KeKe “Big Boss” Palmer became Creme of Nature’s first-ever Chief Brand Officer, adding a new bullet to her ever-growing resume. On Wednesday, October 16, the brand hosted an intimate dinner party at Kokomo, a Caribbean fusion restaurant in Williamsburg, to celebrate the new partnership and the beauty of Black hair.

Palmer lived her life in the spotlight, growing up as a child star turned thriving actress, host, author, and so much more. Her success comes from her dedication to putting 101% percent into whatever she touches. But her commitment to conducting candid conversations about life, parenting, health struggles, and her journey to embracing her natural hair makes her a beloved pillar in the Black community.

In 2020, I wrote an article that detailed how women like Palmer inspired me to develop a loving connection to my natural hair. Over the years, we’ve watched news anchors and talk show hosts wear braids, afros, coils, and curls on screen, noting the transition made them nervous. During an episode of Good Morning America, Palmer, a co-host of the show at the time, dedicated a segment that detailed the history of Black hair. 

After that episode aired, Palmer’s voluminous curls made several appearances on our timeline. From bouncy silk presses to tight coils, the “Bottoms Up” singer showed why her new title as the Chief Brand Officer of Creme of Nature was a full-circle moment in her hair journey.

Between delicious food and infectious laughter, I sat down with Palmer to learn more about her new role, how she’s embraced her natural hair while working in the limelight, and if she’s ever been plagued with hair depression.

HellBeautiful: You’re a boss. As a Virgo, you bring much of that energy to get things done. How does it feel to add the title, Chief Brand Officer” of Creme of Nature to your resume?

Keke Palmer: I’m so excited to learn. But you know, I think there are so many elements to this that I can bring storytelling to. That makes me the most excited and also bridging the connection that’s always been there within the community. And, of course, in Virgo fashion, making sure that it’s all lined up and perfect the whole way through. The meticulous nature we put into the products we put into the storytelling is all I want to bring.

HB: There’s this thing called hair depression. I’m currently suffering from it. For some women, when their hair isn’t done, they don’t feel the best. Do you deal with this? If so, how do you manage it being in the limelight?

KP: Oh, that’s all of us. We all deal with it every couple of business days. I’ll be honest, I’m one of those who feel you need to have bad hair days. Every day will not be a great hair day because if it were, how would you know the great days from the bad days? Sometimes it’s like, you know what? I’m not feeling my hair today. That’s okay. But then, at other times, I feel like spending more time with my hair.

When it comes to my natural hair, the more I play with it, the more it empowers me to know that beautiful hair is not just one way.

HB: Has it been an adjustment to wear your natural hair on TV?

KP: Yes. I think the biggest time that it was a challenge was on Good Morning America because that’s a really professional space. Obviously, we have the Crown Act to thank for changing some of that, but that was the hardest place to initially make that jump of wearing my natural hair.

I had a really great hairstylist—she’s absolutely amazing. And she said, “Keke, just do it.” She encouraged me. Once I did it, I realized we have to move past the social constructs that tell us how we have to look in the workplace. I would say if you don’t do it a lot, it will feel uncomfortable. But once you start wearing your natural hair, it will be like second nature. If I didn’t have to change up my hair for the different roles, I’d be wearing my hair like this most of the time. I got this relationship with it by breaking that first door and saying let’s just get into it and fall in love with it as it is.

See highlights from the event below.

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