Sanaa Lathan’s Hair Growth After Shaving Her Head Bald Is So Inspiring
Sanaa Lathan has, in a quick time, went from bald and beautiful, to long hair don't careeee.
In 2017, Sanaa shaved her head for her leading role in Nappily Ever After, a movie adaptation of the book with the same name, about a perfectionist ad exec who experiences a romantic setback, and embarks on a journey of self-discovery. And in 2020, Sanaa is waving her home-grown body wave for the people.
Recently, the Love & Basketball star, took to Instagram to show off her healthy, blown-out mane, making us all collectively question our sense of time ("like, wasn't she just bald?!").
And for those of us who are also on a hair journey of our own, we know how much of an applause she deserves, as hair growth, maintenance, and sustainability is a skill, m'kay?
Lathan credits her hair growth to "protective styles, braids and almost no heat"—a routine too many of us knows all too well.
Since her haircut, Sanaa has certainly unapologetically rocked her natural locks.
She has welcomed the trend of women in Hollywood ditching the wigs and bundles, and showing up as their authentic selves.
Other starlets such as Gabrielle Union, Viola Davis, and Tiffany Haddish and Tamar Braxton (who each, too, also went bald), have joined the ranks of black women who have attended photo shoots, magazine covers, and red carpets, as their full selves—a very huge deal in their industry.
On her two-year cut-erversay, Lathan said:
"Can't believe it's been 2 years since I shaved it all off. It's been a long journey and I definitely have a new appreciation for my natural hair. BUT I do need help though. It definitely ain't easy! Thankful I have amazing people to help me take care of it. Check out Kim Kimble's youtube tutorial for this natural twist out style."
Oh, she's handing out tips too? OK, we're here for this!
But some of her protective styles have ranked among some of our faves too!
*hits body-ody-ody-ody dance*
Sanaa once told Refinery29:
"[It feels like this is time] in terms of women of color coming into this amazing renaissance of owning who they are, and owning all of their beauty in whatever shape, size, color it is. There's no more cookie-cutter, like, 'This is the ideal.'"
But however she decides to rock her hair, the versatility is refreshing to see on a large platform!
Get it, sis! #inspired
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Featured image via Sanaa Lathan/Instagram
- Sanaa Lathan Goes All-Natural ›
- Sanaa Lathan Shows Her Extreme Hair Growth Since Going Bald For ›
- Sanaa Lathan shows off natural hair 3 years after shaving it off ... ›
- 'Nappily Ever After' Star Sanaa Lathan Opens Up About That Hair ... ›
- Sanaa Lathan shows natural hair growth three years after big chop ... ›
Charmin Michelle is a southern native and creative spirit who works as a content marketer and events manager in Chicago. She enjoys traveling, #SummertimeChi, and the journey of mastering womanhood. Connect with her on Instagram @charminmichelle.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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You've Never Seen Luke James In A Role Quite Like This
Over the years, we've watched Luke James play countless characters we'd deem sex symbols, movie stars, and even his complicated character in Lena Waithe's The Chi. For the first time in his career, the New Orleans-born actor has taken on a role where his signature good looks take a backseat as he transforms into Edmund in Them: The Scare—a mentally deranged character in the second installment of the horror anthology series that you won't be able to take your eyes off.
Trust us, Edmund will literally make you do a double take.
xoNecole sat down with Luke James to talk about his latest series and all the complexity surrounding it—from the challenges taking on this out-of-the-box role to the show's depiction of the perplexing history of the relationship between Black Americans and police. When describing the opportunity to bring Edmund's character to life, Luke was overjoyed to show the audience yet another level of his masterful acting talents.
"It was like bathing in the sun," he said. "I was like, thank you! Another opportunity for me to be great—for me to expand my territory. I'm just elated to be a part of it and to see myself in a different light, something I didn't think I could do." He continued, "There are parts of you that says, 'Go for it because this is what you do.' But then also that's why it's a challenge because you're like, 'um, I don't know if I'm as free as I need to be to be able to do this.' Little Marvin just created such a safe space for me to be able to do this, and I'm grateful for everything I've been able to do to lead to this."
Courtesy
Them: The Scare, like the first season, shines a light on the plight of Black Americans in the United States. This time, the story is taking place in the 1990s, at the height of the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. While the series presents many underlying themes, one that stands out is Black people and the complicated relationship with the police. "For the audience, I think it sets the tone for the era that we're in and the amount of chaos that's in the air in Los Angeles and around the country from this heinous incident. And I say it just sets the tone of the anxiety and anxiousness that everybody is feeling in their own households."
James has been a longtime advocate against police brutality himself. He has even featured Elijah McClain, the 23-year-old Colorado man who died after being forcibly detained by officers, as his Instagram avatar for the past five years. So, as you can imagine, this script was close to his heart. "Elijah was a soft-loving oddball. Different than anyone but loving and a musical genius. He was just open and wanted to be loved and seen."
Getty Images
Luke continued, "His life was taken from him. I resonate with his spirit and his words...through all the struggle and the pain he still found it in him to say, 'I love you and I forgive you.' And that's who we are as people—to our own detriment sometimes. He's someone I don't want people to forget. I have yet to remove his face from my world because I have yet to let go of his voice, let go of that being [because] there's so many people we have lost in our history that so often get forgotten."
He concluded, "I think that's the importance of such artwork that moves us to think and talk about it. Yes, it's entertaining. We get to come together and be spooked together. But then we come together and we think, 'Damn, Edmund needed someone to talk to. Edmund needed help... a lot [of] things could have been different. Edmund could have been saved.'
Check out the full interview below.
Luke James Talks Ditching Sex Symbol Status For "Them: The Scare", Elijah McClain, & Morewww.youtube.com
Featured image by Getty Images