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“I have a couple of aunties who are relentless HSN shoppers, and I’ve done a lot in my career, but to them this is big,” Henson tells PEOPLE exclusively.
Henson’s hope is to further encourage women with textured hair to embrace every strand.
“I want to change the narrative about taking care of our hair, especially for women of color or women who have really thick hair,” she says. “I want them to know your hair is manageable. It’s tedious, but it’s not unmanageable. Hair care is self-care. It shouldn’t be a chore. You should take time and enjoy it.”
Next up is cleansing the length of her hair. “We just launched ourStrengthening and Lengthening System. I’ve been using the shampoo from that a lot. Or, I’ll use theHoney Fresh Shampoo, which is everybody’s favorite. Then I’ll decide what mask I want to use. I love a mask. I’ll sit under the steamer with that on, if I have time.”
Henson’s also been incorporating her cool new tool into her routine, theGet Your Weight Up Hair Weights. “If I’m doing a twist and set, then I’ll usethis duo. For girls with curly hair, the shrinkage is good, it means your hair is healthy, but it’s a bit frustrating when you want length in your twist out. So that’s where the weights came about. They’re pretty stylish. If you have to run out to the store, it almost looks like you have twists with some jewelry at the end of your hair.”
For her spa day, the actress says there’s always music, and sometimes friends, too. “Have your girls come over and do your hair together. Make it fun!”
“Think of it like a girls' night in. Grab your cocktail. Let’s talk all things hair! I like to share how I keep my hair healthy. That’s why I launched TPH.”
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Henson shares that these days her beauty philosophy is all about comfort. “They say beauty hurts — but I have a limit to that.”
And though it’s been three years since she stepped into her famous character Cookie Lyon’s designer shoes, Henson says the larger-than-life personality has influenced her routine more than any other person she’s played.
“Cookie was a style girl. Whatever the fashion houses were dropping, she had it on. And she was all about hair and wigs and looks,” she says.
ERIKA BRACEY
For Henson, self-care is one fraction ofher total approach to mental wellness.
Through her work with theBoris Lawrence Henson Foundation, which she founded in honor of her father, Boris, whostruggled with his mental health without proper resources or support, she continues to shine a spotlight on the urgent need to improve communication and education as well as access to mental health services in Black communities.
On June 3, her organization will hold a virtualCan We Talk Symposium and Joy Awards Celebration.
“We’ve just got to keep doing the work to eradicate the stigma around mental wellness and health in the Black and Brown community. Suffering in silence doesn’t help anyone, and people shouldn’t have to, because we all have our brunt to bear, and everybody’s going through something. You’re never alone.”
source: people.com
