With glam squads and professional upkeep, it’s easy for celebrities to be bold and innovative with their hair looks. They can try styles and wigs others may not be as brave to do.
However, there are many celebrities who, despite the accessibility, still choose to rock their natural locks. It’s a welcomed reminder that you don’t need inches or bundles to serve high fashion. With that, here are seven iconic celebrities who make being natural fun and inspiring.
Erykah Badu
When it comes to living close to your roots, Erykah Badu has kept it real from the very beginning. Her hair evolution is deeply inspiring, from rocking dreadlocks and voluminous fros to shaving her head completely. She finds her crown to be an extension of her spirituality, always making sure to stay authentic in her expression.
Issa Rae
Throughout the trajectory of her inspiring career, the world witnessed Issa Rae glow up in real-time. Yet, despite the success, marriage and glamorous lifestyle, she’s always kept it real by rocking her natural hair. She shared with Vogue that her natural hair journey is ongoing, following many perms and presses.
“To be referenced as having nappy hair most of my life didn’t really sit well with me. Loving and learning to take care of my hair is a journey that I’m continuously on,” she said.
Beyoncé
Thanks to the inception of Cécred, the world has come to learn they’ve been seeing more of Beyoncé’s natural hair than they ever realized. Her deeply intricate hair wellness routine has allowed her to maintain the health of her curls, despite constant coloring and straightening. Letting fans into her process has built even deeper trust for her beauty products, leading to Cécred’s monumental success.
Lupita Nyong’o
When Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o stepped onto the scene, her beauty quickly became a centerpiece. Her hair was immediately a part of her story, with consistent red carpet looks that accentuated the elegance of natural hair. She shared with Glamour Magazine her journey to falling in love with her natural curls after begging her mother to get a relaxer.
“I like the term ‘kinky,'” she said. “Some people don’t like that term, but when I think about my hair, I think of it as African kinky hair. But I’m not really in deep with the politics of it all and the language choice. I speak just from my own experience.”
Solange Knowles
Beyoncé isn’t the only Knowles to embrace her true curls. In fact, Solange has made it a point to incorporate her natural hair into her performance art. She’s known for her rocking glamorous headpieces and platinum blonde styles, only emphasizing her Black girl beauty. From braided styles and thick fros, Solange continuously proves natural hair can always be high fashion.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Actress Tracee Ellis Ross is one of fashion’s most forward-thinking innovators. Fortunately for the world, she’s allowed her natural hair to be part of that journey. So much so, in fact, that it inspired the inception of her very own hair care line, Pattern Beauty.
“My hair has always been a huge part of me,” she said in an interview with Curly Nikki. “I swear you can chronicle the evolution of my spirit and my embracing and celebrating all of who I am through my hair journey.”
Janelle Monae
If there’s anything genre-defying superstar Janelle Monae is known for, it’s her unabashed boldness. This is in tandem with her hair looks, taking asymmetrical risks and living her Black girl beauty loudly. While she wasn’t always on a natural hair journey, she shared with Essence, “I’ve been natural for many years now. I’m an ideas type of girl, and being natural allows me to have more versatility with my hair. Hair is about options and showing diversity.”