• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your legacy
  • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • Beauty News
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Lifestyle News
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Netflix’s Jingle Jangle Gift Guide
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your Legacy
  • News
    • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Essence 50th Anniversary
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · Hair

Hairstyle File: Mary J. Blige

When Mary J. Blige first stepped on the scene, we fell in love with her edgy, urban flavor and rich, soulful sound. But let's not forget Queen Mary was also a head turner because of her sassy hairstyles, too. As the songstress preps for her ESSENCE Festival this week, we remember her hottest looks of all time.
By · July 1, 2015October 27, 2020
01
1992: Curly Top

At an early performance at the Beacon Theater, Blige rocked gilded lipstick to match her golden locks.

02
1995: Honey Bunch

At the 1995 Billboard Music Awards, Blige sported a mod-inspired, honey-blonde flip.

03
1997: Blonde Ambition

Blige accessorized her high blonde ponytail with a jeweled bindhi at the Sounds & Vision concert.

04
1998: Princess Hair

At an appearance in ’98, Blige looked every inch a princess in this curly upsweep.

05
1998: Red Alert

In the late ’90s, Blige switched up her look with a short, fiery red pixie look.

06
1999: Straight Talk

Blige sported a warm, auburn-toned blowout at a 1999 awards show after-party.

07
2000: Bird of a Feather

At the 14th Annual Soul Train Music Awards, Blige rocked a platinum feathered ’do with crimson lips and emerald eyes.

08
2001: Asymmetric Mama

At the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards, Blige wore a sharp, razor-cut asymmetric bob with golden streaks.

09
2002: Mellow Yellow

At the 2002 MTV VMA’s, Blige rocked a bright, sunny yellow pixie wig with sexy spikes.

10
2003: Layer Cake

Blige went for soft, caramel highlights, long layers and bangs at the MTV VMA’s the following year.

11
2004: Marilyn Moment

At a performance at the Beacon Theater, Blige painstakingly curled golden locks inspired by Marilyn Monroe.

12
2006: Straight Up

At the ABC Television Network Upfront, Blige looked fresh and radiant with this center-parted, golden blonde blowout.

13
2008: Bang Bang

At the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, Blige looked uptown chic with heavy bangs and a flawless bob.

14
2010: Short Cut

At the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, Blige rocked the ever-popular “rooster” ’do: short on the sides and long on top.

15
2011: Head and Shoulder

Blige dazzled in this softly layered, wispy, shoulder-length cut. We love the almost-platinum hair hue!

16
2011: Banging Bob

At Variety’s ‘Power of Women’ event in September, Blige stood out in a subtly streaked platinum bob with heavy bangs.

17
2011: Fllipping Out

At Perez Hilton’s ‘One Night in New York City’ event in October, Blige was incredibly glam in full, flipped curls with face-framing layers.

18
2011: High and Mighty

MJB took the high road at the BET Awards in June when she arrived wearing a golden ponytail with full bangs.

19
2011: Glowing and Gorgeous

At the FiFi Awards later the same month, Blige pinned up her ponytail and created a dazzling top knot with lush, layered bangs.

20
2011: Pony Up

Blige looked better than ever at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards, where she rocked a high, I Dream of Jeannie ponyail and a heavy, eyelash-grazing bang.

21
2011: Bangin’ Bob

At the 2011 ESSENCE Music Festival, Blige looked so chic with this swingy, gold-streaked bob.

22
2011: Up and Away

At the Art for Life Benefit, Blige was sophisticated in a graceful upsweep and full bangs.

23
2012: Clean Cut

We fell in love with Blige’s fierce angled bob when she arrived at the RPM Nightclub at the Tropicana Las Vegas, Nevada.

24
2012: Golden Hot

Blige turned heads on the red carpet at the 2012 Golden Globe Awards in an elegant rolled, pin-up style. A side part offers a dramatic, gold sweep which is totally fit for a Queen!

25
2012: Glamour Girl

At the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, MJB turned up the glam in a chin-length, curly bob with dark roots.

26
2012: Naturally Fabulous

Blige arrived on the red carpet of the Rock of Ages premiere wearing her trademark honey-blonde tresses in a chic side roll.

27
2012: Elegant Updo

Blige attended the 22nd annual Glamour Women of the Year Awards in a easy, elegant upsweep with a chic side-swept bang.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
28
2013: Side Curls

Mary celebrates the 20th anniversary of VIBE magazine with a side part and beachy waves cascading down the right side of her face.

Getty Images
29
2014: Asymmetric Accents

Mary flaunts an asymmetric bob with a tapered back at the 2014 American Music Awards.

Getty Images
30
2015: Blonde Bob

At a performance at the Casa Reale Fine Jewelry Launch, Blige rocked gilded lipstick to match her classic blonde bob.

Getty Images

Read More

Entertainment
Lil Kim Shares The One Thing She Wants Viewers To Take Away ...
Travel
Airbnb Cancels All DC Reservations Ahead Of Inauguration Week
Oprah Winfrey Documentary Coming To Apple TV+
Videos
Who is Lorna Simpson
Beauty
Skincare Products For All Your Problem Areas
FOLLOW US
Privacy Policy
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