Kelly Rowland Shares Her Hair Journey, From Destiny’s Child to Motherhood
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Texture Diaries is a space for Black women across industries to reflect on their journeys to self-love, and how accepting their hair, in all its glory, played a pivotal role in this process. Each week, these women share their favorite hair rituals, products, and the biggest lessons they’ve learned when it comes to affirming their beauty and owning their unique hair texture.
Kelly Rowland knows the power of statement hair. When she moved to Houston to join Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé’s mother Tina Knowles relaxed Rowland’s hair and gave her that iconic pixie cut that showed off her cheekbones. “I felt so unique, and one of a kind, because out of the four ladies, I was the one with the short hair,” she says. “Now, we re in a place where you can buy five different hairstyles, and be five different girls if you want in one day. Hair, to me, is about expression, and being able to have fun with it.”
But Rowland didn’t always feel such coiffed confidence. “When I was a kid, I remember my hair being super, super long, and super, super thick,” Rowland tells Vogue over zoom, clad in an oversized caramel sweater (her favorite piece from her new collection with JustFab) that seems to further accentuate her pregnancy glow (she’s expecting her second child with Tim Weatherspoon). “[But] just as quick as I had all this hair, it all left after I got a perm,” Rowland recalls. The process of growing it back out came with new obstacles. “I went to a predominantly white school, and was comparing my hair, my texture to other kids hair,” she says. In retrospect, she says with a laugh, “braids would’ve been a great alternative.” But Rowland didn’t see braids in magazines or on TV, or when she did they seemed out of reach. “I was looking at Janet Jackson s hair, and I would say to myself, ‘That s just not attainable. I know she paid a lot money for that.’”
Rowland’s love for her hair started to grow when she did finally get a set of her own braids, done by her aunt. “It was this big, beautiful, sprouted, braided style that she did that I absolutely loved, because I could swing that ponytail, honey,” Rowland says, motioning a hair flip with a laugh.
Through all her hair transformations, the biggest lesson Rowland has learned is “no one dictates who you are. Your hair doesn t dictate who you are,” she says. “Your soul and your character does.” That self-confidence leaves room to play. During pregnancy, Rowland has been experimenting with her look. “I’ve changed up my hair so much already,” she says. “I had dreads, I had this long, curly, wavy wig situation, but I didn’t like it,” she adds with a laugh. “It was too soft and I’m really enjoying our texture right now.” Recent favorite products include Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross. “Everyone knows how much I love her. And Pattern looks so good in my shower,” she says. She also often uses Gabrielle Union’s conditioner. Next, she’s going to be diving into TPH by Taraji’s line.