Ten years after first covering CR Fashion Book, and hot on the heels of her surprise album announcement for ACT II, Beyoncé is back on these pages to celebrate the launch of her new haircare line, Cécred, with a tribute to iconic hairstyles throughout history. From ancient Greece to the future, Beyoncé and her mom, Ms. Tina Knowles, are joined by a cast of models and personalities with a diverse range of hair types.

Inspired by growing up in her mom’s hair salon in Houston and a decades-long career that has shaped her expertise in maintaining hair health while navigating coloring, high-tension styles, adhesives, and the sweat and intensity of her life as a performer, Cécred is a deeply personal endeavor. 

Here, Beyoncé and Ms. Tina talk to Carine Roitfeld about the transformative power of hair, sneaking into Target unnoticed, and the mother-daughter connection that keeps them both inspired.

Carine Roitfeld: You covered CR Fashion Book ten years ago—an instantly iconic shoot. What has changed since then?

Beyoncé: So many things have changed in the past decade. I was a new mother back then and now my baby is a twelve-year-old and taller than I am. I’m also a proud mother of my Gemini twins who will be seven pretty soon. I can’t believe my self-titled album came out in 2013!

I’ve nowreleased Lemonade and RENAISSANCE. My company has grown, and I’m so proud of the new haircare brand, Cécred, I just launched. I feel like I have evolved as a filmmaker and producer, and I am at a place in my life where I can work at my own pace and only do things I truly believe in. But I must admit, I’m still struggling with balancing all the hats I wear. 

Carine Roitfeld: How has hair been a part of your story, your identity, and your image-making?

Beyoncé: As long as I can remember, I’ve been around hair. I was lucky enough to have a mom who was also a hair stylist and owned a salon. She had one of the most popular salons in Houston, Texas. I have so many memories working there and shampooing people’s hair, but something that always stuck with me was seeing all types of people be transformed on the inside through hair. The salon taught me a lot and it’s the foundation of who I am. I’ve done all types of things with my hair since then, exploring colors, cuts, styles, etc. I’ve probably gotten my hair done more than anyone I know. I’ve made every mistake and have definitely learned from trial and error. Hair is actually the first step when I’m creating tours, films, and albums; being able to see the hairstyles first is what influences the sound, looks… everything.

Carine Roitfeld: Ms. Tina, what do you remember from that time?

Ms. Tina Knowles: The girls used to work at the salon so they could make money for AstroWorld, our local amusement park. All of them used to sweep up there to save for season passes. My hair salon was a special place and a sacred environment. I have such fond memories of owning my salon and having my daughters there.

ss24

Laruicci plaid shorts and denim boots from blue denim boots from SS24 RTW Collection.

Carine Roitfeld: Are there any hair looks you regret?

Beyoncé: One of my hair nightmares was at the 2001 Grammys. It was the year Destiny’s Child won our first Grammy. I took bleach that was made for bleaching eyebrows, and put it in the front of my hair because I was too impatient to wait on the color. It got my hair very platinum but two weeks later the front of my hair broke off really badly. I’ve done some crazy things with my hair but you can’t live with regrets. Being safe is boring. We all have those hair moments that are wildly unattractive at one point in our lives. But the beauty about hair is it grows. And now there’s endless products and hairpieces available to help us achieve any style we want. You don’t have to commit to any one style, you can just have fun.

Ms. Tina Knowles: First regret is letting Beyoncé’s father cut my hair. I remember two weeks after we got married, I wanted a short haircut. I did the initial cut but wanted him to assist with clippers. Soon after, I noticed some bald spots. So, never let your husband cut your hair. My second regret when it comes to hair is participating in the mullet-shag trend. When I had the style, it was impossible to grow out. We used to cut our hair so short in the front and leave length in the back. When I reflect on photos, I am appalled that I did that to myself—truly a bad era. But now we did this shoot and there’s B making the mullet look so good. My third regret is coloring my hair green. At the time I thought it was so cool as it matched a green outfit I had. Instead, I looked sick. You won’t see me ever again with green hair. 

Carine Roitfeld: My hair routine is doing nothing. What advice would you give me if I wanted to start?

