Black hair has always been more than just a style statement. It carries a rich history, embodying identity, cultural pride, and a spirit of defiance. For centuries, Black communities around the world have created hairstyles that are uniquely their own, shaping and influencing fashion trends worldwide. From Afros to box braids to weaves, Black hairstyles have evolved over the years. These hairstyles didn’t just appear from nowhere. Most of them date back to our African ancestors. Some of these iconic Black hairstyles can be found in drawings, engravings, and hieroglyphs from Ancient Egypt.
Embracing Natural Beauty in the 70s
The 70s were all about embracing natural beauty. During this period, the chains of straightening irons were being broken as Black women were liberating their hair.
USA Men (Lester) | 100 Years of Beauty - Ep 18 | Cut
Many women of any hair type could let their hair be natural in the 70s. Wavy? Yes! Short and fine? Yes! Wash, air dry and be out the door. The big afros took over and became the most popular hairstyle for Black men and women.
Popular Hairstyles of the 70s
- The Afro: The opposite of the stick straight hairstyle was the all-natural curly Afro. Not just worn by African Americans, it too was favored by any women with fine, tight, curly hair.
- Long Straight Hair: Long perfectly straight hair was desired by many teens and young women. Like Marsha Brady, hair was either straightened at the salon or literally ironed at home with a clothes iron.
- The Shag: The shag was a very popular messy hairstyle that featured all over layers of wavy or loose curly hair. A blow dryer (a recent invention) helped aid the layers in flipping outward adding to the volume. Shags could be short or long.
- The Bob: The 1920s flapper bob came back in the 70s and stayed the entire decade. Curly hair could also be bobbed, but was usually a bit longer and shaped into the bowl cut.
- The Mullet: Not just an 80s fad, the mullet came in style in the 70s for women and men.
- The Pageboy: The pageboy was another medium straight hairstyle with ends rolled into the neck. It could also be chin length with a smooth bop, fluffed bangs, and curly tips.
- The Dorothy Hamill Wedge: Dorothy Hamill, figure skater, sported this boyish bowl cut where the bangs were cut at an angle for a slightly more feminine look. Her hair floated when she skated and many women immediately copied her effortless beauty. The bowl cut was similar to the wedge but longer.
- The Farrah Fawcett Flick: Farrah Fawcett, every woman’s dream beauty icon, sported the new feathered 70s hairstyle. Also called the Farrah Flick or flip, it was a long and wide cut with layers that swept away from the face.
Comparison of Hairstyles Across Decades
Here is a quick look at how Black hairstyles evolved in the decades following the 70s:
| Decade | Popular Hairstyles | Key Influences |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | Jerry Curl, Hi-Top Fade | Celebrities like Lionel Richie, Grace Jones, and popular artists |
| 1990s | Braids, Pixie Cuts, Natural Styles (Bantu knots, cornrows) | Versatility, laid-back vibe |
| 2000s | Asymmetrical Bob, Micro Braids, Locs and Twists | Celebrity influence, Rihanna, Beyoncé |
| 2010s | TWAs, Wigs, Extensions, Braids | Natural hair movement revitalization, protective styles |
| 2020s | Combination of past styles, Wigs of different styles and colors, Natural hair journeys | Advanced hair technology, individual expression |
The 80’s came with a new wave of hairstyles, including the iconic jerry curl and the hi-top fade. Jerry Curl was a favorite of celebrities like Lionel Richie, Keenen Ivory Wayans, and Edmund Sylvers. The late Michael Jackson was a fan of this hairstyle. Remember the iconic Thriller album cover? When you think about Black men in the 80’s, another hairstyle that comes to mind is the hi-top fade. The hi-top fade was a low-cut hairstyle, in which the bottom half and sides of one’s head were tapered, thus giving birth to the term “fade.” Artists like Cameo, Big Daddy Kane, Eric B & Rakim, and others helped popularize the hairstyle. But before they made it their signature look, Grace Jones rocked one on her 1980 Warm Leatherette album cover.
Read also: Style, Culture, and Identity in 1930s African American Hair
As the 90’s rolled in, Black hair trends took on a more laid-back and natural vibe. From Brandy’s braids to Toni Braxton’s super-chic pixie cut, the decade was all about more versatility for Black hair. Natural styles like Bantu knots, cornrows, box braids, Senegalese twists, and dreadlocks became popular. Straight styles also made a comeback, with women rocking pixie cuts, silk presses, swooped bangs, and flipped bobs.
Coming out of the 90’s, the 2000’s were all about celebrity influence. One of the popular styles was the asymmetrical bob. Thanks to Rihanna, it became the must-have hairstyle of the mid-2000’s. You can’t sing Rihanna’s “Umbrella” without remembering this iconic style. Who also remembers micro braided pick-n-drop style and the feather braids made popular by Brandy in 2002 and Beyoncé across the early 2000s? There was also a rise in the popularity of locs and twists. Rihanna.
The 2010’s, especially the early 2010’s were all about experimenting with fun, spunky hairstyles. During this period, the natural hair movement was revitalized with the emergence of natural hair bloggers and YouTubers. More Black women began to embrace wigs, extensions, and braids as protective styles, and with this, relaxer sales started to decline. This decade also saw some new and interesting hairstyles that many Black people hadn’t heard of. TWAs or Teeny Weenie Afros became popular among Black women starting their natural hair journey.
The 2020’s is a combination of all the hairstyles we’ve seen in the past decades leading up to now. The modern Black woman is embracing a wide range of styles, from natural to relaxed, braided to frontals, and everything in between. And with advanced hair technology, they have access to a variety of styles. They express themselves through wigs of different styles and colors, from long straight wigs with HD lace to vibrant wigs doused in color. Black men are also not left behind as they have also been embracing their natural hair journeys and experimenting with ways to keep up their curls.
Read also: Stylish Pixie Cuts
Read also: Hairstyles of the 1950s African American Community
