alabama, before the memory of Boykin could define any childhood memories. One of twelve siblings, her parents, sustained 52 years of marriage when their Father passed away. Ms. Mingo refers to herself as a Daddy’s girl.

A graduate of Alabama A&M University, a public, historically black, the land-grant university located in Normal. A neighborhood of Huntsville, Alabama, the university’s founding in 1875. It’s known throughout the world for encouraging academic excellence among its diverse student body. Popular majors include Biology, Business, and Criminal Justice, and Law Enforcement Administration.

Ms. Mingo ventured to New York for the city life and eventually found herself in Houston, TX. She married and had three beautiful children, Kevin, Alf, and Melissa all adults now. Ms. Mingo divorced was by no means the ordinary stayat-home Mom. She taught for two years at a private school, (now) closed, and opened Mingo’s Daycare. Although she loved working with children, she had a passion for cosmetology.

Ms. Mingo mentioned finding inspiration via friend Randy Bows and ventured into Cosmetology studying at Belaire Beauty School. Bellaire Beauty School is an accredited cosmetology training program for different cosmetology careers. Hairstylists, estheticians, makeup artists, barbers, and nail technicians. Ms. Mingo, gaining knowledge and learning techniques that helped launch a successful beautician’s career, was trained for all types of hair from Caucasian to Ethnic. While attending the Popular Houston Cosmetologist, Michael Kemper often ventured the beauty school for assistants, and there lies the beginning of an extraordinary career in cosmetology.

Michael Kemper, the owner of D-Vine Salon & Spa, made regular appearances on Great Day Houston, a Local News and Information show for Houston, Texas, and surrounding areas. Mr. Kemper advised on hair-care and trends in the field. He admired Ms. Mingo’s skills so much he not only offered her the job but to have her picked up daily for it. Their mutual admiration led to a family-type bond, and she advanced quickly during her tenure at his salon. Mr. Kemper, as fond as he was of her skills and customer loyalty, felt it was time for her launch. Explaining her talents had exceeded their capacity or the positions at his salon, he told Ms. Mingo it was time for her to be on her own.

With referrals in hand, Mr. Kemper sent the cosmetologist on her journey. Ms. Mingo, immediately employed by Foley’s, a reputable highend salon, would find herself later at JC Penny. JC Penny catapulted Ms. Mingo into a historical league.

The inception of “HairBumpers” would come from her trailblazing performance, and JC Penny would find themselves in the Houston Chronicle expressing praise and gratitude to the highest-earning Beautician in their employment. JC Penny’s awarded her “The Golden Scissors Award,” an ethnic challenge, despite a new millennium on the horizon. The requirement, mastering eight premiums cuts/ styles. Ms. Mingo not only perfected the challenge but increased the usual patronage of their ethnic percentages. Earning them an incredible $150,000 during a fiscal period, Ms. Mingo had become a part of the company’s history in the early 1990s.

With “HairBumpers” being her next-level decision, this dynamo was about to venture into new territories. Ms. Mingo, in collaboration with a well-known and successful cosmetologist and Rudy Johnson of Pride and Power, became a Platform Artist. In the beauty industry, a platform stylist, called Platform Artist, is a Rock Star among Hairdressers. Part educator, communicator, salesperson, and entertainer, the platform artist performs on stage, mostly at industry trade shows, to promote styling techniques, tools, or products. Famous names in the beauty industry were platform artists before launching their named brands and salons.

Ms. Mingo found herself traveling internationally, often to exotic locations such as the Caribbean. Trips to St. Croix, St. Luscious, the Bahamas were commonplace. She mentions the dreamy sunrises on the water, sandy beaches, and welcoming adoration for the Virgin Islands as we speak.

Her experiences with Rudy Johnson and his Pride and Power products would find her busy over the next decade, immersed by the innate urge to teach. Ms. Mingo continued regularly to give motivational speeches and demonstrations throughout the Houston areas and beyond. Mastering the art of public speaking as well as styling techniques, she found herself participating in the now-popular

Bonner Brothers Shows in Atlanta, Ga. The World’s Largest Professional Trade Show Dedicated To Multicultural Beauty.

The Bronner Bros Beauty Show’s goal is to inspire, educate and elevate cosmetology professionals, students, and the multicultural beauty industry.

Ms. Mingo, with a multitude of experience and knowledge in the beauty industry, grew beyond getting clients in the chair. The flamboyant lifestyles, personalities, mentors, and training entailed in her career were astounding. This highly skilled esthetician, cosmetologist, and platform artist, with a niche’ for body-building, had seen the light. The modest beauty icon throughout the years had found opportunities to pursue her thespian traits.

Throughout the years, she’s participated in local theatrical plays and movie productions in the area. After acquiring a small role in Ash Davito’s (an actor and director), known for Temp to Fire (2015), Ms. Mingo was making the necessary steps to become a part of the growing genre of reality TV. It had all led her to the inception of The Real Hair Junkies of Houston, Texas. The Southwest had diversity and style beyond the usual stereotypes and what better way to express it?

After years of being surrounded by a multitude of talented stylists and fashionistas, Ms. Mingo realized many were serving in the community. Events like Houston’s Look

Good, Feel Good program (A free, non-medical, salon, and product-neutral Volunteers program) in which she was annually involved. The various Stylists, Product Creators, Models and Platform Artists she’d known was all involved in community efforts. The cast members were cosmetologists she’d work with or do shows with through the years. Different from most beauty-oriented shows, they are not in the same shop performing the same duties. Each member had different backgrounds, specialties, and experiences in the field. The one thing she found most intriguing about the versatile cast as she proceeded with the venture was their community-oriented pursuits.

The Real Hair Junkies are unique in concept. It’s not the long-standing friendships or the collaborations through time that draw this group together. The skills and competitive notions unite and inspire them. Yet, Ms. Mingo takes note of the charitable events they found themselves attending. The ability to call on one and two or three show up in support of the other. Everything they loved, from creating beauty to building the self-esteem of their patrons. It was all encompassed within this eclectic group of Barbers, Beauticians, Estheticians, and yes, a Mortician. Through the successes, challenges, and unfortunate death of their beloved cast member Cora Bell Edwards Che’. They were a family.

Airing briefly on the On Channel Network, Ms. Mingo and the network’s owner decided the idiomatic types didn’t quite fit the broader audience her production inspires. The subtle nuance between genres and subgenres left something to be desired. As the reality show and the network grow from their infancy. The cult following of the show was impressive, as the show’s creator and executive producer. Ms. Mingo’s show “Real Hair Junkies of Houston is now in the hands of those capable of broadening the show’s base.

Ms. Mingo and the casts, slowed by the isolation of the pandemic, have continued the deep friendships. They’ve deepened the bonds as well as the continuous mutual admiration society that propels their independent skills.

When asked what the future holds for this extraordinary group of stylists and entrepreneurs? Ms. Mingo, in her usual quiet demeanor, answered. “I hope we can get back to the events we enjoyed together, whether it’s community-based or just hanging as friends. She misses the love and innate growth they inspire among each other via respect and admiration.”

Fortunately, as Texas re-opens and vaccinations roll out, their social media makes it evident. The Real hair Junkies can’t stay away from each other as social events draw them together once more, celebrating and collaborating. They’re looking forward to shows, exposing launches their downtime allowed, and new ventures they’ve individually pursued.