The stylists behind Michelle Obama’s most memorable appears talk about illustration, schooling, and altering the narrative round Black hair in skilled areas
Yene Damtew and Njeri Radway have crafted a few of the most iconic magnificence moments in trendy historical past. Because the proficient stylists behind Michelle Obama’s beautiful appears, from her White Home years to her present post-administration period, they’ve helped form how Black ladies see themselves in skilled areas. Featured in The Look, Michelle Obama’s highly effective creation of fashion, identification, and confidence, these two artists share their journey and imaginative and prescient for Black magnificence.
How does your private background form the best way you strategy hair as artwork and storytelling?
Yene Damtew: I’m of Ethiopian American descent, and after I take into consideration hair and the way my tradition has influenced styling, it’s extra about ensuring we’re educating our shoppers and making them really feel stunning and believe in no matter type they select to put on.
NJeri Radway: Me being of Jamaican background, I’ve at all times been a pure girly. Simply rising up being pure and embracing that aspect of me, I encourage all my shoppers to embrace such sides.
How did you every first meet Mrs. Obama? What was the second like the place you realized that is historical past?
Damtew: I first met Mrs. Obama in April 2009 as government assistant to Johnny Wright, one among her premier unique hairstylists through the White Home days. Johnny and I had identified one another from California, and when he relocated to DC, he provided me a place as his assistant.
Radway: I used to be recruited by Yene to work below Johnny Wright as his assistant. Me and Yene met by a mutual good friend some years prior, and she or he considered me when on the lookout for a brand new assistant. I got here in and I’ve been round ever since, since 2010.
Is there one Michelle Obama hair second the place you each went, yep, we’ve modified the sport?
Radway: For me, it was when she transitioned into the curly pure hair section. That was my wow second. Us pure girlies are being seen. Illustration issues.
Damtew: Certainly one of my favourite appears was through the Mild We Carry ebook tour in Atlanta with the Tyler Perry present. She had this monitor jacket on, and it was a half up, half down. On this submit life, she’s having much more enjoyable, she’s much more playful. The liberty that has come is one thing I completely love. It was extra about what was relatable to the on a regular basis lady. You noticed extra of Michelle and her character as a lady from the south aspect of Chicago. That translated to shoppers being like, I need to attempt that, I might do this. It modified the narrative round hair.
What does it imply to have your work and voices preserved in The Look?
Damtew: A whole lot of the years Mrs. Obama was within the limelight, myself and Njeri did the work and have been within the shadows. Greater than something, simply to have the validation and recognition from Michelle instantly means every part.
Radway: Being within the background for thus lengthy, simply doing what we love, being artists and educated cosmetologists, that alone was adequate. Now that we’re being acknowledged for our arduous work, it’s a humbling expertise. It’s the cherry on prime.
The braids and lengthy bobs broke the web. What reactions nonetheless make you smile?
Radway: Folks being excited and celebrating the truth that somebody who appears like them is lastly being seen. Strolling into conservative areas, they put us into this field the place the size don’t match. It’s nice realizing individuals who seem like us are lastly being seen and celebrated. Lastly, somebody is exhibiting up as themselves.
Damtew: There was a ceremony of passage with the nation feeling like ladies of colour, significantly Black ladies, feeling like, I can do this. This will nonetheless be acceptable in a company area. The flexibility we’re exhibiting together with her permits ladies to know you can nonetheless have enjoyable and be conservative and maintain the integrity of your hair.
What’s subsequent in hair for 2026?
Damtew: Hair care is the main focus. Simplified magnificence is unquestionably in. Folks need attainable magnificence that’s simple to duplicate at house. You’re seeing extra folks involved about hair well being versus size retention. Persons are simply going again to simplicity.
Radway: Not simply hair care, additionally healthcare. It’s extra about simply the well being of all of it and never a lot a classy reduce or look.
What change do you hope your work sparks for younger stylists coming into magnificence areas?
Damtew: I hope the following era understands the worth of their contribution to this magnificence trade. We research chemistry, chemical compounds, the chart of parts, electrical energy. There’s a lot that goes into being a licensed skilled. Classical schooling and formal coaching is what’s going to put the inspiration.
Radway: Schooling is essential. I might encourage you to go to cosmetology faculty, get that formal schooling, get classically educated. Sanitation and disinfection play a consider taking good care of your folks.
What do you hope your legacy shall be?
Damtew: My function in life has at all times been to be of service to others, and hair is the automobile which permits me to do this. I hope folks might say, I realized one thing, she taught me how you can be comfy with who I’m. I hope no matter I educate my shoppers, they share with the following era.
Radway: I would like younger women and younger males that come after us to proceed to push that envelope, kick down doorways, and be unapologetically Black. Proceed to take up area and know that you’re sufficient. Pure hair locks or braids is not any totally different from free hair. Simply because it’s matted or entangled doesn’t imply it’s unprofessional. It’s skilled.
Social Media Handles:
