Comedian Elsa Majimbo on Rocking Faux Locs and the Beauty of ‘Carefree’ Confidence

Texture Diaries is a space for Black people across industries to reflect on their journeys to self-love, and how accepting their hair, in all its glory, played a pivotal role in this process. Each week, they share their favorite hair rituals, products, and the biggest lessons they’ve learned when it comes to affirming their beauty and owning their unique hair texture.

For Elsa Majimbo, being hilarious comes naturally. The Kenyan comedian and “full-time icon” (per her Instagram bio) made a splash on social media during 2020 lockdown with her hilarious videos that make introverts everywhere feel seen. “I started making videos because I thought I was funny, but it turns out everyone else does too,” Majimbo tells Vogue, clad in a blue slip dress inside her New York City hotel room. A comedy career wasn’t something the Johannesburg-born, Los Angeles-based star planned on. “But it happened, and I’m really glad it did,” says the 21-year-old. “I love that all of the projects I do allow me to be myself.”

As Majimbo’s career has taken off—she recently collaborated with Coach and is featured on the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 list—her hair journey has, too. Lately, she’s been rocking a cascade of hip-skimming faux locs. “I’ve had to travel so much recently and realized I don’t have a lot of time to take care of my hair,” she says. “Getting faux locs seemed like a natural progression.” 

When Majimbo was younger, she didn’t always appreciate her natural texture. “I always wanted to straighten my hair,” she admits. “But my mom would never let me straighten or relax it. She’d always make me braid my hair and I hated it. After a certain point, I just stopped caring, though. I realized that trends come and go, and people are always changing, so I might as well just do what I want because that will eventually become a trend, too.”

In high school, Majimbo did precisely that by rocking braided extensions, going on to braid her natural hair, too. And during the pandemic, doing her hair became a form of therapy. “It felt like therapy to wash it,” she says. “It just feels amazing to take care of natural hair in general.” As far as inspiration goes, Majimbo finds endless inspiration from “any Black people doing cool things with their hair,” she says. “People are changing up their styles so much these days, the inspiration is endless.” 

To style her hair while she has locs, Majimbo always turns to Ecostyler Gel and Hair by Susy’s Edge Control, created by her trusted hairstylist, Susan Oludele. “I don’t think I could live without doing my edges,” she says with a laugh. “It’s a part of me now. I always have to use a toothbrush. I know there are tools now for edges, but it’s just not the same. I still use the toothbrush.” Additionally, she turns to nourishing olive and avocado oils. “They just feel really good and natural,” she says. Looking forward, Majimbo plans to keep switching things up. “I just want to rock my natural hair,” she says. “I just love playing around in it. There’s so much I can do with it. For me, a big Afro has always been my favorite style.”