Ari Lennox is a fairly newcomer to all of our lives as far as the entertainment realm is concerned. But that doesn't mean that she shouldn't be protected at all costs. She exudes a raw, realness that not many (new) artists come packaged with, and her sister-in-our-head vibes keeps us wanting more.
So, when she took to social media to show off her latest haircut, we had so many feels.
Lennox shared the moment on her Instastories, as she simply parted her hair into two sections, sectioned the back off by ponytail and snipped it all off. Then she trimmed several inches more, and finished like, "new hair, who 'dis?!"
Captioning the video, "Happy you year," she took to the 'gram to clear her profile, show off her tapered, conditioned locs, and start the year fresh. And sis was clearly feeling herself because while showing off her new 'do, she posed in various angles and even twerked 'sum a lil' bit. She hasn't given an explanation as to the reason for the cut, but either way, we are here for everything she does.
And she isn't the only one.
Many other entertainers have taken the plunge as well.
Insecure'sYvonne Orji, who had been rocking natural styles for much of 2020, decided to cut off her hair in the summer. She began the message:
"Woke up this morning and wasn't feeling it. Watched a sermon, and still wasn't feeling it. Laid in bed scrolling online, and didn't feel it then either. Finally decided to get up and said to myself, 'something good will happen to me today.' Showered, got cute, and bumped the essential @kirkfranklin playlist. That's when I felt it: JOY."
She continued:
"My JOY kicked in when I decided to do something about it," she continued. "Now, Every day won't feel as good as a hot Cinnabon fresh out the oven, but you get to CHOOSE how you react to it. Today, I chose to get my joy back, and my prayer is that you choose YOU like never before!"
China Anne McClain of Black Lightning, had a similar notion in mind, when she went low over a year ago. Of her haircut she profoundly noted that women cut their hair for various reasons, with public approval absolutely not being one of them. "I did it because I wanted to," she said. And she suggested that men who put a woman's looks before her character could be blocking their blessing.
"To my women, God handcrafted you into a piece of art. And there's a reason why he made your hair optional. Because you don't need it to be beautiful and to be everything that he made you to be."
Tamar Braxton may have had a tough year, but prior, she was proudly full-on wearing the liberation of going bald.
She captioned a selfie:
"I'm over feeling captive to a wig, weave, people, people's comments & opinions hell...even my OWN feelings! WE can choose to stop these things from having the power and victory over us!! And for me, that starts TODAY."
At the end of the day, we are here for any choice that black women make for themselves--from jobs to hair. Haircuts signify different things for different women. So whether you choose to grow it out, chop it off, or shave it off, our vote will always be to do what you want to do. #itsjusthair
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Featured image via Ari Lennox/Instagram
With a multi-layered approach to her artistry, just as she did on that winter day in December 2013 with the infamous digital drop of her self-titled album, she changed the game again on February 1, 2023, when she announced her world tour in support of Renaissance, her seventh studio album. Her cultural impact set the internet ablaze, with everyone trying to gather their coins, barter for presale codes, and figure out which cities to attend. The group chats were lit, and the Beyhive was stressed trying to get their hands on tickets.
Photo courtesy of Dontaira Terrell
Unfortunately, I was in that number. As the concert dates passed by and the one in my city drawing near all roads led to disappointment. With time ticking on the day of the Miami show and less than two hours to spare, my wallet bit the bullet, and I purchased three last-minute tickets, costing roughly $700.00 a piece (including fees) for me, my 9-year-old and 16-year-old nieces in Section 121 at the Hard Rock Stadium. With 10 minutes before showtime, we eagerly awaited the Queen to take the stage. A sea of metallic fringes, cowboy hats, disco fans, and western boots were in full effect and filled the entire stadium.
As the lights dimmed, a flood of emotions instantly overtook my body. It continued with each note she belted, along with nearly 50,000 roaring fans. The reverberating sound of the music through the stadium transported me from one era of my life to the next. As a teen girl in her bedroom daydreaming about her first love to blossoming into an unapologetic Black woman who is still on a road of self-discovery while learning to lean into the power anthem of "You won't break my soul." For over two hours, and with each set, I felt joy, love, peace, and a commanderie with fellow concertgoers. It was therapeutic as I danced like no one was watching and sang as if I were alone in my bathroom mirror.
There were no bars held, and I realized at that moment, "Nobody can judge me but me." The "Renaissance World Tour" proved to be so vast, and my Black girl joy was re-invigorated. It was magnetic and liberating, and I had to attend again, but this time, I needed to be up close and personal; I needed to be on the floor. In the days that passed, I watched more social media clips in different cities and asked myself if I would really splurge again to attend another Renaissance show.
Photo courtesy of Dontaira Terrell
After all, this would be my thirteenth time (maybe more because I lost count) seeing Beyoncé live, whether she was on tour with Destiny's Child, as a solo artist, or doing a live appearance. I contemplated for a while, but it worked itself out on its own. I was gifted two tickets and the next thing I knew, I was off to LA to attend another Renaissance show with floor seats at SoFi Stadium during Beyonce's 42nd birthday weekend! This time, things were different: no kids were allowed. It was adults only this go round.
Although the energy at the Miami and Los Angeles shows was empowering, infectious, and a celebration of life, happiness, and identity, they each provided their own unique experience. However, both concerts were what I needed for my well-being, leaving me with sore feet from dancing the night away, on vocal rest for the next few days from screaming at the top of my lungs, and on an indefinite high on life.
My introduction and love for Beyoncé began in 1996, while my older sister lived in Houston, TX, right before Bey hit the scene in 1998 with "No, No, No" as a budding R&B member. Her evolution twenty-seven years later as an international superstar and into womanhood has been an incredible journey to witness. As Mrs. Carter reminds each of us in the audience every night before the curtain closes, "I want you to remember this moment, where you're standing, who you came with, and take it with you. I hope you feel inspired."
I truly felt inspired, so thank you, Queen Bey. You awakened my inner child, and I will definitely remember these moments and take them with me.
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Feature image by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood
