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'Scandal' star Kerry Washington goes natural to set example for her children

When the actress is off set, she wants her children to see a much more natural hair example than they see on TV.
/ Source: TODAY

For "Scandal" star Kerry Washington, her most important role is as a role model.

So when the actress is off set, she feels its essential as an African American woman to show her children with former Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha — 3-year-old daughter, 1-year-old son and stepdaughter — a much more natural hair example than they'll see on television.

Image: Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington arrives at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)Richard Shotwell / AP

“I like to wear my natural texture, especially now because I have children and I want them to know that their hair is perfect as it is," Washington told Allure for the beauty mag's latest cover story.

"They don’t have to change it or straighten it. They can, but they don’t have to.”

The 40-year-old actress added that she's more comfortable now in Rag & Bone boots, DL1961 jeans, and a Hatch cashmere maternity sweater; the type of outfit that you'd never see on her character, political fixer Oliva Pope, as the popular drama heads into its final season.

Pope is an inhumanly composed woman — and Washington stressed to Allure that fans shouldn't try to match that look at home.

“There’s someone who follows me around all day long [on the set],” she said. “Like, literally follows me to make sure there’s not a single hair out of place. This is somebody’s full-time job. Then someone follows me around to add powder so that I never look shinier than I’m supposed to.”

Image: 2017 CFDA Fashion Awards - Winners Walk
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 05: Kerry Washington poses on the Winners Walk during 2017 CFDA Fashion Awards at Hammerstein Ballroom on June 5, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

And having three kids often means a lot of work for that full-time position.

“Friday night’s concealer is very different than Tuesday afternoon’s concealer. They get thicker as the week goes on and you get more exhausted,” said Washington.