written by ENI SUBAIR
photography BLAIR CALDWELL
styling SHIONA TURINI
hair NEAL FARINAH FOR CÉCRED
make-up FRANCESCA TOLOT
colour direction MASON POOLE
Limited copies of the zine are available here.
Haircare was always one of the many ways Beyoncé’s family expressed love. Watching her mother Ms. Tina Knowles care for everyone from doctors and judges to the unhoused in her now-famous Houston salon Headliners, Beyoncé saw firsthand how hair can empower and instill confidence in others—and in herself. It was in Ms. Tina’s salon chair, at just 9 years old, where Beyoncé’s appreciation for haircare began.
Decades and dozens of House of Deréon looks later, Beyoncé and Ms. Tina decided to bring their love and appreciation for haircare to the world. In 2024, they turned their lifelong shared passion into Cécred, with Beyoncé as the sole investor, founder, and Chairwoman and Ms. Tina as Vice Chairwoman. Years in the making, the brand was an endeavour worth perfecting—with Beyoncé and Ms. Tina personally testing every product.
The quality speaks for itself: Take the Restoring Hair and Edge Drops, which has become the number one hair product in the United States, driven by hair growth testimonials all over social media.
Meanwhile, a heartwarming Father’s Day short film of JAŸ-Z’s loc takedown process, using the brand’s signature Detangling Spray, has offered an intimate glimpse into the family. The love poured into the products only amplifies the scientific truths: These serums, shampoos, and gels really work for you.
This autumn, Cécred jumped across the pond from Los Angeles to London, offering its wide range of products for us Brits at Space NK stores.
To celebrate the UK launch, Beyoncé and Ms. Tina opened up about their hair and their lives. It’s a full-circle moment for the mother-daughter duo, who are sharing the lessons in hair confidence passed down through generations with a whole new audience. For Beyoncé, it’s about more than hair. It’s about continuing her mother’s legacy and making sure everyone feels their best in their hair.
ENI SUBAIR: What has been the most rewarding part of building Cécred?
BEYONCÉ: My mother and I poured decades of experience, tradition, and love into Cécred, so seeing our community grow across every ethnicity, texture, generation, and gender is so fulfilling.
In the beginning, it took some conditioning from the world’s perception of how to launch a brand founded by someone like me. I’m the founder, visionary, and sole investor—not the face or model for this brand. I had a vision to build something that solved real problems and performed so incredibly that the people who can’t stand my music still use Cécred, haaaa! ... because it works.
Cécred has been years in the making, so why did 2024 finally feel like the right time to launch?
MS. TINA: Well, we tried to launch it two years earlier, and Beyoncé, you know, she’s a perfectionist. So, with the products, I thought they were amazing, but then I would give them to her, and she would test them on herself, her friends, and her daughters. Then, if one person didn’t have an excellent experience, she would give it back to me. She drove us crazy, and the team was like, “Oh my God!” But I’m so happy that she was so picky about it because it just got better and better. And our testing, research, and development is where we put a lot of money. I was like, this is so crazy expensive because we’re researching and testing so much. We’ve tested on three continents to get all types of hair textures, to make sure that it works on all hair. I had a salon in the ’80s, and what I was told all the time was that our hair was strong because they think that because our hair is coarser, it is stronger. But that is a myth surrounding Black hair. It’s just the opposite. Our hair is the weakest, most fragile hair, and the curlier your hair is, the more texture you have.
And I’ve always studied the science of hair: what it was made of and what it needed. Even making sure to reduce the molecular weight of products so that it can get through the cuticle and build and strengthen the hair.
What lessons have you learned from your mum that have helped you on this journey?
