• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United

WHERE BLACK CULTURE, COMMUNITY AND CONSCIOUSNESS MEET

Sign up for ESSENCE Newsletters the keep the Black women at the forefront of conversation.

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
Select the newsletters you'd like to receive:
Please select at least one option.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · Hair

Hairstyle File: Brandy's Tress Transformation

When Brandy Norwood made her musical debut in 1993, she was a smiley-faced teenager rocking her iconic braided hairstyles. Two decades later, we’re still admiring our Black Women in Music star's mane moves.
By Nicole Marie Melton · Updated October 27, 2020
01
1995: Braided Beauty

Brandy was a style star from the very start. Her signature braids became the style every teenage girl coveted. Here, the 16-year-old star smiles from the front row of “Ebony” magazine’s Celebrate the Dream event.

Hairstyle File: Brandy’s Tress Transformation
02
1999: Pretty Plaits

Brandy was also one of the first to start wearing “micro-braids,” which were braids that were much smaller and left loose at the ends. Brandy shows off her signature style during a shoot of COVER GIRL cosmetics print ad.

Hairstyle File: Brandy’s Tress Transformation
03
2001: Golden Glow

Brandy goes for the gold in amber-hued micro-braids with a light flip at the end at the 32nd Annual NAACP Image Awards.

Hairstyle File: Brandy’s Tress Transformation
04
2002: New Look

The songstress opted to switch up her style at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards when she sported a braid-free, bone straight style with short, wispy bangs.

Hairstyle File: Brandy’s Tress Transformation
05
2004: Amber Alert

Never one to shy away from making a bold hair statement, Brandy sported a cascade of reddish-brown curls with hot pink highlights at the 2004 MOBO Music Awards.

Hairstyle File: Brandy’s Tress Transformation
06
2005: New Hue

At Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Ball, Brandy turned heads in a dazzling golden brown hair shade that made her soft spirals pop.

Hairstyle File: Brandy’s Tress Transformation
07
2006: Full Force Glam

Brandy eventually went back to her dark, ebony tresses and rocked full, touchable curls at the A Midsummer Night’s Glam Jam.

Hairstyle File: Brandy’s Tress Transformation
08
2007: Bangin’ Bob

Brandy experimented with shorter strands in 2007 when she decided to rock a short, asymmetric bob to a music event for her brother, Ray J.

Hairstyle File: Brandy’s Tress Transformation
09
2009: Taking Sides

Brandy added her own twist to the one-shoulder trend when she wore a sexy side-ponytail with a high swooping bang at “TV Guide” magazine’s Hot List event.

Hairstyle File: Brandy’s Tress Transformation
10
2010: Red Carpet Worthy

At the 32nd Annual Carousel Of Hope Ball, Brandy flaunted a head full of loose spirals pulled back off her face.

Hairstyle File: Brandy’s Tress Transformation
11
2010: Sleek and Chic

All eyes were on Brandy at the pre-ESPYs party when she arrived in shiny, sleek hair and bold, blunt bang.

Hairstyle File: Brandy’s Tress Transformation
12
2011: Return to Your Roots

Brandy relied on the braids that she made so popular when she attended her brother Ray J’s 30th birthday party. Her center part and lovely chignon add a chic, modern twist to her trademark ’do.

Hairstyle File: Brandy’s Tress Transformation
13
2011: Glamour Girl

We loved seeing Brandy in full, superstar worthy strands at Clive Davis and The Recording Academy’s 2011 Pre-Grammy Gala.

Hairstyle File: Brandy’s Tress Transformation
14
2012: Totally Bangin’

Brandy went for blunt cut bangs and bone straight strands at the BET’s “The Game” and “Let’s Stay Together” series premiere.

Hairstyle File: Brandy’s Tress Transformation
15
2012: Curly Cutie
Brandy Norwood
Hairstyle File: Brandy’s Tress Transformation
Mindy Small/Getty Images
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now