Jay-Z’s New Afro Carries Family Meaning, Beyoncé Reveals

Jay-Z’s recent appearance at the Roots Picnic sparked widespread conversation, not only because it marked his first live performance in seven years, but also because of his striking new afro. Now, a behind-the-scenes video released by Beyoncé’s haircare brand Cécred has revealed the deeply personal story behind the hairstyle transformation. Narrated by Beyoncé, the video details the months-long process of removing Jay-Z’s locs and the family inspirations that influenced both his past and present looks.
According to Beyoncé, Jay-Z originally began growing his locs nearly a decade ago to help his daughter, Blue Ivy, embrace her natural hair. She explained that he wanted Blue to see that her curls were beautiful and reflected his own hair texture. More recently, however, the rapper decided to transition to an afro as a tribute to his late father, Adnis Reeves, who famously wore the style. The decision added an emotional layer to what many fans initially viewed as a simple change in appearance.
The video also highlights the extensive effort required to remove Jay-Z’s locs, a process that involved hairstylist Letisia “Lety” Ravelo, Beyoncé and Blue Ivy. Using Cécred products, the family spent hours carefully detangling each wick before trimming, washing and styling his hair. Although Beyoncé admitted she was reluctant to see the locs go, she ultimately praised the final result, saying Jay-Z’s afro looked “beautiful from start to finish” when he debuted it on stage at the Roots Picnic.










