Beyonce Says Jay-Z Is Rocking An Afro To ‘Honor’ His Late Father

Jay-Z shows off a fresh new look after wearing locs for over eight years. 

In 2016, Jay-Z began growing and locking his hair to show his daughter Blue Ivy that they shared the same hair texture. Around the age of 5, Blue Ivy had expressed insecurities about her natural curls, and Jay-Z’s decision to loc his hair became an act of encouragement for Blue Ivy to embrace her curls. 

In a vlog-style Cécred video narrated by Beyoncé. With the help of her haircare line’s products, Beyoncé gave a deeper look into the process and inspiration for Jay-Z’s new hairstyle. 

For about eight years, Jay-Z maintained his signature freeform locs until his performance at the Roots Picnic on May 30 at the Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Jay-Z’s appearance was not the only news-making headline, as the festival was Jay-Z’s first headlining performance in six years. The rapper performed several songs from his albums and even delivered a four-minute freestyle addressing artists like Drake, Nicki Minaj, Ye (formerly Kanye West), Tory Lanez, and others. 

While Jay-Z‘s performance became a significant cultural moment for many, fans also noticed Jay-Z’s appearance of his afro. A signature look that had become a recognizable part of his image, Jay-Z had combed out his locs.

Inspired by his family, Jay-Z’s most drastic hairstyle changes were more than just a personal choice but a reflection of his love for his family.

“The real reason Jay grew out his hair was to show Blue that her hair was like his hair,” said Beyoncé in the video. “We really wanted her to love and embrace every inch of her gorgeous curls.”

This gesture later inspired Blue Ivy to narrate Matthew Cherry’s best-selling children’s book, Hair Love, about a black father styling his daughter’s hair.

This year, Jay-Z’s new hairstyle is to honor his late father, Adnis Reeves.

“His dad used to rock a ‘fro, so he wanted to rock a ‘fro in his honor,” said Beyoncé.

A six-day process, this was a testament to the intentional care and Jay-Z’s family coming together to help with his transformation. With the help of Jay-Z’s hairstylist Nakai Collinas, loc specialist Letisia Ravelo, and the use of Cécred’s products like the Detangling Spray, Moisturizing Deep Conditioner, Moisture Sealing Lotion, and the Hair & Scalp Balm, to break down the toughest sections. Still, the process required the support of many hands, including Beyoncé and Blue Ivy, to comb out his locs.

“There’s a lot of memories stored in locs. Locs can be like antennae, connecting us to frequencies and energies. Hair grows, people grow, so the transformation can be emotional,” said Beyoncé.

With that said, black hair is beautiful, powerful, and deeply tied to identity. The beauty of black hair lies in its strength, uniqueness, and versatility to be worn, shaped, styled, and celebrated in many ways.

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