• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your legacy
  • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • Beauty News
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Lifestyle News
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Netflix’s Jingle Jangle Gift Guide
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your Legacy
  • News
    • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Essence 50th Anniversary
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · Natural

Mother Knows Best: ESSENCE Editors Reveal Favorite Hair Lessons Learned From Their Mothers

“Wash behind your ears,” “eat carrots if you want beautiful eyes!” and “brush your teeth,” are a few choice phrases mothers love to throw around. But whether we like it or not, momma always knows best. This Mother’s Day we’re showing our favorite girl love by highlighting our favorite hair lessons we’ve learned from her. Take notes and share lessons from your mother or grandmother below.

By Deena Campbell · May 3, 2014October 27, 2020
01
Deena Campbell, ESSENCE.com Hair and Beauty Editor

“As a child, my mother always told me that my hair is special and that it needs love and tenderness. Keeping that in mind, she never allowed me to comb it too vigorously or apply too much heat; 20 years later I’m still using those lessons.”

Getty Images
02
Crystal Martin, ESSENCE.com Contributing Beauty Editor

“My mother is quite the minimalist. She likes uncomplicated fashion, beauty and hair. From her I learned how to keep my haircare simple. She taught me to find just the right couple products for my needs and to use them sparingly and routinely.”

Getty Images
03
Celia L. Smith, ESSENCE.com Fashion Editor

“Growing up my mom had every hair color in the rainbow and every cut imaginable, from long to pixie cut and platinum to black. She taught me to be fearless and not be so stuck to one image of myself or my hair for that matter.”

Getty Images
04
Yolanda Sangweni, ESSENCE.com Entertainment Editor

“My mother trusted me enough to let me make my own decisions with my hair. She encouraged me to love it as is, kinky. She smiled the one time I relaxed, the many times I locked it, and even when I shaved it off two weeks before my wedding.”

05
Charli Penn, ESSENCE.com Relationship Editor

“My grandmother was the press and curl queen and she would always say, ‘Why use a chemical for what a hot comb or curlers can do?’ I guess she was one of the original leaders of the #teamnatural movement. Ha!”

Getty Images
06
Charlise Ferguson, ESSENCE.com Partnerships Editor

“My mother taught me to always keep my hair moisturized because natural hair tends to be dry, and to tie my hair up at night with a satin scarf to keep it from breaking—and to keep it neat in the morning.”

07
Sylvia Obell, ESSENCE Magazine Editorial Assistant

“My mother taught me the importance of protective styles. She would always makes sure I gave my hair time to rest/breathe from constant styling by getting braids or two-strand twist styles. Between her encouragement and my favorite star at the time (Brandy) braids became my signature look for most of my teenage years.”

Read More

Sports
Naomi Osaka, 23, Wins Australian Open
Op-Ed
Texas Mayor Resigns After Controversial Facebook Post
Fashion
Thelma West Details Her 15 Year Run In The Diamond Industry
Relationships
Kim Kardashian Has Filed For Divorce From Kanye West
Entertainment
Meet ESSENCE's 15 Directors To Watch In 2021
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2021 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now