Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Shares Her Entire Hair Car…

If you were to ask Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to name two of her biggest passions, she’d say running track and hair care. Her interest in the former led to her becoming one of the greatest sprinters of all time in the sport, winning gold medals in the 100-meter race at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the 2012 London Games (and being nicknamed “The Pocket Rocket” by the media). 

Here’s where the latter comes in: Throughout her career, Fraser-Pryce has always hit the track in colorful hairstyles, from rainbow-colored wigs to green braids. For the decorated athlete, she views changing up her hair as a powerful medium for self-expression. That’s precisely why her latest venture, hair care brand Afimi, is a natural next step. Her forthcoming line features eight products (from shampoo to styling cream) infused with ingredients native to her home country, Jamaica.

“I had a hair store in Kingston, and that’s where the idea for Afimi started,” she says. “I would come to the store and give the clients advice on how to treat their hair. I was also always creating stuff for my hair at home. Eventually, I met my chemist and told her what I had been doing and she told me I should write down my ideas. I dreamed of creating simple, effective products that are authentic to me. I want to help people manage their hair and show up however they want to.”

She adds, “I also want people to pick up our products and feel a sense of pride,” she says. “As a Caribbean woman and a Jamaican woman, I have a level of pride in knowing that my product is good and was made in my country.”

Ahead, Fraser-Pryce opens up about her hair journey, weekly wash day routine, and the hairstyle she can’t wait to try. 

Her Earliest Hair Memory

“I have 4C hair and didn’t know how to take care of it. And to be honest, I didn’t like my hair. I wanted it to be straight or curly like my friends at school. So, I relaxed my hair when I was in elementary school. Eventually, my hair started falling out because I was running track, sweating a lot, and trying to care for my hair at home. My mom decided to cut my hair off, so I could start over. During that time, my grandmother started using castor oil on my hair to grow it back.”

About Her Hair

“Once I got older, I started trying different hairstyles and embracing my hair more. I view hair as a personal expression of who I am and I wanted to stand out. I remember showing up to my first college class with pink braids. I’ve always been unafraid to try new things related to my hair and the track was where I could really be vibrant with my hair.”

Her Hair Care Focuses

“Even though I experimented with wigs and braids, I also understood you still have to care for your hair and scalp. I like to know what’s in my product and use ingredients that I’ve seen my grandmother use, like rosemary, coconut oil, lemongrass, and castor oil.”

Her Weekly Hair Care Routine

“Clean hair is good hair, so I always start with our Purify Maintenance Shampoo. While it strips the grease and oil, it also moisturizes your hair. Then, I use the Nurture Maintenance Conditioner. The minute you start to use it, it starts to absorb. Your hair will be noticeably softer and detangle easier. After I rinse out the Nurture Deep Repairing Conditioner, I apply the Hydrate Restorative Leave-In Conditioner.”

One Hair Care Step She Never Skips

“I always use our Nurture Deep Repairing Conditioner, which contains rosemary, because I manipulate my hair a lot. I’ll apply it, detangle my hair and put a steam cap on for about 15 minutes.”

One Ingredient That Has Made the Biggest Difference

“We have lavender in some of our products, like the shampoo and conditioner. That ingredient helps soften the hair and soothe the scalp. If you’re always manipulating your hair and it feels tight, lavender can help.”

Her Most Used Product

“Another product I love is our Glow Hydrating Mist, which refreshes curls and braids. Whenever I wear curly hair, I don’t use mousse. I use my leave-in conditioner, a bit of the mist, and a little oil.”

Her Favorite Hairstyle

“My favorite track hairstyle is the purple hair I wore to the World Championship in Oregon. The funny thing is that wasn’t the look I intended to wear. The wig was a beautiful purple color all over, but then I started to flat iron it and the color changed. At that point, I couldn’t do anything about it because I had to get on the track. But one thing about me is that I will show up with confidence no matter what. And when I saw the pictures afterward, I loved how it looked. I love when my hair is pretty and bright, and people can spot me from a mile away.”

One Hairstyle She Wants to Try

“I’ve never worn an afro at a championship, but I’m thinking about doing that.”