It’s funny how life works out. When actress Taraji P. Henson was first faced with the decision of whether to pursue acting or her second passion: hair, she had no idea that she’d be able to journey down both paths.
The actress got her first big break nearly 20 years ago in the now-classic Baby Boy which led to a slew of roles. She also served up hair inspiration for Black girls everywhere. She’s covered Hype Hair a number of times over the years, including her cover debut in 2005 that promoted her work in Hustle & Flow. But these days, she is a household name. And, her glow-up has been amazing.
We’ve seen her give award-winning performances in films like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Hidden Figures and entertain us with her rendition as Cookie Lyons on FOX’s Empire. While her acting career soared, her ever-changing looks damaged her tresses. But, her love of hair never dissipated. Starting over with her natural tresses was actually the key to her foray into her latest business venture. So, just when we thought she couldn’t excel any higher, she surprised us all with the launch of TPH by Taraji Haircare earlier this year.
Taraji shared her journey towards loving her own hair, launching her brand and offered a few tips on how to keep your hair and skin looking their best.
HYPE HAIR: Hype Hair was your first magazine cover years ago. How does it feel to grace the cover of our magazine again after all of these years?
TARAJI P. HENSON: It feels amazing being on the cover of Hype Hair. I mean, this was my first cover, the first cover that I ever done, so I owe you a thank you, Hype Hair. But also, I’m back this time, and I get to talk about hair in a real professional way because I have my own hairline. So, that’s what makes gracing the cover so special this time.
HH: We’ve often heard you say hair was your second passion. How did you end up choosing?
TARAJI: I missed cosmetology school by one year because I didn’t get accepted to the school of fine arts. And I knew my next passion was hair and nails and all things beauty. But I missed cosmetology school by one year, and I think that was God. So here I am, life, full circle, with my TPH by Taraji Hair Care line. I love it.
HH: And now, you’ve blown the hair industry away with your scalp-first approach to hair care with TPH By Taraji. What’s next for the brand?
TARAJI: We’re just going to continue to grow and educate people and our customers about scalp care and hair care. The brand is definitely going to grow. I’m looking to look into head-to-toe-care— body care, haircare, skincare, nails. I’m really looking to be the “Fenty” of haircare.
HH: What is your favorite product from your brand?
TARAJI: My favorite product from the brand would be the entire scalp care line: the Master Cleanse, the Never Salty and the Ultra Chill. And the reason why I say that is because it cleanses your scalp; it’s an exfoliation for your scalp. And because I grew up going down to the country because of my grandmother—we used to scratch dandruff—so I grew up knowing that it was important to exfoliate the scalp. We just did it the old-fashioned way. But we’ve evolved [laughs], and that’s why we have the Never Salty Scalp Scrub.
HH: What hair and beauty trends are you obsessed with right now?
TARAJI: Right now, I guess I’d have to say that I am obsessed with the Passion Twists. I learned how to do my own Passion Twists during the quarantine, and I just love them. I love my hair color, and I love that I have red Passion Twists. I just think that it’s hot, hot, hot, hot!
HH: What are your ‘holy grail’ beauty products?
TARAJI: I would have to say my moisturizing cream that I’ve been using for over 20 years, Paul Scerri PH Balancing Cream. I have to have my Vitamin C Serum by Skinceuticals for my face [and] my beautyblender (BOUNCE™ Airbrush Liquid Whip) concealer, my Lip Bar Brown Bombshell eyeshadow palette, and also my Lip Bar Stuntin’ Minute Finish face palette. I also have to have my Honey Pot pH Balancing Feminine Wash for my “cooter” [laughs]. And I always have to carry my Carmex Lip Therapy. And I can’t leave home without my Ardell Wispies—those are my lashes. And I found a really great glue that I absolutely have to have. It’s by Daniela Belle Lash Adhesive.
HH: You recently celebrated your 50th birthday and looked fantastic on your vacay! Are there any hair and beauty tips you swear by to keep yourself looking so good?
TARAJI: I guess my beauty secrets to staying healthy and young are to pay attention to what you’re feeding your body. Exercise, take care of your mental health, learn how to say “No” and take time for yourself. I drink lots of water—learned that tidbit from Gabrielle Union. She’s the gallon-a-day water girl, and she turned me onto that, and it does wonders for your skin. And learn to laugh. Learn to laugh at yourself.
HH: You seem so confident about your natural tresses on social media. How would you describe your relationship with your hair over the years?
TARAJI: I had fallen in love with my natural hair over the years, and it started with the big chop because, for the first time in my life, my hair was all the same curl pattern. It wasn’t stressed out from heat, from blow-drying, from pressing. I was natural for years. I went natural after Baby Boy. I had to relax my hair for 26 years. Then when I got out to LA and I did Baby Boy, the hairstylist at the movie encouraged me to grow my relaxer out, and so I did.
But for years, there was such a stigma around Black women’s natural hair. We had to be straightened. We had to look as European as possible with our hair. I had to do that if I wanted to work. So I pressed my hair. And I was tired of my hair being stressed out like that. So I did the big chop once they perfected the lace front wigs. I didn’t have to do weave installs and leave some of my hair out—you know I had damage from that. When I did the big chop, all of my hair grew back healthy. I had all of my edges, all of the back, and nothing was stressed. And I learned to love it at every length. And then I fell in love with red. That was sort of an accident, but now I’m in love with it. I love that my hair is natural because now I get to play with color, and I love color.
HH: You’re always donning a stunning hairstyle. Has there ever been a look you’ve tried that in hindsight you wouldn’t do again?
TARAJI: I ended up with a mullet one time . . .I was doing two movies, so I got stuck in a mullet. The mullet was in Date Night, and there was this other independent film I did called Peep World. I got stuck in that weave for both of those projects, and I rocked it, and I just went with it. But I won’t do it again unless it’s for another role.
HH: How do you maintain your natural hair while you’re working?
TARAJI: I wear lace front wigs when I’m working, and I keep my hair braided down underneath the wig. So it’s literally in a protective hair care style. It’s cornrowed down to my scalp, sort of like a wig cap style, so the lace fronts can lay very naturally and lay flat to my hair. I love it when I’m working because my hair is always tucked away under a lace front.
HH: What’s next for Taraji?
TARAJI: More directing, more producing. It’s very interesting discovering some new, young talent. I’m just ready to pass the torch, like [the late] John Singleton did to me. [He] discovered me and cast me in Baby Boy because he was looking for new talent. It’s time for a new wave of new talent. And there are two television situations that I’m working on. Of course, you’ve already heard about the “Cookie” spinoff and there’s another project that hasn’t been announced yet. And more for me in the beauty world with hair, because I’m into it, I’m so into hair. I love hair.
I missed cosmetology school by one year because I didn’t get accepted to the school of fine arts. And I knew my next passion was hair and nails and all things beauty. But I missed cosmetology school by one year, and I think that was God. So here I am, life, full circle, with my TPH by Taraji Hair Care line. I love it. Thank you, Hype Hair. I love you!
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
