The Inaugural Coiffeur
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 9:48 PM You certainly don’t want to face a bad hair day when the whole world is watching you! So we completely understand Mrs. O's decision to send her long-time Chicago hairdresser, Michael “Rahni” Flowers, to do her hair for events surrounding the Inauguration. After all, he has been there for Mrs. O through major events in her life, including doing her hair for her wedding and for her Grant Park election night appearance. (For the Democratic National Convention, Mrs. O turned to Chicago-native Johnny Wright, who works at the Frederic Fekkai salon in Los Angeles.)
Flowers, who with his partner Daryl Wells owns and operates the Van Cleef Hair Studio in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, has been styling Mrs. O’s hair since she graduated from high school. The salon, staffed by multi-cultural stylists, is known for its expertise with African-American hair. Many local television anchor-women of color are also Van Cleef regulars. For years, Flowers has spent approximately two hours a week coiffing Mrs. O’s hair. He is credited with giving her the Jackie-esque flip style she often wore in the beginning of the campaign and also with the straightened bob look she has sported in more recent months.
The 53-year-old Flowers, who also styles Mrs. O’s mother’s hair, will be flying into the District of Columbia on Sunday and is scheduled to do Mrs. O’s hair and makeup for the Inauguration ceremony and the evening balls. We certainly wouldn’t be surprised if he also is recruited to do some styling for Mrs. O’s Monday evening appearance at the “Celebration for America” concert at the Kennedy Center. And might this choice of hair stylist also provide a clue about the fashion designers Mrs. O will turn to for the Inauguration? More than ever we're of the mind that Mrs. O will be staying close to home, relying on longtime and trusted collaborators such as Chicago based designer Maria Pinto.
We'll wait with bated breath for that announcement, and in the meantime, rest assured that Mrs. O's mane will be in good hands next week.
Misc
Reader Comments (4)
The shape of those eyebrows seem much nicer in this wedding photo. I like the hair style too. Lovely!
Barack looks so happy. :)
Kristan
http://jbu.phuzzymath.net/
I am an African American female and was shocked when I saw Michelle's dress on November 4 night. I looked like a superhero costume. Michelle is so beautiful, tall, statueque and this dress was not at all flattering. She would have looked beautiful in a suit or something more appropriate. And this is not how most African American women dress so who was she trying to represent. Her mother was very chic. What was she thinking? Now, her hair and make-up flawless. Please help her someone.
Patty: shush. Now is not the time for negativity.