Actress Kerry Washington Bares it All on Allure Magazine: "I Wear My Natural Hair Now For My Children"

Actress Kerry Washington Bares it All on Allure Magazine: "I Wear My Natural Hair Now For My Children"



Photographed by Sharif Hamza, actress Kerry Washington covers the latest issue of Allure Magazine. Her November cover story, Washington shares with Judith Newman how her beautiful children, Isabelle, 3, and Caleb, 1, inspired her to embrace her natural hair.

"I like to wear my natural texture, especially now because I have children and I want them to know that their hair is perfect as it is," Washington said."They don't have to change it or straighten it. They can, but they don't have to. I have grown to like my hair more and more over the years. I won't have any chemicals in it. I stopped relaxing my hair in my early 20s."

She may be Olivia Pope, the D.C. Fixer for the colossal Shonda Rhimes-driven hit show "Scandal," but Washington insists to Newman how she doesn't have the answer for everything. 

"It happens All. The. Time. I mean, part of it is because they know I can connect them to Judy Smith, (the crisis manager) who the role is based on. But people call me to say, 'I have this problem. Can I talk to you about it?' And I’m like, 'I don't even want to know! Just skip over me!' But I know secrets."

With the political turmoil (for the lack of better words) America is currently facing, Washington, like many of us, had to learn to tune in and out for her sanity...

"I have to dip in and dip out because it suffocates me. Like, I become unable to function. So it's a tricky balance between staying aware and also staying connected to a sense of hope and productivity and showing up for life."

Washington goes on the discuss with Newman her beauty regimen, motherhood, and her forthcoming projects.  Washington is co-producing/starring with Eva Longoria in the Universal workplace comedy, "24-7." No date thus far when this project will be released.

View more of Kerry Washington's Allure editorial spread below.



Kerry Washington Opens Up About Crushing Impossible Beauty Standards | Allure Magazine


What does your daily skin-care routine look like?
"I have eczema, and I've been going to a dermatologist since I was eight years old. I've had a long time to think about moisturizing and things like that. The routine that I stick to religiously is that I never, ever sleep with makeup on. At the very least I take it off, but I try to really wash my skin after that."

And your daily makeup routine?
"Well, I'm lucky that I get to wake up and put my shoes on and then go sit in a chair and have somebody make me look beautiful, you know? When I'm not working, I try to not wear a lot of makeup. I have my foundation and moisturizer. and that's it."

What hair products are nonnegotiable?
"I try to use clarifying shampoo every other week because I swim a lot and use a lot of product. Also — I know this isn't usually thought of as hair stuff — but I take fish oil, and I find that my skin and hair really benefit from it. I take it at night, though, so you don’t have to deal with burping up fish oil all day."

Do you have a favorite feature?
"I have grown to like my hair more and more over the years. I won't have any chemicals in it. I stopped relaxing my hair in my early 20s."

What beauty lessons did you learn from your mother?
"Drink a lot of water. My mom was definitely one of those 'Before you have a cup of juice, you have to have a cup of water' moms. I wouldn't call her a water connoisseur, but she really appreciates it. When she has some good well water, she’s like, 'Mmmm, that's good water.'"

What’s your go-to scent?
"I always use fragrance as a way to find the characters I play. I usually wear the scent of whatever character I'm working on. When I did Confirmation, I wore Trésor because that was the actual scent that Anita Hill wore at the time. And when I did Ray, I used to wear rose oil all the time because that was the real Della Bea's favorite flower, and she loved roses, and it was a scent that helped me find that character. But I decided really early on that Olivia Pope was somebody who doesn't wear perfume because working with so many different kinds of clients, it just felt she needed to be more neutral. So I haven't had a signature scent for seven years."

Do you just naturally look like this or do you have a religious fitness routine?
"God, no. I’m not one of those 'Oh, I just run after my toddler!' people. I love to work out. It's really important to me; it's part of the culture of my family. My husband was a professional athlete, so we hike, we swim, we're very active. But then I do a lot of Pilates, and I go to SoulCycle. I just got a Peloton bike. I do different things, but I'm most obsessed with water aerobics. Now I do it with my friends on the weekends."

Biggest beauty indulgence?
"Massages. I love them because they fall in that in-between for me: half beauty, half wellness. It's something I do because I'm in heels a lot and I work really long hours. And I have a lot of pressures in my life. So massages are a good way for me to maintain my health and wellness, but also I feel like I’m doing something indulgent. And I’m a deep-tissue girl. I ask for the strongest massage therapist. Unravel me. Get in there."

Read more [HERE] and [HERE]

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Own the Look:
Cigaline technical dress by Prada. Makeup colors: Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint in Cocoa and Healthy Volume Mascara in Carbon by Neutrogena.

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Own the Look:
Jacquard dress by Gucci. Makeup colors: Healthy Skin Blush in Vibrant, Healthy Volume Mascara in Carbon Black, and MoistureSmooth Color Stick in Fresh Papaya by Neutrogena.

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Own the Look:
Silk chiffon top and skirt by Prabal Gurung. Makeup colors: Healthy Skin Blush in Vibrant, Healthy Volume Mascara in Carbon Black, and Hydro Boost Hydrating Lip Shine in Radiant Rose by Neutrogena.

image host
Own the Look:
Silk chiffon top and skirt by Prabal Gurung. Makeup colors: Healthy Skin Blush in Vibrant, Healthy Volume Mascara in Carbon Black, and Hydro Boost Hydrating Lip Shine in Radiant Rose by Neutrogena.

image host
Own the Look:
Makeup colors: Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint in Cocoa, Healthy Skin Blush in Vibrant, Healthy Volume Mascara in Carbon Black, and Hydro Boost Hydrating Lip Shine in Berry Brown by Neutrogena.

image host
Own the Look:
Silk organza dress by Dior. Earrings by Oblik Atelier. Ring, Washington’s own. Hair accessories, hairstylist’s own. Makeup colors: Hydro Boost Hydrating Concealer in Deep, Nourishing Eye Liner in Cosmic Black, and Hydro Boost Hydrating Lip Shine in Flushed Coral by Neutrogena.


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Cover Star: Kerry Washington
Magazine: Allure, November 2017
Photographer: Sharif Hamza
Stylist: Hanna Kelifa
Hair: Takisha Sturdivant-Drew (of Takisha Studio)
Makeup: Francelle Daly
Manicure: Tom Bachik
Set Designer: Bryan Porter
Production: Holly Gore (for Rosco Production)





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