Victoria's Secret Model Maria Borges’ Shares Her Surprisingly Simple Hair Regimen
Borges strikes a pose backstage at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Photo: Getty
Arguably the biggest story of last week’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was Maria Borges’ hairstyle. The 23-year-old model famously hit the runway rocking her natural kinks and curls, a major deviation from the traditional Victoria’s Secret look of long, silky tresses.
It was a radical statement that both Borges and her IMG agent Lorraine Ospedales knew would be a big deal, though they were not necessarily expecting to be immediately embraced by Victoria’s Secret. According to Ospedales, the lingerie label actually asked Borges to come to the casting with her natural hair – just as the model wanted. “We were like, really?” Ospedales told us. “But when we came in, we really celebrated that she was going to leave her hair like that.” Borges says it took almost no time for Victoria’s Secret to add her to the lineup. “We were all nervous because I didn’t expect them to answer so quickly,” she said of her casting experience. But that swift answer “yes” turned out to give the lingerie giant one of its most iconic Fashion Show moments – one that will not be forgotten for a long time.
As you can imagine, styling Borges for the show was a breeze, at least when it came to hair. The model wanted her coif to be as natural and un-manipulated as possible, looking to let her true texture take center stage. If you follow the natural hair community online, you’ll find that plenty of women use a number of styling products to soften, moisturize and enhance their curl pattern. But Borges decided to eschew all the extras and keep things simple for her big moment, which is something I find truly revolutionary. You wouldn’t find any curl defining cream in her hair that day. “I asked them to only put in olive oil spray and that’s it. I was happy because it took 10 seconds to get ready. It was the first time I didn’t have to straighten my hair. It was so easy and I loved it,” Borges said. Afro sheen at the Victoria’s Secret fashion show? Who would have ever thought?
Borges hits the streets looking very modelesque with her cropped cut. Photo: Getty
Borges has previously explained that she cut off her hair after Givenchy creative director Riccardo Tisci encouraged her to do so. By the designer’s Fall 2015 show, she was proudly rocking a TWA (teeny weeny afro) and caring for her natural coif. As with many women with curly kinky hair, retaining moisture is of utmost importance, so Borges says she clings to products that will provide her with that extra help. The model likes to use a mix of all-natural oils and mass-produced products.
“I usually use aloe vera, the organic stuff,” she told us. “On top of that I use an olive oil and vegetable oil pomade from Dax hair care.” When she needs that extra shine, she busts out a staple for many women with kinks and curls: the ORS Olive Oil Nourishing Sheen Spray. In a world of a million curling jellies, twisting butters, deep conditioners and natural “sealing” agents to retain moisture, it is quite refreshing to know that at least somebody’s natural hair regimen is relatively easy.
On a personal note, the simplicity of Borges’ routine is what really impressed me. As someone who has to care for her own natural kinks and curls, I can tell you it’s a process. I pre-poo (setting my dry hair with a conditioner before shampooing in the shower). I deep condition every week. I twist and retwist my hair throughout the week in order to keep my curls from getting too frizzy at night when I go to sleep. If I wait too long to deep condition, I can feel (and see) the difference in my hair. It’s a lot of work.
Short hair, don’t care. Borges in her runway look. Photo: Getty
But hearing Borges describe her decidedly unfussy routine got me thinking that perhaps it doesn’t need to be that difficult. The model, who mentions Lupita Nyong’o and Halle Berry as her personal hair icons, is a far cry from some other naturals I know (self included), those who nitpick over their curl pattern or obsess over stretching out their curls so they look true to their actual length. Granted, Borges has a short cut, but her keep it simple attitude and approach to caring for her hair is certainly refreshing.
Borges’ routine is a reminder to all of us that in spite of all the politics wrapped up in black hair (which should be acknowledged and understood in order for it to be fully embraced) – it is just hair. Caring for it doesn’t need to be as complicated as its history.
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