HAIR heritage

She’s the epitome of African success, talent and beauty. A modern African queen who celebrates her femininity and breaks boundaries whilst remaining true to who she is. Boity Thulo takes us down her hair memory lane and reveals why she partnered with Halo Heritage, and who inspired her on this journey and everything in between.

- JANINE JELLARS

What’s your earliest hair memory?

Boity Thulo: I think the one that stands out the most was when I used to like Rebecca Malope, and I wanted her hairstyle, that short, German cut. I had my hair cut into that style when I was seven, and it made me look like a boy! My hair didn’t look the way hers did! I remember thinking that was the hairstyle to have. That’s beside the Boom Shaka braids or the short bob braids Brenda had.

Given you chopped your hair off at that age, was your mom quite open to you experimenting with it?

BT: Yes, I mean, she wasn’t strict. I was raised liberally. My parents were always open to allowing me to express myself, though, obviously, not all the way. There was only so much they could do because they raised me according to how they were brought up. But they were open to letting me explore and express myself. There was even a point when I wanted dreadlocks. I tried it, but within a day, I had to get it chopped again. There were a few instances when I’d ask to do something new with my hair, and my grandparents would ask, “Are you sure?” I’d cry, saying I wanted that style, I’d promise, and then I’d regret it the next day. Nonetheless, I’m glad they allowed me to do it because it meant I grew up with a liberated sense of what my hair is, as opposed to having a strange attachment to it and feeling like it’s all I have. I’ve never felt like my hair owns me, as opposed to the other way around.

Whilst growing up, which hairstyle do you remember your mom getting? Did that inspire you?