Beyoncé: Carine, you may be on to something, because sometimes we do too much. I do believe there is such a thing as over manipulation. I try to go through phases where I just let my hair breathe. Obviously curling and putting styling products on my hair for a tour is not easy on the hair, so finding the right products and giving my hair a break when necessary has been something I had to learn. Around the age of sixteen I began growing out my relaxer. I haven’t had a relaxer in over twenty years because I love color so much. I decided what was best for me considering how much I love color. But I don’t believe that is the case for everyone. I do believe everyone should take a little time to really understand their hair and its needs. I think the natural state of every texture of healthy hair is gorgeous. It was important that we could help support, teach and inform people of their personal hair needs. I encourage you to take the quiz on the Cécred website that we have created to identify what your hair needs are. It may encourage you to add just a few more steps to your routine.  

Carine Roitfeld: You have found ways to collaborate with your mother, from the days with Destiny’s Child up to now. How do you work together and what are the joys and challenges?

Beyoncé: My mom and I want the same things; to be authentic, work hard, be innovative, and respect each other’s creativity. Working closely with my mother lets me know everyday that there is someone who will help me get up no matter how many times I fall down. Building my hair company, it took some time to get it right and it was the best feeling to know I could bounce anything off her and she would give an honest answer, even if I didn’t ask to hear it, haha. Working with family also has its moments. Sometimes we’ll be in a huge meeting and she’ll cut me off and start talking to me like I’m a teenager. It’s a momma thing; no matter where I am or who I’m talking to, I am her daughter. I cherish the time I get to spend with my mom. The special connection between mother and daughter is one of the most sacred and I know I am lucky and blessed to have the relationship I have with my mother. What an honor to have her on my squad for life.

Ms. Tina Knowles: The joy is being around my daughter. We feed off each other’s creativity. The hard part is when we don’t agree on something, to know when to be quiet because this is her thing. But the best part is I get to be around one of my favorite people in the world on a regular basis. I always pinch myself, I mean how amazing that is. 

Carine Roitfeld: Tina, what did you learn from your mother that you passed on to your daughters about hair care?

Ms. Tina Knowles: To moisturize our hair. She taught me to just mix things I had on hand at home. We heated up olive oil to make hot oil treatments and used egg whites for the protein. We mixed mayonnaise, egg yolk, and olive oil to condition and strengthen the hair.

“THE HARD PART IS WHEN WE DON’T AGREE ON SOMETHING, TO KNOW WHEN TO BE QUIET BECAUSE THIS IS HER THING. BUT THE BEST PART IS I GET TO BE AROUND ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ON A REGULAR BASIS. I ALWAYS PINCH MYSELF, I MEAN HOW AMAZING THAT IS.”

Carine Roitfeld: How was Cécred realized?

Beyoncé: It has always been a dream of mine to create top-of-the-line, luxury products. I wanted to combine the best scientific advancements with true rituals from different heritages. I’m interested in solving real problems. I want to break down myths and stereotypes when it comes to our hair. Great quality is great quality regardless of who is behind it. It was important to me to find a team of diverse women from different backgrounds who were masterfully the best in their fields to build Cécred with me. We all want healthy hair and that starts with a clean scalp, strength, moisture, and making your health a priority. The packaging is also really special. We designed each one to look like sculptures. And pushing it to have a texture like stone, it was something so innovative, clean, and minimal. 

Carine Roitfeld: Your CR shoot features hair styles from different eras, textures, and cultures. What message do you want to give to the people who see it?

Beyoncé: Every era is defined by sound and sight. There’s always music, fashion, and trends that make an era unforgettable. Growing up, I was inspired by my favorite music icons. Those styles told us so much about the women who wore them. I can literally hear the music just by looking at the hairstyles. I always wanted an asymmetrical cut in the ’90s, but my mother wouldn’t let me do it. So I’m having the time of my life at this shoot. That’s what we really wanted to channel in this shoot: a symphony of hair styles inspired by iconic hair throughout history.

Carine Roitfeld: Tina, we photographed you in a 1970s style. What is the most beautiful thing you remember about the ’70s?

