Michelle Obama celebrates her hair… tips in a new book

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama returns to share with her readers her journey with her beauty choices and natural hair in her new book entitled “The Look,” scheduled to be released next November 4.

The book reveals the personal and cultural dimensions that shaped her hairstyle choices during her time in the White House and beyond, to reflect her close relationship with identity and culture.

In an interview with People, Obama said, “This is the first time I’ve made every decision for myself.” She points out that since leaving the White House about ten years ago, she has regained the freedom to experiment with the style she loves, including returning to the natural braids that have accompanied her since her childhood in South Chicago.

Obama describes her braids with one word: “Freedom.” It gives her the simplicity of hair care, and allows her to exercise, swim, and move around freely without worrying about appearance. She added: “Braids make me style my hair once, then I don’t think about it again, and this is part of my normal life outside the spotlight.”

She explains that adopting braids during the years of her husband’s presidency was not easy, as she was not confident that the country was ready to see this, and the Crown Act had not yet been passed, and she did not want her hair to become a distraction from the core issues.

In 2022, during the unveiling ceremony of the official portrait of the President and First Lady, Obama chose braids, considering it a symbolic message to enhance the image of natural hair for black women in positions of power.

Her hairstylist, Yin Damtu, said: “Hair is an essential part of a dark-skinned woman’s journey and an expression of her love for herself.” Menjiri Radway, who has been braiding Obama’s hair for years, confirmed that braids contributed to establishing a professional image that respects natural hair, even though some hairstyles may require 28 hours of continuous work.

Obama concluded her speech by saying: “Hair as it grows naturally on the heads of dark-skinned women is beautiful, whether you want it straight, with braids, up, or colored… This is my choice, and nothing in that is inappropriate.”