Keke Palmer and I grew up together—at least in my mind. Saturday afternoons, I’d curl up on the couch with a snack to watch True Jackson, VP, the Nickelodeon series where a then–18-year-old Palmer played the effortlessly cool teen running a fashion company. The show aired in 2011, the same year I turned 12, and Palmer felt like a big sister living inside my TV. Over the years, I watched her evolve on screen, going from a sassy teen to a busy actor starring in films like One of Them Days and Nope. All the while, I was growing up too. So when we spoke recently over Zoom, the conversation felt surprisingly sentimental, as we bonded over washing our toddlers’ hair and figuring out how to set aside a little time for ourselves as working moms.
That sense of nostalgia deepened as we talked about her new partnership with Creme of Nature, for which she now serves as chief brand officer. For many Black girls, “we grew up using Creme of Nature,” says Palmer. The brand was a wash-day staple—something you’d almost always find in the bathroom cabinet. For Palmer, the partnership felt like a natural fit: both she and the brand are “OGs,” and helping usher Creme of Nature into “a more modern phase” reflects just how much she’s evolved in her own career.
These days, Palmer, 32, is embracing a new chapter—one that centers authenticity and flexibility in every area of her life. Fittingly, it comes with a new-ish hair moment: a spunky pixie cut that the actor debuted in August 2025. Ahead, she opens up about the big chop, her decision to go back to a relaxer, and the beauty rituals she’s now passing down to her toddler.
Allure: You’ve had your pixie for about seven months now. What inspired the bold chop?
Keke Palmer: For the past year or so, I’ve just been doing everything to my hair—especially with having the Creme of Nature products at my will—while also trying to keep it healthy with the color, and just keep a consistent hair care routine. And then I hit a moment where I became tired of maintaining my hair. I wanted something that matches the pace of my life.
I don’t want to be bald yet. So the pixie lets me keep the flavor, style, funk, but at the same time, I can keep up with it day to day. Right now, I have this kind of boy band type of thing going on that I’m living for, where the ends are just spiked. I’m just having a ball with that.
Allure: How do you maintain the look?
Palmer: I get the sides and back cut every two weeks. I let the top grow out and get a refresher on my relaxer every four weeks.
I know a lot of people feel like the pixie is difficult, but if you have a good foam, some good edge control to add up in there and give it texture, and you’re not afraid of letting some of your texture shine through, then you can enjoy your pixie cut and not be afraid to touch it.
Allure: Why did you decide to get a relaxer again, and what was that experience like for you?
Palmer: I’ve gone through the whole natural hair thing. I was doing that all last year, where I was really wanting to wear my ‘fro, especially after I did Nope. I was just flexing the natural look and playing with my hair in its most natural state. And I really did enjoy that. And then I decided I want to be flexible with something else, and I don’t want to be chained to anything.