Ms. Tina Knowles: The ’70s was my hot girl era in terms of fashion and hair styles. I rocked the biggest afro you could have. It was every color in the book. The sky was the limit with fashion. You could go there, it was really wild. Back then, I used to go to Sessions where all these groups like The Isley Brothers and The Chi-Lites would come to town and perform in Galveston, Texas, on Friday nights. I’d go with my sister and my nephew Johnny and we’d have a ball. I just turned seventy, and the ’70s just reminds me of pure freedom. 

Carine Roitfeld: To talk fashion for a second, what is your go-to outfit?

Beyoncé: When I’m not dressed for an appearance and I’m training or hustling, my go-to outfit is a black hoodie and black sweatpants. I go through seasons where I literally don’t have a second to think about what I’m wearing. I enjoy consciously wearing the same black hoodie. On a good day, I can sneak into Target unnoticed.

Carine Roitfeld: One thing I’ve always wondered, what is your secret to performing and dancing in runway looks and high heels?

Beyoncé: I spent a lot of time singing on treadmills growing up (not in heels), running on the Bayou, and doing loads of calf raises and squats. I learned to dance in heels around twelve or thirteen years old. My parents built a deck in the backyard that was a mini stage so I could practice for a showcase we had with Destiny’s Child to pursue a record deal. We all started dancing in heels with bent knees but after a very hot summer of rehearsing in that Texas heat we were doing cartwheels in those heels. I saw my mother and the fabulous women who worked in her salon in heels. Those ladies were so fly, long red manicures, blue mascara, funky haircuts. I also grew up admiring groups like The Supremes and En Vogue, Blaxploitation actresses like Teresa Graves and Tamara Dobson, models like Naomi Campbell, Donyale Luna, singers like Tina Turner and Grace Jones. They all wore heels. They were unapologetically fabulous. So it’s not a surprise that I’d end up touring in heels. I feel like when I’m training for a tour, I train like any other athlete. Except, I do it in heels. 

Source: https://crfashionbook.com/beyonce-cr-fashion-book/

Credits:

Photography: Louise Thornfeldt @louisethornfeldt, Maria Thornfeldt @mariathornfeldt

Editor-in-Chief and Stylist: Carine Roitfeld @carineroitfeld @crstudio

Guest Creative Director: Youssef Marquis @lamarquisette

CEO: Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld @vladimirrestoinroitfeld

Make Up: Sir John @sirjohn assisted by Leila Hayauri @leyla__hayauri & Marcela Segueda

Hair: Jawara @jawaraw assisted by Roddi Walters @_roddi_, Tiara Keith & Ladawn Dozier @ladawndozierhair

Manicurist: Miho Okawara @mihonails

Set Designer: Isaac Aaron @itsisaacaaron assisted by Matthew Banister

Tailors: Mari Margarian, Tim White

Creative Consultant: Emmanuelle Levesque @e.mman

Editorial Director: Natalie Shukur @natalieshukur

Fashion Assistant to Carine Roitfeld: Andrea Ottaviani @andreaetlou

Fashion Market Editor: Laura Pandelachi @lpandelachi

Art Director: Guillaume Lauruol @guillaumelaruol

Digital Director: Vienna Vernose @viennavernose

Executive Producer: Alexey Galetskiy @alexeyg @agpnyc

Digital Tech: Sean Deckert @seandeckert

Photo Crew: Ed Aked @edaked, Juliet Lambert @julietlambert, Michael Camacho

Personal Stylist: Shiona Turini @shionat

Wardrobe Supervisor: Ryan Dodson @ryandodson @parkwood

Styling Team: Natasha Devereux @natasha_r_devereux, Jackson Schrader, Rocky Tate @rockyetat, Valerie Loo

Production team: Ryan Fahey @ryancfahey, Ivan Shentalinskiy @shentalinskiy.feklenko, Federica Barletta @federicabarl, Andrei Burak @by7andrey, Grace Sundarathiti @grace.thiti

Special Thanks: Parkwood Entertainment @parkwood, Cécred @cecred, Blond Production @blondprodn