When Jay-Z stepped on the stage at Roots Picnic this past weekend, the internet collectively did a double-take. The Grammy-winning musician, who has spent years rocking super-sized locs, debuted a gravity-defying Afro that instantly sparked confusion, curiosity, and, of course, countless social media debates. Was it a wig? A hairpiece? A clever stage trick? Not at all.
What many people don't realize is that locs can, in fact, be combed out! It’s a time-consuming process that preserves the length of the hair without doing a full big chop. Still, seeing Jay-Z with an Afro felt almost surreal. After all, this is a look we've never seen from the rapper, making the dramatic transformation one of the most talked-about celebrity beauty moments of the weekend.
Behind the viral hairdo is celebrity hairstylist Letisia “Lety” Ravelo, the talented pro responsible for the look. She assisted a professional loctician in patiently combing out Jay-Z's locs and then single-handedly crafted his glorious fro (all while 4-months pregnant with her second child). And it comes as no surprise that she used an arsenal of Cecréd products, Beyoncé’s haircare line, to get the job done.
As conversations about Black hair continue to happen, this moment also serves as a reminder of the amazing versatility of textured hair and some of the misconceptions that still exist around locs.
Cosmo caught up with Lety to beat these wig allegations and to break down exactly how the transformation happened, how long it took, and what it was like creating one of the most buzzworthy hair looks of the year thus far.
First things first, how long did it actually take to comb out his locs?
It took six days to deconstruct the locs. People see the final look and don't realize how much time goes into preserving the hair, the length, and the health of the hair. We weren't working around the clock, but he made sure to carve out time for it every day, even while balancing rehearsals and everything else he had going on. This wasn't something he rushed through—it was a process.
Did he ever reach a point where he wanted to give up and just cut them off?
Not at all. He was very clear about what he wanted. When I told him it was possible, he was like, "Okay, let's do it." He knew it would take time, and he was patient through the entire process. There was never a moment where he was like, "Forget it, let's just cut it." Once he decided, he was committed.
A lot of people online thought the Afro was a wig because they didn't realize locs can be combed out. What does that process actually look like?
Locs are essentially strands of hair intertwined with one another. The key is moisture and patience. We used Cécred's Detangling Spray and Deep Conditioner, letting the products really penetrate the hair before carefully separating the strands from the bottom up with a fine-tooth comb. You have to go little by little. Remember, he had about eight years of locs, so you're working through years of hair. It's definitely not something you can rush.
Were his locs as long as they looked?
Absolutely. They were super long—and his hair is down his back. It was kind of ridiculous how long it was.
How much product did it take to get through the detangling process?
A lot. We used a combination of the Cécred detangling spray and the deep conditioner, but I vividly remember going through about eight of the large deep conditioner containers. Moisture was everything during this process because we were trying to preserve not just the length, but the overall health of his hair.
What's the biggest misconception people have about combing out locs?
That it's quick. It's not. If you're trying to preserve the length and maintain healthy hair, you have to take your time. Some people might claim they can do it in a fraction of the time, but if you're prioritizing the health of the hair, there really aren't shortcuts. For me, hair health comes before the style, every single time. I even made sure to care for his scalp throughout the process because six days of detangling means a lot of pulling and manipulation. Healthy hair starts there.
Once the locs were out, how did you create the Afro?
After the locs were fully deconstructed, I treated his hair with the Cécred Reconstructing Treatment Mask to bring hydration back into the hair. Then I layered in the Moisture Sealing Lotion and Thermal Shield Mist from the new collection to lock in moisture before styling. I braided his hair into straight-back cornrows and let it set for about a week. On the day of the Roots Picnic performance, I took the braids out, shaped the Afro, and honestly just prayed to the hair gods that everything had the right amount of movement. Thankfully, it came out exactly how I envisioned it.
What was Jay-Z's reaction when he saw the final look?
He loved it. Loved it. Once he saw it, he was really happy with the transformation.
How did it feel watching the style go viral?
I'm beyond happy. I'm a natural-hair specialist, so seeing him embrace his texture and rock an Afro on such a big stage was amazing. I was like, "Go off!" I love that natural hair is continuing to have a moment and that people are embracing it.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Julee Wilson is Beauty Editor at Large at Cosmopolitan. Previously, Julee was Beauty Director at Cosmo and Global Beauty Director at Essence and has held various editorial positions at Huffington Post and Real Simple. She counts herself lucky AF that she gets to play with beauty products for a living and tell dope stories. And if you’re as obsessed with beauty as she is, make sure to follow her on Instagram for plenty of product recs, natural hair inspo, skincare testing, and Black girl magic shenanigans.
