For years, Michelle Obama’s passion for improving children’s health drove many of her career decisions. During her time in the White House, that passion also led her to make a surprising personal decision. According to the Washington Post, she told an audience at her 2022 book tour that she straightened her hair because of pressure to conform to beauty standards: “Let me keep my hair straight. … Let’s pass health care reform.” Since leaving the White House, however, Obama has worn a wider variety of hairstyles, playing with both the length and texture of her hair.
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In contrast to the sleek long bobs and slicked-back updos she often sported as First Lady, Obama has been seen rocking everything from box braids to high ponytails. These new looks have been a great experiment in personal style, but they’ve also added a touch of youthfulness to Obama’s look. In honor of National Book Lovers Day in 2024, she posted a photo of herself on Instagram casually showing off a hairstyle that may be her most youthful yet: a dramatic waist-length fishtail braid. We love the casual yet elegant feel this braid brings to her style, and many of her Instagram followers share those sentiments.
Michelle Obama’s Instagram followers love her new look
Michelle Obama asked her followers to start a dialogue in her Instagram post, captioned, “Are you currently reading something you would recommend? Let me know in the comments below!” While many of her followers answered that call, others took to the comments section to share their excitement over her unexpected new hairstyle. Many praised Obama for her bold style, but others weren’t surprised that the fashion-forward First Lady opted for such an impressive look. One fan summed up what everyone was thinking, “That’s one hell of a braid you’ve got there Michelle!” Another fan gushed, “It’s so gorgeous! I always love her style, but this braid is just amazing.”
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A long fishtail braid might not have suited Obama’s White House image in the early 2010s, but now the look suits her perfectly. It’s a fresh, fun style that makes her look much younger than sixty, and we could easily imagine her wearing this braid on more elegant occasions. But even when paired with a casual outfit and a baseball cap, Obama’s stunning transformation proves that the former First Lady still has plenty of style tricks up her sleeve.
Michelle Obama wore another youthful look on the Tonight Show
Although the fishtail braid is a brand new look for Michelle Obama, it’s not the first time she’s appeared with long hair since leaving the White House. She appeared on “The Tonight Show” in 2023 with a stunning high ponytail for a segment called “Bookstore Surprise.” She paired the hairstyle with large hoop earrings and a flattering all-denim outfit, a far more casual and trendy look than the more severe styles she opted for as First Lady.
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The partially braided ponytail featured a middle part, which is the preferred parting for many Gen Z-ers. This small trendy detail made a big difference in how young Obama looked with this hairstyle. However, as stylist Laurie Heaps explained to POPSUGAR, this hairstyle makes people look younger for another, more noticeable reason: “A high ponytail gives the feeling of a mini facelift.” Obama already has a youthful-looking face, but the lifting effects of a high ponytail were still noticeable during this TV appearance. The great thing about Obama’s recent hairstyle experiments, however, is not that they make her look younger, but that she uses them as a way to embrace the many facets of her identity.
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