Back in November 2022, Michelle Obama shared that she avoided wearing braids during her husband’s presidency due to racism. “It would have been, ‘Remember when she wore braids? Those are terrorist braids. Those are revolutionary braids.’ So let me keep my hair straight, let’s get healthcare passed,” Obama said in front of a crowd during her book tour. But since the former First Lady left the White House, she has explored several braided hairstyles. Her most recent look? Goddess box braids styled into a high ponytail. 

The former First Lady sat down with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to discuss her book, The Light We Carry. She wore a black two-piece set with silver jewelry. Her goddess box braids were on the smaller side. The textured braids were finessed into a high ponytail with a few plaits wrapped around the base of the ponytail. The curly ends of the braids cascaded towards her mid-back. Her lightly swooped baby hairs added the finishing touch to this protective style.