The secret formula behind Kamala Harris's winning politician hair
The first woman of color to be nominated for national office by a major political party, US Vice President candidate, Kamala Harris, has been chosen by democratic nominee Jo Biden to be his running mate in the upcoming US Presidential elections.
A steely politician with a long and successful career as a prosecutor, Harris is the fourth woman in U.S. history to be chosen for a presidential position. Yet, if you look at the archetypal female politician, Harris stands out for having a more relaxed and approachable look than most female political leaders, who typically take a more masculine sartorial stance.
This may sound inconsequential yet it is anything but. Every politician on such a big stage carefully crafts every inch of their outfit from their hair and make-up to the height of their heels and width of their shoulder pads.
When you break down Harris's political style, it is her hair that sets her apart from the short, stiff mold of female politicians past and present. Leading hair stylist, Luke Hersheson explains, 'Kamala Harris's hair isn't hair sprayed to within an inch of its life. She looks like someone you could go for a drink with rather than someone from another planet - and ultimately that will help her, because people will feel as though they can relate to her.'
He adds, 'The last woman of colour that had a prominent position in the White House was Condoleezza Rice. She was well respected politically but she had a stern, hard-looking hairstyle that made her look unapproachable. Whether your hair moves, or not, says a lot about your character and Kamala has a much looser texture with a subtle amount of waves which feels more modern and right for the world we live in today. '
There's a fine balance between hair that's long and free-flowing and an immovable helmet as worn by Nicola Sturgeon, Hilary Clinton and Theresa May - and Harris has struck the perfect note. 'The mid length bob is an clever choice for any woman in power because there's an easiness about it that you don't get with shorter hairstyles. It's not too long and unkempt nor too short and stiff - the mid-length says: I'm in control but still soft and relatable,' observes Hersheson.
Take a look at Hilary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, and the UK's last female leader, Theresa May, and it's not just their length that gives their look a certain hardness, it's the texture and shape of their haircut that belies a more old-fashioned approach.
'The character of a woman is set primarily through her hair, more so than by her make-up, because hair is a three dimensional shape that frames the face. A clever cut has the ability to manipulate the proportions of the face into looking soft or hard, young or old, which is why it helps to convey the message of who you are more than anything else,' says Hersheson.
