Model-Filmmaker Semaj Peltier on Creating Characters Through Her Hair, and Drawing Inspiration From Her Ancestors

In high school, straight hair was her go-to look. “I was rocking the scene-girl look hard,” she says. Orange and red highlights were also heavy in rotation. “I really struggled in this era to feel I was meeting this silly beauty standard and also did a lot of heat damage to my hair.” Her 20s have been all about experimenting with her hair “from a place of joy and expansion of myself,” she says. The conversation between her and her hair has become more lighthearted. “Now we have made some peace and we like to have fun. We embrace the mercurial behavior of one another.”

These days, she draws hair inspiration from her ancestors—“It’s been assuring to witness styles and designs that have existed before me”—as well as horses. Peltier says she’s had an affinity for the equine species since childhood, when she also started riding for fun. “I try to embody their spirit and beauty in my life,” she says. “I love their long hair, their elegance, and the respect they entice from others.”

Peltier credits her mother, who was once a model for Black hair magazines, with showing her the value of experimentation. “I quickly learned from her that experimentation is a lifestyle for Black femmes, and they are often shamed for their uniqueness,” she says. “From her, I learned about the Black beauties before me and the way they adorned and dressed their hair.” Donna Summer in particular inspired her appreciation of bangs, which have become Peltier’s signature look. “Bangs are nearly an essential part of my identity at this point.” She refers to her tight curly bangs and waterfall layers as her “princess” cut, “because I feel so delicate and enchanting with this look,” she says. “There is nothing more beautiful to me than big hair that resembles a raspberry bush in full bloom.”