Hair You Might Know: DeWanda Wise!

I am so honored to have interviewed the lovely, talented, and witty DeWanda Wise. The up and coming star has recently appeared on The Good Wife and Law & Order SVU. She also has a number of film credits and theatre productions.  

Want more DeWanda? Check out her website.   You can also see her in this fall in HBO’s The Boardwalk Empire and her new web series Tokens (starting mid September but you can view the YouTube channel here for new promos every week as well as the Token Facebook page!). 

DeWanda, I can’t wait to see how far you go…I’m thinking straight to the top!

How long have you been natural? 

I’ve been natural since May of 2003. Instead of growing out my relaxed hair, I had a classmate of mine chop off my ponytail and use his clippers to shave the rest. Honestly, I went natural because my stylist lived in MD, and I didn’t want to pay for a NY stylist. I’m incredibly cheap. It was a pretty traumatic experience…for my mom.

Your hair is just beautiful. Please let us in on your hair care routine and favorite products.

I’m a firm believer in what I like to call “residual hairstyles.” Example: I get sick of my two-strand twists, so I roll them up in sponge rollers using Fantasia Liquid Mousse. (alcohol-free formula.) I might then either take the rollers out and rock curly twists, OR take the twists out for supercurls that last *forever. Otherwise, I’m old school and moisturize with eggs and olive oil before washing with Dr.Bronners.

Are you often asked or required to straighten your hair for certain jobs? If so, how do you handle it?

I am never asked to straighten my hair, but if I go in for a character who lives in a place where natural styles are rare, I bust out the flat iron and heat protective serum. I’m not sentimental about it–& it’s a lot cheaper than weaves.

What has been your worst hair related experience in your acting career?

Whew! Well, I was asked to wear my hair straight for a lame unnamed series, & the director changed their mind without informing me. I weaved it out, expecting to be reimbursed, & I didn’t end up being in the series or being reimbursed. I was pretty pissed–not just about the money, but in that “I told you so” way: most women just look
better with the hair that grows out of their **heads.

Over the last few years, there seems to be an increase in the number of naturals in areas such as commercials and print ads. In other words, if there is an African American woman in a print ad or commercial, she will usually have natural hair. However, in the film and television business, this does not seem to be the case. Most AA women seem to still be weaving or wigging it up. Why do you think this is?

Very perceptive, I’ve noticed the same trend. I can’t give precise insight. I suspect it’s because natural hair is still considered ”funky,” “urban,” or “sassy.” All words in the Dictionary of Words DeWanda Despises. Straight hair has all the connotations that fit the character descriptions found in film and tv. That is to say, natural is for character actors, and straight styles are for leading ladies in somebody’s brain that’s not in my head. All I can say is, we’re coming. A lot of my peers wear their hair in a diverse array of natural styles–Yaya DaCosta. Nicole Beharie. Charlie’s Angel #1.–We straighten it when necessary, but otherwise, au natural.

Have there been situations where you natural hair has let you stand
apart from other actresses?

Often. Very often, really. I think I have a leg up because I know what to do with it. I’ve also been practicing my sexy Zoolander face though, so I think that acts as a powerful diversion from my hair altogether. No?..Yes?…Maybe?

Can you tell us a little bit more about your character, Keisha, in ”Tokens the Series”?

Keisha/Karen has a deep identity complex that she refuses to address, and I don’t blame her. She’s rich, has no shortage of eligible bachelors clamoring for her attention, and eats Worthington’s wings for free every day. Her life is awesome, and I love her dearly.

"Tokens"

"Tokens"

Where else can we expect to see you in the near future?

I’m starring in Nikyatu Jusu’s Black Swan Theory that will be screening at Urban World this September, and I’m on the October 16 episode of Boardwalk Empire as Henny Walker.

Finally, do you have any advice for any ladies out there who are struggling with wearing their natural hair because of societal pressures or negativity?

I’d say, build your ammunition! Take the time to learn about care and styling so that when you make that leap, no one can really say anything to you. I’ve gotten more compliments about my natural hair (when it wasn’t even formally styled) than anything else. I find that while peer influence exists, we speak most loudly to ourselves.

Change the tone and message of the things you tell yourself as any physical change requires more of an internal transformation. I rock my hair natural as a reciprocal effect of an insatiable craving for differentiation. Until you’re comfortable being boldly and radically unique, having natural hair will be the least of your concerns.

*until I go to the gym.
**styling skills sold separately.

Here’s DeWanda in the Kenyon Adams video All We Need (Try not to cry, I felt like I needed a tissue!):

Here’s a video promo of Token. How awesome is that puff she’s wearing!!??!?

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