Night two of the Democratic National Convention saw the triumphant return of former first lady Michelle Obama. From the moment she stepped onto the stage, styled by Meredith Koop in a high-necked navy Monse suit, Obama delivered one of the most effecting moments of the convention. Her takedown of Donald Trump was withering, her endorsement of Kamala Harris was rousing; indeed every aspect of her appearance was filled with meaning—right down to her hairstyle.
“Mrs. Obama has been wearing braids for a few years, but this is the first time she has worn them at a major political speech,” confirms hairstylist Njeri Radway, who has worked with Obama since 2010. For the occasion, Obama wore her hair swept back into a braided ponytail with a clean side-part. “The goal for her hairstyle was to showcase a sleek and powerful look—something to mirror her speech. Both powerful and soft.”
Radway also shared her own personal meaning within the hair. “I felt the braid was a bit untethered—much like how many are feeling in the country as we approach Election Day,” she shares. “What I witnessed last night is there’s a lot of hope for people to come together, just like Mrs. Obama’s braid.”
It should be noted that Obama choosing to wear her hair braided is a statement all its own. For Black women, hair is never simply just hair—and at this moment, it is something to be celebrated.
