If there’s one thing Sanaa Lathan is good at, it’s giving us great hair.
Amid a fabulous acting career in TV and film, the native New Yorker’s open-ended invitation into her decades-long hair journey is one of the many reasons why we can’t get enough of her.
The waist-length plaits, kinky curls or super-short looks (namely her iconic on-screen big chop in the film Nappily Ever After), are never short on inspiration.
Sanaa’s hairstyles are among those that continue to widen narrow beauty standards and emphasize the importance of Black hair in the spotlight. Recently, the Brown Sugar star debuted a ‘do that has not only emerged as a massive trend, it is a beautiful tribute to African culture.
The hair slay is courtesy of celebrity stylist Kim Kimble, a titan in the hairdressing world. She has worked extensively with Lathan in the past and this look was for a fundraiser Sanaa attended, to benefit the Los Angeles Mission, a global organization that combats homelessness and poverty.
The actor’s hip-length braid and butterfly accents are a shining influence to African culture and its social artistry.
In many African tribes, braided hairstyles were unique identifiers of membership, status, age and religion. And in sub-Saharan regions, the butterfly’s metamorphosis is a symbol of transformation and societal change.
A braided pony is a classic that will never go out of style, but given Sanaa’s influence, it’s set to continue as a major trend in 2022.
Keep ‘em coming, Miss Lathan!
