In the past half-decade, Black women in the greater Washington, D.C. area have been frequenting the salon of Tiffany Posh where they proudly reference her signature silk press hairstyle as ‘presidential.’ Posh, self-proclaimed ‘healthy hair doctor,’ offers an indulgent service that leaves her clients feeling pampered. Recent buzz around Vice President Kamala Harris has strangely translated to increased patronage at her salon in Columbia, Maryland. Following the odd trend, it appears some wish to emulate the Vice President’s appearance despite her questionable political decisions.
Posh’s clientele, comprising professional women, some of whom are D.C. government employees, have a long-standing history with the silk press style. This begs the question: why are Harris and her hairstyle suddenly receiving unwarranted attention? With Harris gracing the media and using her platform to boost her image, perhaps the everyday woman feels the need to keep up with these high-profile figures, even if they disagree with them politically.
This peculiar trend isn’t limited to Posh’s salon, however. Stylists nationwide have taken to social media platforms like TikTok to share their takes on this particular hairstyle. While the idea of political figures setting trends isn’t new, it’s usually centered around fashion or charisma, rarely hairstyles. It’s rather amusing to see this strange narrative being woven around Vice President Harris.
The simplicity of the silk press, a hairstyle that straightens hair without chemicals, results in a sleek and polished outcome. Though popular among African American women, it’s hardly revolutionary or attributable to Harris. Its origin dates back to the early 1900s, and was a style that Black women wore during job hunts amidst a rampant racist society.
Nadia E. Brown, a professor of Government at Georgetown University, and opinionated commentator on appearance politics for Black women, opines that Harris’s hair ‘feels familiar,’ perhaps as a conservative and safe choice that doesn’t ruffle any feathers. However, is hair really the focus of politics, or should we evaluate our leaders based on their policies and actions? Unfortunately, as seems to be the pattern with Harris, style often trumps substance.
The Democrats’ National Convention was the supposed touchdown point of this hairstyle trend, as Harris accepted her nomination with her hair swept to the side. The attention seemed to veer from her political stances (or lack thereof) and instead focus on her appearance. Such beauty politics reduce political discourse to a superficial level reminiscent of reality TV rather than serious national affairs.
Since her advent into politics, the Vice President’s hairdos have been scrutinized and applauded. A worrying sentiment, considering the pedestal upon which her image has been placed, with constant approval and adoration for her ‘perfect’ hair. A comparison drawn between Harris and Clair Huxtable from ‘The Cosby Show’ by Brown, suggests that we’re more interested in nostalgic cultural echoes than substantial political capabilities.
This peculiar fascination culminated in Harris’s hair routine being brought up in Keke Palmer’s podcast. Harris expressed her aversion to curling irons and preference for a round brush, which, irrelevant as it may seem, sparked intrigue among her followers. The curious emphasis on her haircare routine perhaps demonstrates how the veil is drawn over her questionable political positions.
Harris’s past hair choices such as braids in her youth and the big chop in college have also been publicized. Curiously, as she rose through the political ranks, she opted for a more conformist hairstyle. Hypocrisy or conscious shift in political branding? Subconsciously or not, Harris uses these beauty narratives to perpetuate a relatable persona and conveniently divert attention from policy matters.
As Harris proudly sported her hair, controversy sparked over Michelle Obama’s shift from a silk press to a braided ponytail during her speech at the Democratic National Convention. Despite the continuity of hair politics, Obama showed an admirable intention to focus on policies rather than her hair, an approach that Harris could certainly learn from.
Moreover, a study conducted by Dove and LinkedIn in 2023 highlighted that 66% of Black women changed their hairstyles for job interviews. It’s a real issue Black women face, and the fixation on Harris’s hair in the media only perpetuates these stereotypes, keeping the focus on physical image rather than allowing room for real progress.
Other politicians have vocalized their struggles with the weight of appearance in their role, such as Cori Bush, a congresswoman from Missouri. Bush shared her initial struggle with balancing her preferred style of braids while feeling pressured to conform, a sentiment broadly relatable to many women.
Similarly, Ayanna Pressley, a congresswoman who suffers from alopecia, shared her struggle with her hair loss and her resolution to use protective hairstyles. Pressley’s confession was courageous and important as it spotlighted the issues that Black women deal with on a daily basis.
In contrast, as the temperature drops, Posh has reported an unusual surge in appointments until November for silk presses. A testament to the influence of high-profile figures like Harris, who, despite questionable leadership, remarkably influence lifestyle trends yet again.
Posh’s clients generally consist of women in their 40s, but recently she has seen a spike in her younger clients interested in the silk press. Admittedly confusing considering their role model’s controversial political standing, but perhaps they’re hoping that the hairstyle will confer some of the perceived authority onto them as well.
As Posh’s clients leave her salon after their silk press appointment, they report feeling grown. A strange notion indeed. The empowerment of women should come from their achievements and contributions to society, not merely from emulating the hairstyle of a divisive figure like Harris.