Model Salem Mitchell Shares Her Hair Journey, and How She Cares for Her Braids
Texture Diaries is a space for Black people 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, they 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.
At the age of 22, model Salem Mitchell has quickly become a familiar face thanks to her campaigns for the likes of Savage Fenty and Outdoor Voices, as well as her 438,000 Instagram followers. But that’s not to say her fashion journey has come without challenges. “I got my start online at the age of 15, modeling for American Apparel,” Mitchell explains. “One person said I looked like a ripe banana with spots,” she recalls, “but at first, I didn’t see that as an insult; I think bananas are nice. They have potassium and stuff, so it’s fine,” she adds with a laugh.
Working with stylists who didn’t understand her hair was another common roadblock as Mitchell’s career gained momentum. “Once a stylist was wrapping twine around my braids. She was pulling very hard and I let her know. She responded by saying ‘oh, I forgot there was a scalp connected to this,’” Mitchell remembers. Those types of experiences taught Mitchell to speak up for herself, whether online or on set. “People often like to do updos when I have braids in, which is fine. But that can be really damaging to the scalp and my edges. So sometimes I try to have certain braids redone [more loosely] during lunch breaks,” Mitchell explains of one tactic for taking care of herself. “Sometimes that s not ideal for timing, but for the health of my hair and for me being comfortable throughout the shoot, I think it’s kind of necessary, and something that people often neglect.”
