Rihanna’s Natural Hair in Her Latest Fenty Ad Matters

Earlier this month, Fenty Beauty launched a new setting spray. But the advertisement itself is what we want to talk about. To announce and advertise the launch, brand founder Rihanna demonstrated the product and showed off her gorgeous manicure. She did it all with short, natural curls.

Why does natural hair matter?

Only 27 states have some form of hair discrimination protection. Organizations like the CROWN Act seek to get all 50 states on board with instituting protections. But there’s still a long way to go. CROWN reports that as many as 53 percent of Black mothers say their daughters have experienced racial discrimination based on hairstyles as early as five years old. Additionally, a Black woman’s hair is 2.5 times more likely to be viewed as unprofessional.

That’s why celebrating natural hair textures is so important.

“This advertisement reflects a larger cultural shift toward embracing and celebrating natural beauty,” explains celebrity hairstylist, natural hair educator and creator of Kim Kimble Hair Collection by HairUWear, Kim Kimble. “When someone as influential as Rihanna shows off her natural curls, it’s not just a personal moment, it’s a statement that natural textures are beautiful, powerful and deserving of representation.”

And having a brand like Fenty to help lead that charge is just as valuable.

“When a major brand also gets behind that message, it amplifies it even further,” Kimble adds. “It signals to people everywhere, especially young women, that their natural hair is not only accepted but celebrated in mainstream spaces. It challenges old beauty standards and opens the door for greater diversity and inclusivity in how we define beauty.”

Breaking Down the Gates

Crystalized in “Ain’t I a Woman?” by Sojourner Truth, America has a long history of racism that gatekeeps Black women from traditional white femininity and beauty. Though progress has been made, Black women are still stereotyped to be more masculine, according to research.

Rihanna’s ad doesn’t just feature her with natural hair, but very short, tight curls. She faces the camera straight-on and embodies a fierceness that draws the eye immediately. Those are all very intentional choices.

“Rihanna has always been a trailblazer when it comes to beauty and self-expression,” Kimble says. “Her choice to wear her hair short, paired with that fierce, face-on pose sends such a powerful message. Black women have been historically excluded from the mainstream beauty narrative, told what’s feminine, what’s acceptable and even what’s beautiful. But Rihanna is reclaiming all of that.”

Part of that reclamation is asserting her femininity and beauty.

“A short hairstyle on a woman, especially a Black woman, is such a bold statement because it challenges traditional ideas of femininity. It’s confident, strong and unapologetic.”

Where We Go From Here

We’re moving in the right direction, between pushing the CROWN Act in all 50 states to the increasing requirements for textured hair education.

“The goal is to let people with textured hair feel confident that their natural hair is beautiful and versatile,” says Kimble. “Brands, stylists and educators have to keep leading the charge by offering better products, tools and resources. They need to cater specifically to textured hair because it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation. Seeing someone like Rihanna, who is fearless about her style, embracing so many different textures and looks, helps show the world how beautiful textured hair really is. We should make sure that young people grow up seeing their hair represented as something powerful and aspirational.”

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