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Home · Celebrity

Diana Ross' Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years

The Black hair pioneer is in a league of her own.
Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Frank Carroll/NBCU Photo Bank
By Nikki Brown · Updated October 26, 2020

To say I’ve always been comfortable with my hair would be a lie. Although I never saw my curls as bad or unacceptable, the truth is it took some time for me to truly love my God-given coils.

Like any other millennial, I’ve found solace and inspiration through my discovery of iconic and big-haired women. Now, I knew who Diana Ross was long before computers came into my life, but my appreciation for her expansive hair journey leveled up after taking a deep dive into her career on through photo-focused sites like Pinterest.  

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Beyond her longstanding music and film career, Ross is in a league all her own, simply because her look went through an equally iconic evolution. There isn’t a hairstyle she hasn’t tried–trust me, I’ve done the research. What I love most about seeing Ross’ hair journey is how confident and unapologetic she was in her hair. It’s certainly helped me embrace my own.

And because it’s Black History Month, there’s no better time to look back at just how singular her mane moments are. 

Keep scrolling and get inspired one of our favorite hair heroes! 

01
1960

Ross kicked off the ’60s with short length, but major volume. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
02
1963

As you can see, the singer consistently proved that there are a million and one ways to rock a bob. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
A/Redferns
03
1965

Bangs included. This look is so mod. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
04
1965

During her time with The Supremes, Diana sported more wigs than we can count. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Sylvia Norris/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
05
1965

The higher the hair, the better! 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images
06
1968

And she never shied away from teasing out her afro for press conferences. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Mirrorpix via Getty Images
07
1968

Here, she performs on the Ed Sullivan Show in towering curls. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images
08
1969

The stage can barely contain a garden of tresses. It doesn’t get more epic than this! 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Frank Carroll/NBCU Photo Bank
09
1969

Diana’s hair history also includes a plethora of braided styles, including this accessorized moment, caught on the Broadway stage. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Frank Carroll/NBCU Photo Bank
10
1970

By the time she entered the ’70s, Diana had already mastered her chameleon-like hairstyles. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
11
1970

She also traded in more outrageous mane for slicked back dos. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
12
1971

Now is when she started to wear the free-flowing curls we’d eventually label her signature look. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
13
1972

For her critically acclaimed turn in Lady Sings The Blues, Ross embraces finger waves and other styling techniques from the jazz era. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Archive Photos
14
1972

And while accepting awards for the Billie Holiday-inspired story, Diana paid tribute to the singer with flowers in her hair. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Angelo Deligio/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
15
1973

“Laid for the gawds” started with Miss Ross. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Chris Walter/WireImage
16
1973

Diana embraced even bigger hair and curls when she started touring as a solo artist. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Evening Standard/Getty Images
17
1973

Promo shots provided an opportunity for Ross to embrace her inner disco diva. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Terry O’Neill/Getty Images
18
1975

The ’70s pixie reached new levels of fab when Diana posed for this portrait. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
19
1975

As Tracy in Mahogany, Diana’s hairstyles (and accessories) were the epitome of regal. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images
20
1975

But, have you seen an afro more glorious?!

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Harry Langdon/Getty Images)
21
1976

As you can see, long lashes were also a signature part of Diana’s beauty journey. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
22
1976

Regardless of her movie or tour schedule, Diana always reverted back to her voluminous bob for the occasional photo op. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Evening Standard/Getty Images
23
1977

Perfectly imperfect hairstyling achieved. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
NYP Holdings, Inc. via Getty Images
24
1978

Diana’s iconic work for The Wiz included slaying in a TWA (teeny weeny afro). 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
John D. Kisch/Separate Cinema Archive/Getty Images
25
1980

The ’80s were all about adding length and of course–more volume. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Central Press/Getty Images
26
1980s

But flowers were still a part of the equation. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
PL Gould/IMAGES/Getty Images
27
1981

Diana continued to step out in her au naturel tresses. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Ron Galella/WireImage
28
1982

This portrait of Diana is iconic, thanks to the sparkly fishnet head wrap. Classic! 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
29
1984

High flying hair made Ross’ side profiles instantly recognizable. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage
30
1984

Her hat game never interrupted a hairstyle. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
31
1987

Gone with the wind fabulous! 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Harry Langdon/Getty Images
32
1989

Per usual, her stage show doubled as a hair show, with plenty of looks to gawk over. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Independent News and Media/Getty Images
33
1990

Even while off-duty, Diana made sure her hair was camera ready. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
34
1991
Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
John D. Kisch/Separate Cinema Archive/Getty Images
35
1994

The iconic performer also embraced straight hairstyles as she entered the ’90s. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Ron Galella/WireImage
36
1994

Frizz? No big deal when you’re Diana!

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Rob Verhorst/Redferns
37
1995

All angles. All flawless. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Roberta Parkin./Redferns
38
1998

We almost didn’t recognize the icon when she sported straight hair to the Grammy Awards. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
KMazur/WireImage
39
1997

But make no mistake, it took zero time to pull out her signature do! 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Purschke/ullstein bild via Getty Images
40
1999

For movie premieres and other appearances, Ross sported wild curls on the red carpet. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Brenda Chase/Online USA, Inc.
41
2000

The performer embraced even kinkier textures in the New Millennium. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Harry Hamburg/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
42
2001

Yes, she’s even tackled hair color. Here, Miss Ross takes on purple tresses for the CFDA Awards. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic
43
2001

For the NAACP Image Awards, Ross pinned up her hair, while still serving volume. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
JIM RUYMEN/AFP/Getty Images
44
2004

Her headpieces were legendary. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Tabatha Fireman/Redferns
45
2005

She was also honored with a MAC Icon Collection and looked every bit the beauty queen while launching it. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
SGranitz/WireImage for MAC Cosmetics
46
2010

Feathers and curls are an integral part of Diana’s show. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Donald Kravitz/Getty Images
47
2016

Last year, Diana’s legendary status was cemented with a Presidential Medal of Freedom. 

Diana Ross’ Unmatched Hair Journey Through The Years
Alex Wong/GETTY IMAGES
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