Layla’s Journey in Season 3 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
From the very first episode, I found myself questioning Layla’s portrayal. Despite the windy and rainy conditions depicted in the opening scenes, her hair remained impeccably straight. Even after spending considerable time in the salon of her co-star Jessi Draper Ngatikaura, Layla’s long, sleek hair appeared flawlessly styled whenever the camera focused on her. As a mixed-race individual with curly hair, I felt a sense of familiarity with these observations. Given that the show predominantly features white women in Salt Lake City, I was skeptical about whether the complexities of Layla’s unique experience as the sole woman of color would be adequately explored. However, in Season 3, Layla begins to share her narrative—one that resonates with many Black women raised in predominantly white environments.
“I kept continuing to go to Jessi, just because I just don’t want to ruffle any feathers. A lot of people assume that all those girls [from the show] did go to JZ, so if we were to switch, people assume that it’s for the worst, and it was a hard situation to navigate.”
Advocating for Herself
After noticing significant hair loss linked to the extensions she had received at Jessi’s salon, JZ Styles, Layla recognized it was time to take a stand for her own well-being. “I was going to Jessi for probably around two years, and I was just noticing some issues with my hair,” Layla revealed in an interview with BuzzFeed prior to the premiere of the third season. “I was noticing it wasn’t working for my certain hair texture and my certain hair type, but it was hard for me to bring it up.”
In an effort to avoid causing any discomfort to her friend, Layla continued to seek hair extensions from Jessi, expressing her concerns about potential backlash. She explained, “A lot of people assume that all those girls [on the show] did go to JZ, so if we were to switch, people assume that it’s for the worst, and it was a hard situation to navigate.”
