Bride goes viral for donning her natural gray hair on her wedding day

By Jacqueline Laurean Yates

Several weeks after her wedding, one bride went viral with her gorgeous gray hair.

Kadeja Jackson Baker was the star of a behind-the-scenes bridal glam TikTok videos by Miami-based destination makeup artist Tia Codrington.

In the video, Baker is seen getting makeup applied to her face while she has her gray strands pin-curled up and away from her face.

"I loved my bride's natural gray hair. She's had it since she was 16," Codrington captioned the clip.

Immediately after posting, Codrington's post took off and has received over 1 million views with hundreds of people chiming in not only on how beautiful Jackson looked for her wedding, but also on how amazing her gray hair is.

"Came here to see more of her and those fabulous grays," one TikToker said. Many others chimed in with similar sentiments.

"I initially didn't have any expectations when posting the videos other than to share her beauty through my eyes, but witnessing how she embraced and embodied the beauty of her hair was something I felt compelled to share," Codrington told "Good Morning America."

She added, "It was amazing to know that she had options to change her hair color or try something different for that day, but chose to be herself and wear her natural hair color."

@mua_ttt_tia I love the girls that stick to their roots 😍 #fyp #blacklove #bridalmakeup #bridetiktok #blackbridesoftiktok ♬ original sound - Tia Codrington

Baker, who was not on any social media platforms before her wedding planning process, told "GMA" she was honestly "shocked" at all the attention her video received. She said it was overwhelming "in a good way."

"I did not expect for the responses to be as plentiful as I look at myself in the mirror every day and did not think it was that big of a deal that I was embracing my natural hair and look," she said.

After spending long hours planning and designing her custom-made J. Del Olmo wedding dress, Baker explained she wanted her bridal glam to be a true reflection of her personality and style, but with a more glamourous approach.

Styled by bridal hair specialist Martine Saintval, Baker decided to go with an old Hollywood glam pinup look that included soft waves and complimented her wedding look. To give herself a second look for the reception, she let her hair down for a long luxurious beach wave look.

"Overall, I would describe the wedding look as timeless," said Baker.

@mua_ttt_tia And she wore that hair 🤌🏾 #fyp #PrimeDayDreamDeals #weddingtiktok #bridalhairstyle #bridaltiktok #blackbride ♬ Surprise - Chlöe

Codrington played a major part in bringing Baker's wedding glam together by giving her a fresh, vibrant makeup look to accentuate her features.

"I tied in some elements of sultriness but was careful not to incorporate eyeshadow colors that would work against her head of grays," she said. "Instead of opting for a nude lipstick, I chose a beautiful mauve lip color that paired well against her hair and skin complexion."

She continued, "Since her hair was the inspiration for me, I was very intentional with every step of her makeup process ensuring the whole look was cohesive."

Codrington's top tip for brides trying to figure out the best makeup to wear with gray hair is to hire a bridal artist you trust to curate a look that complements you well.

"There is so much beauty in gray hair so understanding what color palettes pair well against different complexions is essential," she said.

"Fresh makeup is always a good option; opt for a more timeless look instead of following current makeup trends," Codrington added. "Ultimately, when in doubt, set up a bridal consultation with your bridal specialist to discuss what options would be best for you on your wedding day."

@mua_ttt_tia First look with my beautiful bride and her hubby 💕 #fyp #blacklove #firstlookwithgroom #firstlook #firstlookwithbride #bridesoftiktok ♬ Aesthetic - Tollan Kim

Baker, who is now 38, said her hair started graying at the age of 16. Through the years, she did rinse and dye her strands for several years after feeling like gray hair was for older women and not accepted for a young woman in her 20s.

However, about seven years ago, she decided to embrace all of herself — and that came with wearing her natural gray hair.

Baker said she's constantly stopped and asked who dyed her hair and what color products she uses. Her response is always, "This is my natural hair color."

She hopes her natural gray hair journey inspires others to do the same and that others embrace every part of themselves with confidence.

"Being the best version of yourself is the best thing you can offer to the world," she said.

Editor's note: This was originally published on July 14, 2022.