Derek J Talks Leading the Hair Department for Netflix’s ‘A Different World’

The Atlanta-based celebrity hairstylist brought more than 25 years of HBCU cultural fluency to Netflix's highly anticipated reboot, making sure the women of Hillman looked exactly the way HBCU women actually look.

If you went to an HBCU you already know. The hair is not an afterthought. It is a statement. It is a ritual. It is part of how you show up — to class, to the yard, to the party, to the moment. And when Netflix announced it was bringing A Different World back to life, one of the most important decisions the production had to make was who was going to get the hair right.

They called Derek J.

“For me, a hair journey is really about evolution. Especially for Black women, hair can tell you so much about where a woman is in her life without her ever saying a word. It can represent confidence, change, freedom, heartbreak, starting over, or just wanting to feel like somebody new,” he shared in an interview with DivaGalsDaily. 

The Atlanta-based celebrity hairstylist who has been a fixture in the culture for more than 25 years — served as Hair Department Head for Netflix’s A Different World, the highly anticipated reboot set 39 years to the day after the original series premiered. The 10-episode first season follows Deborah Wayne, played by Maleah Joi Moon, as she begins her freshman year at Hillman College. And if Hillman is going to feel real, the women of Hillman have to look real.

“Hair can’t exist in its own little world,” J said. “As the Hair Department Head, I’m looking at the full picture. I’m talking with the creator, director, costume, makeup, and the actors because all of those pieces have to tell the same story.”

“Look at these girls — they have big lashes, they have long weaves, they get their hair done every week,” J told Atlanta outlet 11Alive. “This is what these girls are doing, so we need to be able to portray it within the show.”

The reboot honors that legacy while introducing a new generation to Hillman. The 10-episode sequel returns to Hillman College through Deborah Wayne, the daughter of original characters Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert. Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy return to reprise their iconic roles, with Debbie Allen back as Dr. Langhorne and directing the premiere episode. Brandy performs the new theme song and Felicia Pride serves as showrunner, bringing a contemporary single-camera sensibility to a story that feels both timeless and urgently now.

A Different World is streaming now on Netflix. All 10 episodes are available to watch at once.