‘Our Form of Folks’ Star Yaya DaCosta Is Having Enjoyable With Pure Hair on Primetime TV – Interview

ALLURE: Your character, Angela Vaughn, has a hair-care enterprise referred to as Eve’s Crown. As somebody who has proudly been pure hair by way of your complete profession within the public eye, I’m wondering if that was one thing that was interesting to you in taking over this character?

YAYA DACOSTA: Oh, yeah. My love for hair and pure hair care began as a toddler and was actually solidified after I went away to boarding college at 13. I grew to become my very own hairdresser, in addition to [the campus stylist] as a result of we have been in the course of nowhere in Massachusetts, and there was nowhere for us to go. 

Sure folks knew easy methods to do hair; I’d do it out of my dorm room. I all the time had my very own hair finished, and it was very expressive. I’d you should definitely full all my homework after which work on a brand new coiffure for the subsequent day. I feel freshman yr, in humanities class on the finish, they provide all people superlatives, and mine was “most hairstyles ever seen in a single yr.”

Hair is unquestionably one thing that I’ve liked my complete life. As I obtained older and began performing, I began working with Chioma Valcourt. I all the time go to her to arrange me for my roles. She does my weaves, my hair items and extensions, numerous crimson carpets — she’s my behind-the-scenes secret weapon and I present up on set nearly prepared. 

This present was my alternative to say to her, “Hey, would you want to truly work on the set of this massive undertaking?” For each of us, it was a chance to do what we have all the time finished, which is play, take dangers in terms of new kinds, and be daring and expressive, however on a bigger scale. I do not know that we have seen a personality have this a lot enjoyable with pure hair on tv, actually. It is without doubt one of the issues that attracted me to the position.

ALLURE: There’s one second in an episode the place you are speaking to Morris Chestnut’s character, Raymond Dupont, and also you point out that “A Black lady’s relationship together with her hair is generational. It is private, and it is much more than scorching proper now.” Do you’re feeling there are any parallels to the evolving dialog about “acceptable” methods for Black girls to type ourselves proper now?