Michelle Obama hit the stage of the Democratic National Convention earlier this month to make a case to the American people for her husband’s re-election. Along with a speech, which won rave reviews from political pundits and commentators, the always-fashionable first lady made a statement with her look. Details from her dress’ designer to her nail polish color have since been revealed, but only Michelle Obama’s hair stylist, Johnny Wright, has the secret to her lovely locks.
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“I tell people a woman’s hair is the first thing you hear before she speaks,” Wright said over the summer in an interview with theGrio before the convention. “Whether a woman is taking care of home or running a Fortune 500 company, her hair should be a unique expression of her personality.”
Mrs. Obama’s look for the DNC speech proved just that. From the very beginning, viewers at home were commenting on the first lady’s appearance, and her hair was the crowning glory of Michelle’s iconic style. On Twitter, comments averaged more than 28,000 tweets per minute for the 25 minutes that she appeared on stage with many wondering what designer she was wearing — Tracy Reese — and the shade and manufacturer of her nail polish (“Vogue” by Artistic Nail Design).
Gospel singer Vicki Winans also tweeted a question about the first lady’s hairdo that was probably on many minds: “Ok who flat-ironed Michelle Obama’s HAIR? Sheesh! It’s gorgeous!”
It is likely that the person responsible for her loose curls that evening was Johnny Wright. (TheGrio reached out to Wright for confirmation, but with the election in full swing, the Obama insider is keeping mum in keeping with White House protocol.)
Wright has been styling the first lady’s tresses since Barack Obama was a presidential candidate. From Chicago and a family of hairdressers, he has been in the business since he was a child. At 12, Wright says he had over 100 regular clients that would come to the makeshift parlor his parents built in their basement for his signature updos and finger waves. In 2008, he got a call from his agent to style a senator’s wife for an Essence magazine shoot. Wright said that he and Mrs. Obama hit it off immediately and after Barack Obama became president, she asked him to move to D.C. permanently to style her hair.
Wight told theGrio that styling Michelle Obama’s hair involves the application of both his conservative and edgy approaches. In preparation for the job, he also looked to examples of first ladies past for inspiration. “A lot of articles written about [Hillary Clinton] talked about how indecisive she was,” he said. “And they thought that because she changed her hair frequently in office… I immediately understood the value of having a silhouette that people recognize.”
Thus, for four years Wright’s bob design for Michelle Obama’s hair, with slight variations in style, has garnered attention at state dinners, trips abroad and other appearances since it first debuted at the Democratic National Convention in 2008.
Wright won’t share exactly how he maintains the first lady’s style, keeping the secret of whether or not she relaxers her hair (an oft debated topic) close to his vest as though it were a matter of national security. That hasn’t stopped plenty from wondering or trying to replicate her look.
Atlanta-based stylist R. Obrien Lynch has been doing hair for nearly 30 years. He’s worked with celebrities including Sheryl Lee Ralph and Gina Neely, among others, and suspects Michelle Obama wears her hair naturally — without extensions, wigs or a chemical relaxer — but straightens it using a flat iron or similar tool.
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“I watched her speech during the DNC,” Lynch told theGrio. “When she walked out, I said to myself, ‘[Johnny Wright] layed her hair.’ She looked so chic and classic.” It’s a look that many of Lynch’s clients at his The O…Experience and O2… The Experience salons in New York and Atlanta respectively request for its movement and shine.
Lynch says the beginning of a style like Michelle Obama’s is the haircut. “It’s a classic bob with clean lines and layers. A good haircut like that is like the foundation of a house. It has to be sound for anything else to work.” For movement and hair health, he says start with a good moisturizing regime — especially if you exercise regularly. Avoid petroleum-based products, or “hair greases” as Lynch put it, that will build up and make the hair stiff and collect dirt. Opt instead for a moisture-rich cream.
When styling his clients, Lynch says he starts with a shampoo then conditions the hair for 15 minutes. Then the black hair care expert uses a leave-in conditioner and thermal-protecting solution to further moisturize the hair while additionally protecting it from heat.
Lynch also suggests KeraCare’s Silken Seal for a glossy finish. Once conditioned, he says you should blow dry in the direction you want the hair to fall. “I comb or brush it while blow drying to keep the hair moving,” he says. “You should get the movement you want in your hair before ever applying a flat iron.” Use a flat iron set at between 425 and 450 degrees to straighten and style your hair until it’s convention-ready — or work or church ready. Wherever life may take you.
Finally, for maintenance, Lynch recommends pin curls — not rollers or wrapping — and a silk scarf at night to preserve your Michelle Obama style.
However, the salon proprietor believes the most important element of any style is commitment to hair care. “It’s clear that Mrs. Obama takes care of her hair. That’s why she’s such a great example to women. She has incredible style but she also shows that caring for your hair gives you great results.”
Follow Donovan X. Ramsey on Twitter at @idxr.