Beyoncé Reveals Why Jay-Z Grew His Hair for Blue Ivy

Beyoncé reveals the deeply personal story behind Jay-Z’s new afro

Father’s Day took on a whole new meaning this year when Beyoncé’s haircare brand, Cécred, dropped a seven-minute vlog titled “The Blueprint.” For anyone familiar with the Carter family, the title needs no explanation. Narrated by Beyoncé herself, the clip walks through the full timeline of Jay-Z’s hair journey, from a low-cut Caesar to Basquiat-inspired wicks and finally to the full, voluminous afro he debuted at the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia on May 30.

The transformation, it turns out, was years in the making and rooted in something far more meaningful than a style change.

It started with Blue Ivy

The story begins more than a decade ago. When Blue Ivy was born in 2011, the public response to her natural hair was harsh and widely criticized. People openly mocked the way her hair looked and questioned why her parents had not straightened it. According to Beyoncé, Blue was around five years old when she first began showing signs of insecurity about her own hair. That moment changed everything for Jay-Z.

Beyoncé explains in the vlog that Jay decided to grow out his own hair specifically so Blue could see that her hair texture mirrored his. The goal was simple and powerful: help their daughter love and embrace every curl. That decision led to more than eight years of loc growth.

Supporting Blue’s relationship with her natural hair became woven into the Carters’ creative work as well. Blue appeared with her natural hair in Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning “Formation” video and Jay-Z’s “Family Feud” clip. She contributed guest vocals to “Brown Skin Girl” and narrated the audiobook for Matthew A. Cherry’s Hair Love, earning a voice arts award for her work. The couple also used a photograph of a Black woman picking out a Black man’s afro for the cover of their 2018 joint album Everything Is Love.

Combing out 8 years of locs took a full week

When Jay decided to remove his locs ahead of his Roots Picnic headlining set, the process was anything but simple. He told Beyoncé a few months beforehand that he wanted to comb them out in honor of his father, who wore an afro, as a tribute during the Philadelphia show. Beyoncé admits she was not fully convinced it was even possible given how thick and long his locs had grown over eight years.

It took six full days for Beyoncé, Blue Ivy and Houston loctician Letisia “Lety” Ravelo to comb out the locs, with an additional day dedicated entirely to detangling. Throughout the process, they used Cécred products exclusively, including the brand’s parting tail comb, detangling spray and hair and scalp balm. Jay-Z had reportedly been using Cécred products on his hair for the entire eight years his locs were growing.

Blue Ivy was fully involved in the process, helping comb and detangle her father’s hair. At one point she joked that the experience was going to turn her into an influencer.

A meaningful moment for the whole family

The vlog also includes a tender clip of Rumi, the Carters’ youngest daughter, shadowing her father during Roots Picnic rehearsals. Beyoncé reflects on the emotional weight of the transformation, noting that locs carry memories and energy that go beyond appearance.

The timing carries added significance. Jay-Z is currently celebrating 30 years of his debut album Reasonable Doubt and is set to headline three Yankee Stadium shows in July, one of which marks the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint.

Source: Billboard