BEYONCÉ: Growing up I saw my mom pour love into others at her salon, and she still does this every day. I love that she trusts that the world is for her. She trusts God. She approaches things with humanity and love. I love my mother’s rebellious spirit. She can spark an idea and make it come to life. She’s fearless and I get that from her. It was in her salon that I witnessed stylists transforming women and helping them get their confidence back and see their beautiful potential. It was more than just getting their hair done, it became a sacred space where they were cared for. That impact resonated so deeply, and I wanted that to be reflected in Cécred and the community we’re building. Your heart carries energy and wisdom from your fingertips.
Recently my mom decided to surprise me by visiting a hair salon in the UK. No calls ahead, no warning. She packed a bag of Cécred, got into the car, and showed up without any pre-planning. Even though one of the managers told her she couldn’t be there, she stuck around and made the owner come. She was determined to build a relationship with the salon owners and clients and ended up spending almost a whole day doing hair there, ha!
What’s your first memory of experimenting with your hair?
BEYONCÉ: One day I decided to cut my own hair. I think I may have cut the whole ponytail off and also cut bangs! I walked in with my ponytail and said, “Mom, put this back on please.” And she was like, “I can’t.” But I thought she could, because I’d seen her be such a hair magician, especially when she would bond hair. Those crazy memories were the foundation of my childhood.
Both you and your mum love Tottenham—where do you like to go? What are your favourite spots?
BEYONCÉ: One of my favourite things about London is the drive to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and passing through Seven Sisters. I love seeing all the communities with their kids, the barber shops, and all the culturally diverse restaurants. As I get closer to the stadium, I start to see the fans who put so much effort into attending the show, either dressed in metallic silver, glistening in the streets and sunshine, or in full cowboy gear, boas, and boots. I can spot my Hive from miles away. When I’m onstage and see all the ethnicities, all the beautiful and fabulous outfits and families, there’s no other experience like it. The melting pot of beautiful diversity in London, particularly at my shows, is something magical to witness.
I love the music scene in the UK. I’ve watched Sienna Spiro grow up from a beautiful young girl to an extraordinarily talented young woman. I’ve known her family well for quite some time. I heard her sing when she was a kid discovering her voice and I can’t articulate the pride she brings me. What a God-given talent! I’m also so proud of Raye, who wrote some of the songs on The Gift. She has had such an anointing. You hear the vulnerability and wisdom in her voice. I also love and respect Olivia Dean. These beautiful women are all kind, have grace, and write and produce their own music. It gives me goosebumps. I just burst with pride when I see them.
Looking back, what was your favourite hairstyle during the B’DAY era, and your favourite look created by your mum?
BEYONCÉ: My favorite hair look was the B’DAY cover updo. That’s stood the test of time and has had such a renaissance this year. I love seeing everyone’s interpretations, and videos and the evolution of the early 2000s look.
My favourite dress my mother designed was my wedding dress—it was gorgeously simple and made with her love. We had a very small wedding in our home. We told the guests we were having a party, and no one knew they were coming to our wedding but our parents and a few friends. Wearing a dress, she designed was very important to me, and more important than any designer dress.
You recently re-wore a House of Deréon top that you wore back in 2006 to mark 20 years of B’DAY. What did you love about House of Deréon then that you still love now? What can we find in your archive?
BEYONCÉ: Yes, haaaa! I pulled out the Deréon archive for the Hive for the B’DAY 20th Anniversary re-release. I also had so much fun recreating some of my and my mother’s designs. We brought back the Deréon hoodies and metallic Freakum dresses. I’ll never forget calling my mum the day before the “Freakum Dress” shoot, asking her to make more dresses in more colours because I envisioned match-cutting the colours during the choreography. She was frustrated that I tasked her with making them so last minute, but she and Ty (Tyrone Hunter) got it done. I’m so very thankful for her. I’m so excited to pass all my archives to my kids, especially now that they’re all discovering their own personal style. I’m going to enjoy seeing how they pull from their parents’ carpets and tours if they’re ever interested. Rumi’s favourite place to shop right now is Ross and TJ Maxx these days. I put on my hoodie, and I take them often. You know I love it, too!