How Michelle Obama Practices Self-Care With Her Hair Choices

After sharing the weight of presidential politics for over eight years, Michelle Obama has demonstrated that she knows how to command a room and initiate change; she even gave us a masterclass in unlearning people-pleasing behaviors. At the same time, managing these high-stress situations under public scrutiny requires a lot of self-care, confidence, and carving out time for yourself. "I always try to remember that I'll be the best me I can be if I prioritize myself," she shared in an Instagram Q&A, as reported by GMA. "For me, getting the right exercise and sleep and time to recharge, it's not an option."

Emphasizing the importance of managing health, the Chicago native's self-care methods also extend to her appearance and self-expression. Alongside Obama's stunning post-White House style transformation, the former first lady has opened up about the role that cultural hairstyles have played in her prioritizing herself. "Braids allow me to get them done, and then that's one less thing that I have to think about," the former first lady told People. "When I'm out of the public eye, I am swimming, I am playing tennis, and braids represent that kind of freedom for me."

Though Michelle Obama's trendiest hair look proves she's not afraid to experiment, that hasn't always been the case. The Princeton graduate has found ease, convenience, and freedom in braided hairstyles since leaving the White House, marking a way to practice self-love with her hair choices, but her stint as the first lady was more limiting. "[In the White House] I wasn't sure whether the country was ready for it," she told People. "The Crown Act [which protects employees and students from race-based hair discrimination] hadn't been passed yet, and just like fashion, I didn't want my hair to become a distraction."

Obama was very aware of the intense scrutiny and high standards that came with her political position, especially as the first-ever Black American to serve as first lady, but knew the importance of advocating for natural and cultural hairstyles post-White House. "I understood the significance of wearing braids to our portrait unveiling," she explained. "I wanted to send a message, add to the discourse of Black women in places of power, saying, 'This, too, is an appropriate and beautiful way to wear your hair.'"

Beyond this positive representation, Obama has spoken directly about the topic on several occasions, advocating for the importance of freedom over haircare and self-expression. "Our hair is about who we want to be and what works for us at that time," the public figure explained on "Sherri" in November 2025. "Anything I choose to do is professional. It's who I am, and what I say that matters."