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In Boys in the Hood, Long played a sweet Catholic school girl, and had the demure bob-with-bangs hairstyle to prove it.
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Long added some sexy volume to her bob as Will Smith’s love interest in Made in America.
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Long rocked a slightly shorter, chin-grazing bob at a casual lunch with stylist Lisa Michelle in Los Angeles.
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In 1997’s classic Love Jones, Long rocked a jet-black, layered cut with side-swept bangs. That year, Brown girls everywhere copied this trendsetting style.
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At the premiere of Blade, Long hit the red carpet wearing a brand new, super-short pixie cut.
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Long sported a choppy, shoulder-length blowout at the 2000 NAACP Awards show.
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Long’s wash-and-wear waves are both totally adorable and low-maintenance. Our kind of style!
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Sometimes the easiest hairstyles make the biggest impact. At the 2004 NAACP Image Awards, Long accepted her Best Actress in a Drama Series award (for her work in Third Watch) rocking a stunning, slicked-back ponytail.
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At the premiere of Alfie, Long kept her look sleek and chic with a center-parted, razor-cut blowout.
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At the VH1 Hip Hop Honors show, Long showcased her gorgeous face with a short, spiky crop.
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At a Hollywood party, Long pinned the top section of her hair back, and let the rest of her full waves cascade around her shoulders.
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Long swept her soft, loose curls to one side at the 2007 NAACP Image Awards.
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Long looked beyond gorgeous at Clive Davis’ 2008 pre-Grammy Awards bash. She added some pieces to her smooth blowout for a voluminous, rumpled-on-purpose look
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At the premiere of This is It, Long parted her sexy, boyish cut on the side and finger-styled the layers at the crown.
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At a Good Hair premiere, co-star Long hit the red carpet in a glossy, luscious, roller-set bob.
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Long glowed at the Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection 2009 Fashion Show in a shiny side-ponytail.
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At the premiere of Good Hair, Long sported a shiny, layered shag with a side-swept bang.
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At the ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon, Long styled her short strands into a sassy upsweep.
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Nia Long arrived at the BET Awards in shimmering skin and a sexy, sky-high topknot.
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At at Dark & Lovely event, Long returned to her short, chic pixie cut with eyebrow grazing bangs.
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Long made an appearance at the Good Day LA studios in swingable shoulder-length strands.
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For more of Nia’s glowing and gorgeous hairstyles, be sure to check out the August issue of ESSENCE on newsstands now!
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Long arrived at the Children Uniting Nations Fundraiser wearing a chic center part with long bangs swept to each side.
24 of 28 Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic
Nia Long's brown waves look beautiful at The Best Man Holiday screening in New York City.
25 of 28 Jeff Neira/ABC via Getty Images
Nia Long rocks a sweet loose braid while slicing and dicing on The Chew on ABC in New York City.
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Curls look pretty while Nia promotes the Affordable Care Act by holding up her #getcovered sign.
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The Best Man Holiday star wore a side swept bangs to the Critics Choice Awards in January.
28 of 28 John Sciulli/Getty Images
Nia Long attends the 45th NAACP Image Awards with loose chic curls. The look complements her kelly green relaxed chic gown.
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