During both of her husband’s presidential terms, Michelle Obama actively chose to avoid hairstyles that might ruffle feathers. As she once told an audience at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., she thought America needed time to adjust to having a Black first family, and she didn’t want to give them more to talk about. And so, when she considered leaving her hair unstraightened, she concluded, “Nope, they’re not ready for it.” However, she quickly pointed out she was far from alone in her plight, noting, “That’s the African American experience.”
That same year, Obama also spoke about the choice to continuously straighten her hair while in office with Revolt TV. “I was like, ‘First of all, they’ve got to get used to us,” she said, quipping, “Let me just straighten my hair and get healthcare passed.” As she explained further, she didn’t want her hair to be a distraction, which it already was. Recalling how the focus would often be on her ‘do rather than her work, she critiqued, “I’m talking about nutrition, and the article leads with ‘But her bangs.'” As for the logistics, Obama had to rely heavily on weaves, extensions, and protective styles to spare her locks. “I would not have any hair on my head if I straightened it as much as I had to straighten it,” she said,
