Rihanna’s vision for Fenty, that beauty be fully inclusive, has swept through the industry and changed everything. Now she’s set to disrupt hair. Echoing Fenty’s moral pillar, celebrity hairstylist Marylynn Darsel illustrated diversity and artistic expression through a braided hair sculpture showcased at the launch party for Fenty Hair. The sculpture engenders the thematic message that hair is not “just hair” — it can be a vibrant embodiment of culture and the birthplace of creative possibility.
Darsel approaches hair as an art of fluidity, endlessly reshaped by ebbs of inspiration, imagination, and innovation. Yet despite the expansive scope of her originality and vision, her culture remains a profound element in her work. “I pretty much get inspired by, I wanna say, anything,” Darsel says, “Mostly, I would say though my Black culture … My creativity with hair has always been just so out of the box. Doing what I want to do with it, letting it flow, braids, straight, fro, all that!”
As a performing stylist at Fenty Hair’s launch party, Darsel’s creation was partially inspired by none other than the iconic hair chameleon and head of Fenty, Rihanna. Reflecting the bold and adventurous nature of Rihanna’s own hair journey, Darsel’s work arrived big and glamorous — a hybridized model of racial representation and artistry, combining core elements of Black hair into an infatuating sculpture that speaks to elaborate intricacy and flamboyant exclusivity.
“I feel like her [Rihanna] coming being from a Black heritage as well definitely played a role in creating this look … if you could go back and see her hair journey through the years, she’s always so outgoing with different colors, different styles. And I feel like there’s no cap on what she could wear and what she could bring forth with her stylist.”
But the state of being more than “just hair” means that hair is an art, yes — more importantly, though, it is a passionate, unhindered extension of the self.
“There should be no caps on creativity and how you could express yourself through your hair. I feel like you can speak so much with just your hair.”
Darsel’s work is an evocation of how hair can speak universal messages and be transformed into divine masterpieces, yet all the while remain intimate, irrevocable representations of their creators.
Wondering what products she used? To create the look, Darsel used the Fenty Controlling Type Hair-Thickening Edge Controlling Gel for the braids and the Fenty Gelly Type Strong Hold Gel for the waves.
If you’re interested in keeping up with Marylynn Darsel’s work and Fenty Hair, find them on Instagram.
