Michelle Obama wanted to wear her hair in braids while serving as First Lady, but she decided the American people “weren’t ready” for it. As noted by The Washington Post, Obama, who is currently on tour promoting her new book The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times, told an audience in Washington that she decided to wear her hair straight so that the majority of the focus would be on President Obama’s political goals and less on her hair. She said that Americans were just “getting adjusted” to having a Black family in the White House. “Let me keep my hair straight,” Obama reflected on her past self. “Let’s get healthcare passed.”
During her time as First Lady, Obama typically wore her hair straight or in blown-out curls. The pressure to wear her hair as such was one she said many Black women can related to. “As Black women we deal with it — the whole thing about do you show up with your natural hair?” she shared in her conversation with host Ellen DeGeneres. Though the CROWN Act prohibits hair-based discrimination, a 2019 study revealed that 80 percent of Black women feel like they have to change their natural hair in the workplace.
Obama also joked about her husband’s notorious tan suit controversy, where he showed up in a khaki suit instead of his usual navy and dark grey. “They tripped out when Barack wore a tan suit. The great indignity, the scandal of the Obama administration!” She imagined a similar scenario for herself had she worn braids and other natural styles at the time. “Remember when she wore braids? Those are terrorist braids! Those are revolutionary braids!” Ultimately, she decided to skip wearing braids. “When you’re carrying all this other stuff … these differences and you’re trying to do your job, it’s just an extra burden on overcoming,” she shared.
Since leaving the White House in 2016, Obama has changed up her look more frequently. To celebrate her 57th birthday in early 2021, she showed off her natural curls in a makeup-free selfie. In September of this year, the former First Lady wore braids for her official White House portrait unveiling, and she also wore them for the Washington event. Whether she’s rocking her curls on vacation or a braided updo, Obama never ceases to turn out the looks — not to mention the inspiration and encouragement.
