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Home • News

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses

Leggings, neon nails, booties, Transformers...what hasn't been recycled from the Eighties? Two words: crimped hair. This crinkly, curly 'do is suddenly, shockingly all the rage (think Jody Watley is somewhere smiling)! From tight Beyonce crimps to looser waves a'la Rihanna, these twenty celebs are styling their strands like its 1987!
By Essence · Updated October 28, 2020
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Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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EIghties Baby

Tyra Banks took her tresses all the way back to the mid-Eighties with this amber-hued crimped coiffure.

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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Tight End

Garcelle Beauvais is oh-so-retro with these tight spirals.

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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Curly Top

Janet Jackson added a few crimps to her wash-and-go curls for a cute retro effect.

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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So Sasha Fierce

Beyonce’s wild, bleach-blonde crimped ’do adds major oomph to her already fierce onstage persona.

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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Loose Ends

Toccara’s loose, 80s-style crimped waves are wildly sexy!

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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Give Me Body

Elise Neal’s wide, crimped waves look like the epitome of the ’80s “body wave” perm!

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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Haute Hair

TV personality Teri Seymour goes for an ultra-literal interpretation of the Eighties look.

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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Lush Lady

Jill Scott sported lush, crimped ringlets in her “Shame” video.

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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Hot Stuf

Sanaa Lathan’s ’do has it all: volume, body, and major glossiness.

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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Will-o’-the-Wisp

Holly Robinson Peete looks red carpet-sexy with these deeply crimped waves and wispy bangs.

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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Red Hot

Rihanna’s waves are super-loose, but it’s a crimped effect nonetheless. So lovely!

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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Half n’ Half

Nia Long pins the top half of her wavy ’do back in a sleek half-up/half-down ’do.

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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Motown 25, Redux

Kelly Rowland rocked this pre-‘Motivation’ curly/crimp-y wig — so Diana Ross!

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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Pump Up the Volume

In her latest concert, Janet Jackson rocked another super-sexy, voluminous crimped ‘do. If it ain’t broke…

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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Blonde Ambition

Iman’s blonde-streaked waves could easily have been achieved by using a crimping iron!

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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Soft Touch

Jada Pinkett Smith rocks an au naturale look with these soft, center-parted waves.

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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Fun ‘n Flirty

Gabrielle Union pins her deep waves back on both sides for a super-flirty, ultra-feminine look.

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses
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Cool Coiffure

Ciara slicked the front of her tresses back for a dual-textured ‘do that’s ultra-modern.

Hot Hair: Crimped Tresses