Hair Inspiration

Last week I posted a picture on Instagram of Ethiopian-born supermodel/actress Liya Kebede and labeled her as my "hair inspiration", which she very much is.  And that got me to thinking about the other women whose coifs have inspired me during my hair journey.  When I first started getting serious about the health and length of my hair, I sought a constant diet of images to help me set tangible goals and keep me encouraged.  I would rip out pages from various magazines featuring women whose hair appeared to match mine in texture and desired length, and keep them in a folder to easily reference when needed.  Having realized almost all of my goals now, I don't keep tear sheets anymore, but would like to give my "hair girls" a quick shout out for keeping me on task, nonetheless. 


Length: Liya Kebede

Besides being drop dead gorgeous, Liya Kebede has an absolutely beautiful head of hair!  Its seemingly endless shine and versatility are definitely enviable; however, it's the length of her hair that I admire most.  Her locks seem to fall just below her breasts, which (on me) I think is ideal.  Anything longer and I fear I would get bored with it and resort to doing something crazy like chop it all off.  But we shall see as I am about two inches from my goal after giving myself a major trim a few weeks ago.

Thickness/Overall Health: Wanakee

When I first saw model Wanakee in a magazine, I couldn't believe my eyes.  Not only was her incredibly long, but it was thick and full and seemingly impervious to all the styling demands her occupation exposed her to.  Her chemically processed tresses have run the complete length gamut, from shoulder high to waist long, all while maintaining its luster and density - two terms that weren't exactly synonymous with having relaxed/permed hair at the time.  After years of hearing that you couldn't have healthy AND chemically treated hair, Wanakee came along and silenced the naysayers... quickly becoming the poster woman for relaxed girls everywhere, proving that you could indeed achieve both! 

Thickness/Style: Oprah

Oprah, Oprah, Oprah... oh, how I love her hair!  It's thickalicious with bounce and loads of body, a sure sign of its health and strength.  And I love her hairstyles, especially the long, layered bob she's been rocking for awhile now.  Ever since Ms. Winfrey first graced the small screen as host of her iconic gab fest - The Oprah Winfrey Show -  she's donned a wide variety of styles and haircuts worth talking about... and imitating.   I absolutely love her hair's fullness and the soft layers of her cut.  Years ago, I had my hair cut in a similar style, eventually letting it grow out to the straight style I wear today.

So, there you have it - the women I've used as a dose of inspiration during my hair journey.  Sometimes you need a visual reference to act as a compass and put you on the right path to achieving your goal(s).  With several mishaps impeding my progress early on, mining different sources for motivation was an absolute must.  And, suffice it to say, the images of these ladies and their lovely locks have adequately fueled my ongoing efforts to maintain length and improve my hair's health overall!