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Home • Hair

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution

The brazen beauty and hair icon was just named the face of Givenchy. Here, a collection of her most fabulous tress moments.
By Essence · Updated October 28, 2020
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01
2013: Pretty Pair

Chaka and Erykah join big hair forces at the BET Honors show in January.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
02
2013: Hats On

At the BET Awards in June, Badu’s take on the pompadour is half covered by an orange panama.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
03
2012: Double Trouble

Badu enters the Late Show with David Letterman studio with a center part and two full knots.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
04
2012: Top Knotch

Badu rocks a casual chic top knot at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur, February 2012.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
05
2012: French Braid

Erykah’s loose side braid looks tres chic at a performance in Vienne, France.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
06
2011: Haute Hippie

Badu looks very 1960s with free love era waist-length locks and middle part at the Outside Music and Arts Festival in San Franciso.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
07
2010: Twist and Shout

Erykah Badu visited BET’s “106 & Park” wearing waist-length twists and braids.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
08
2009: Full ‘Fro

At the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Erykah took the stage in an overwhelming and all-encompassing afro.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
09
2009: Peak Performance
Badu wore a shaped up fro to a concert in Los Angeles.
Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
10
2008: Blown Away

At her New Amerykah album release party, the artist wore a vintage-looking blow out—a rare straight hair moment for Badu.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
11
2008: Mane Event

Erykah Badu performed at VH1’s Soul Stage in a larger-than-life afro.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
12
2006: Go There Hair

At the Nice Jazz Festival, Erykah Badu rocked the stage in a blown out, kinky mohawk.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
13
2006: Mohawk Mama

Erykah Badu brought down the house at the North Sea Jazz Festival with her searing song selection and her fab fro-hawk.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
14
2005: Natural Wonder

At a Luther Vandross tribute concert, Erykah wore a modified afro with freshly unwrapped double-strand twists.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
15
2003: Smokin’ Hot

Erykah Badu took the stage during the ESSENCE Music Festival burning incense and sporting an lush afro.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
16
2003: Award-Winning Style

At the 45th Grammy Awards, Erykah Badu flaunted a perfectly round halo of kinky curls.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
17
2003: Full Force

At a 2003 photo shoot, Erykah Badu traded in her locs and braids for a full force afro.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
18
2002: Going Green

At the 2002 Grammy Awards, Erykah Badu sported mile-long micro-braid extensions with green accents. Love the metallic headband!

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
19
2001: Bald Beauty

In 2001 Grammy’s, Erykah Badu made headlines with her gorgeous shaved head and tribal-chic yellow makeup. One of her most striking looks!

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
20
2000: Loc’d Up

In 2000, Erykah Badu paired a Southern belle straw hat with glossy, chest-length dreadlock extensions.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution
21
1999: High Hair

At the ’99 Grammy Awards, Erykah Badu hit the red carpet with a new twist on her famous wrap—she left the top open, giving us a peek at her dreadlocks.

Erykah Badu's Natural Hair Evolution