Michelle Obama conspicuously avoided wearing braids during her husband’s tenure as president of the United States. But she had a reason for that, and she recently touched on it during an interview with PEOPLE as she prepares to release her new coffee table style book, The Look.
“I wasn’t sure whether the country was ready for it,” Michelle, who has since returned to wearing braids, shared. “The Crown Act [which protects employees and students from race-based hair discrimination] hadn’t been passed yet, and just like fashion, I didn’t want my hair to become a distraction.”
Michelle, in the interview, also touched on why she feels more comfortable in braids. “It’s freedom,” she emphasized.
“Braids allow me to get them done, and then that’s one less thing that I have to think about. When I’m out of the public eye, I am swimming, I am playing tennis, and braids represent that kind of freedom for me.”
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Michelle’s upcoming book is a collection of images and stories surrounding her experience with natural hair and how braids gave her the luxury to partake in social activities such as swimming, running, and playing.
After her husband’s tenure ended, Michelle returned to wearing braids. “I understood the significance of wearing braids to our portrait unveiling,” she stated. “I wanted to send a message, add to the discourse of Black women in places of power, saying, ‘This too is an appropriate and beautiful way to wear your hair.'”
Yene Damtew, who is Michelle’s longtime hairstylist and is featured in The Look, also told PEOPLE: “I believe hair is one of the most important parts of a Black woman’s journey. It reflects who she is, how she feels, and the depth of her self-love in ways words can’t fully capture.”
The Look will hit the shelves on November 4.
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