was a four-year-long journey. “I feel like I had to shed a layer of myself in order to create the body of work that I did,” she says of the collection of songs, which includes hypnotic ballads, such as “Skin Tight,” featuring Steve Lacy, and “Inside Out,” and ode to self-love. “I’ve grown so much personally, emotionally, and musically,” says the Chicago-born, L.A.-based artist. In tandem with this self-expansion is the continued evolution of her signature crimson lengths.
Growing up, when she wasn’t listening to Minnie Ripperton, Janet Jackson, or Brandy, Lenae was experimenting with her hair. “I’ve gone through a lot of phases with it; I remember always wanting to wear my hair like this,” she says, pointing to the beads in her braids. “I looked up to Alicia Keys,” she adds. At age 11, Lenae participated in her first. “I had this huge mohawk with orange tips—it was crazy!” she says.
Beyond her beauty icons, Lenae credits much of her confidence in experimenting with her hair to the Internet. “I think we underestimate how much online representation affects us,” she says. “It’s really helped me.” To this day, Lenae still loves putting on a record, watching a YouTube tutorial, and crafting a look. “Doing my hair has become a therapeutic process for me. It’s a time for me to bond with myself.” These days, when she’s not busy doing shows, she loves to wear her hair out at home.