Normani Talks Her Transforming Hair, Braiding Rituals, and Lifetime Beauty Muse

Confidence to push the line when it comes to art and beauty stems from her family spirit. “Even though I didn’t see much representation of the beauty scene on TV growing up, my parents did remind me that I was beautiful and that my chocolate skin and kinky coils were my superpowers,” Normani explains road. As a child, she remembers staying up late at night before school to lie in her mother’s lap and braid her hair. “Sometimes I’d fall asleep and she’d prop me up, do one side, then flip me over to do the other side while I was sleeping,” she laughs. “I’ll wake up and it’ll be done.” It’s these special times, centered around hair and family, that are etched in her memory. “Having such an intimate moment with my mom was very special to me,” she continued. “I can go to school and not necessarily see myself and still be proud of me.”

Especially during Fifth Harmony, Normani kept changing their hair. “I’m the daredevil in the group,” she said, noting that she sports short, long, textured, straight, blue and red hair. “I get bored pretty quickly.” What was the biggest risk she took during that time? “I tried rocking a pixie cut, but it didn’t turn out the way I thought it would,” she admits. “But I think I’ll soon get to a place where I might want to try again.” Today, she also wants to explore more braided styles inspired by one of her greatest music and beauty icons. “Alicia Keys has always inspired me,” she said. “I think it was the first concert I ever went to. I loved the different patterns she created with her hair and the beads she added.” Another dignified muse was Naomi Campbell, She honors her on Halloween at . “Growing up, my mom always called me Naomi Baby,” she said.