Taraji P Henson has been advocating for mental health awareness and self-care. First she launched the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation which was named after her father who suffered PTSD after serving in the Vietnam War. The BLHF also provides free virtual therapy for Black and underserved communities. Taraji also has a talk show for Facebook that focuses on mental health. Taraji entered the beauty industry last January with a 17-piece hair care line called TPH by Taraji, available at Target. Now, Taraji is adding to her haircare line collection with four additional products. With the launch, Taraji is sort of bringing two of her worlds together. She told People that haircare is a form of self care and mental pampering. Taraji also admited that she blocks out four hours in her home hair studio pampering herself while doing her hair. Below, is more on Taraji’s products and self-care rituals from People:
First up, a moisturizing conditioning mask called Mask On. “I did not have a deep conditioner in the line – and that’s the first thing I heard,” Henson says. Enter this nutrient-rich treatment that you “literally can leave in all day.” The star’s also proud of the product’s consistency. “It doesn’t drip – so there’s no waste. It stays where it’s supposed to stay, and does the job where it’s supposed to do it.”
Second in the set, a moisture-rich curl crème called Curls 4 Days. “I wanted a product that would moisturize curls but not leave them feeling icky.” A tip from Henson: “A little goes a long way, take your time to get the quantity you need just right.”
Of all the options in this drop, Henson personally needed Twist & Set – a twisting cream – the most. “I was having an issue with my twist outs. I couldn’t find anything that would keep my hair from shrinking, or that wouldn’t dry it out. So when I can’t find it, I create it.”
Last but not least: Keep Shining. This dry oil mist is for those who needed something a little lighter than her OG oil, Glow Up. Henson put it in a compact bottle on purpose. “When I have my hair out, it needs constant moisture. So this you can put it in your purse and take with you everywhere.”
Not only does she take product creation seriously, she hopes to change the narrative around the hair care process.
“It’s like, ‘Ugh, I’ve got to wash my hair, girl.’ It shouldn’t be like that,” Henson says. “The hair’s an extension of you and of your beauty, and you should enjoy taking care of yourself. It shouldn’t be a hassle. And that’s what we’re trying to accomplish with this line, and not like, ‘this is a chore.'”
Henson says that means turning wash day into spa day. “I take about four hours [to myself] because it’s not just about, let me clean my hair, it’s about mental pampering. I’ll come over to my salon [area], and I’ll be like, ‘Okay, first thing is the scalp,’ and I’ll do that. Then when my conditioner’s in, I’m sitting under the dryer, or I might even [create] a steam shower while it’s in so I can steam my hair. Then I’ll go on to pamper my hands and feet with paraffin wax. It’s a whole day on me.”
I am loving everything Taraji has been doing with her fame. I love that she is highlighting mental health within the Black community specifically which I will continue advocate for. I also love that she has stepped into the beauty industry through hair care products that are reasonably priced like Gabrielle Union. I believe that Black hair care companies should be owned by as many Black women and men as possible. I have checked out Taraji’s products and I would love to try the dry oil mist and curl creme as well as a few products from Gabrielle’s product line.
I agree with Taraji that taking care of your hair is an extension of taking care of yourself. I have created a daily schedule for myself that incorporates several self-care routines that include home spa treatments, facials and diet habits that I am trying to stick to. I have realized that taking time to care for myself is very important, especially during this pandemic where I have had to postpone regimens like pedicures, manicures and facials. Taking the time to pamper myself is good for my overall mental health. I am excited about everything that Taraji is working on and cannot wait to report back about her haircare products. In the meantime, I am going to go soak in a hot tub with some yummy sea salts and candles.
Photos credit: Backgrid and via Instagram
I have a large fro and it takes me hours on end to wash, deep condition and detangle. Then there’s the matter of twisting and sealing and sitting under the dryer. Natural hair is WORK. Which is what makes wigs and braids so much easier, sometimes you just need a break!
Oya, I hope you love Taraji’s products!
Happy Black History Month to all, and please take the time to comment on these interesting stories about black celebrities!
Agreed with all of the above. I remember spending hours, sitting with my mother as she braided my hair and, when I was traveling as an exchange student, one of the ways fellow Black students and I looked out for each other was by doing one anothers’ hair.
When I visited family in Africa, I was surprised by how many hours women would spend sitting and braiding hair, only to take it down and do another elaborate style just a week or two later.
I LOVE the invitation for Black women to care for ourselves and our hair as a spa experience. I want to have more of that mindset moving forward. Now that I’m an adult with long natural hair, it often feels like a tedious chore to give my hair the time, attention and care it needs. I’ll confess, though, that what I most desire is to just get my hair done professionally on a regular basis!
I’m going to check out Taraji’s line. I only buy hair care products from Black owned businesses (and I’ve been gradually expanding that to include all of my beauty products as well as my accessories and luxury goods).
I love Taraji, always have. I wish I had her attitude towards hair care, etc., because for me it’s just a bore.
She’s a wonderful woman and makes excellent points. I have been massively underemployed during he pandemic (I work freelance) and yet I still can’t find time to do nice things for myself like a face mask?? I need to look at that.
Happy Black History month! Taraji is amazing.
That sounds really nice, taking a couple hours to pamper yourself, like an at home spa.
Taraji is wonderful! Now I need to try that hair mask!
I’ve just started wearing full makeup, just to make myself happy., although only myself and my family sees me. Those 10 minutes pay dividends all day long for me, personally.
I agree, I stopped wearing makeup for the first few months of the pandemic (and decided that I would give my toes a break from nail polish!) and I just felt so blah and drab any time I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror or saw my polish-free toes walking around. I’m back to my “everyday” makeup most days now, and my toes are red again because it makes me happy! I am looking forward to getting a not-done-by-me pedicure when it is safe again, but I am grateful to be able to care for myself.
I love everything she has been doing! Way to stay productive and positive.
Doing my hair takes forever too. That’s why, pre-pandemic, I frequented Dry Bar because they were quick and efficient.
I just died my gray roots this weekend and it took FOREVER. I haven’t cut my hair in a year and it’s ridiculously long and reminiscent of Chaka Khan at the moment. The prepping, working the dye through my enormous mane and rinsing all the dye out took hours. I literally had to take a nap afterwards. And I still haven’t gotten around to straightening it yet.
I’ve learned so much about hair from Black women on YouTube. Taraji and the other women in her video look amazing. Beautiful.
Excellent suggestion, Taraji! Today will be my at-home spa day.
I miss the days when I would spend 2hrs every Saturday working on my hair. It was such a calming activity. I did treat it like a spa day. I did my facials and scrubs on that day along with my hair. Now that feels so far away
I absolutely hate doing hair. I don’t care for weaves for braids although while it looks nice and gives variety I don’t like having feeling hair on my head. Never have, don’t like it on my face neck or back. Wore my hair short for years but it does get boring. Plus it is hard finding someone who knows how to cut it properly. For the last 15 years living in Florida I just let it grow natural since I was always in the water and just wore it out in an afro or in a ponytail. However it just didn’t look professional because I didn’t style it properly. Now I’m in NYC and I really feel like I need to up my game. Yikes does it ever end????