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Home · News

Hot Hair: The New Icons

When it comes to legendary hair icons, no doubt the likes of Tina (lionine, frosted mane), Halle (sexy pixie), and Lauryn Hill (glorious locs) usually spring to mind, right? Well, this year, get ready to make room for a new crop of tress trendsetters that are breaking rules, pushing the style envelope, and setting a new hair standard. Whether it's Solange with her funky-cool 'fro, or Rihanna with her parade of fire-engine-red styles, these seventeen starlets are the ones to watch.
By · April 13, 2011October 28, 2020
01
Rihanna

The queen of new hair icons, Rihanna has tried every length and color under the sun. Last week, she rocked out in a riot of ringlets on tour in Minneapolis.

02
Rihanna

With this smooth shoulder-length ’do, Rihanna looks every inch the elegant glamour girl.

03
Rihanna

We’re obsessed with Rihanna’s full, fluffy, Ann-Margret-inspired coif.

04
Solange Knowles

Whether it’s Solange with her funky-cool ’fro, or Rihanna with her parade of fire-engine-red styles, these seventeen tress trendsetters are the new hair icons to watch.

05
Solange Knowles

Solange channels early 90’s vixens with this long, braided style.

06
Solange Knowles

Here, she adds coily twists to her TWA.

07
YaYa DaCosta

This model-turned-actress is fast becoming a natural hair role model. Her cool updo’s are always the height of chic (no pun intended).

08
YaYa DaCosta

YaYa goes for a soft, feminine look with a precisely curled upsweep.

09
YaYa DaCosta

YaYa goes for a wild, sex kitten-vibe with her natural blowout.

10
Nicki Minaj

From a multicolored bob to a platinum, Bride of Frankenstein-meets-Marie Antoinette bouffant, Ms. Minaj’s over the top wigs are almost as famous as her killer rhymes.

11
Nicki Minaj

Nicki goes for a sugary-sweet look in her signature candy pink wig.

12
Nicki Minaj

At an event last year, all eyes were on Nicki with her Rainbow Brite, color-blocked coif.

13
Willow Smith

This pint-size pop star has little girls (and quite a few grownups) whipping their hair back and forth! Whether she’s rocking braids or a side-shave, her styles are always inspired.

14
Willow Smith

At an awards show, Willow rocked a sky-high pompadour paired with a long ponytail.

15
Willow Smith

Here, the darling ten year-old sports her natural waves in a New Wave-inspired pouf.

16
Eva Marcille

Eva Marcille has rocked every style from long curls to a barely-there buzz. And now her white-blonde pixie has spawned zillions of imitators. So stunning!

17
Eva Marcille

At an early fashion show, Marcille rocked a finger-styled, coppery brown ’do.

18
Eva Marcille

Here, the model/actress rocks her short curls in volumized, two-toned pompadour.

19
Melanie FIona

Whether Melanie Fiona’s long, black locks are worn wavy and loose, or swept up in a haute hippie bun, she always looks dazzling.

20
Melanie Fiona

Fiona sweeps her long, jet-black waves over a shoulder for an easy-breezy look.

21
Melanie Fiona

Here, Fiona strikes an elegant chord by pairing a low ponytail with a vampy, wine-stained lip.

22
Keri Hilson

In the past year, Keri Hilson has gone from brunette to platinum; cute pixie to Marilyn-inspired curls; and now she’s rocking an asymmetric bob. We love her fearlessness!

23
Keri Hilson

Recently, Hilson’s been hitting the party circuit in shoulder-length, platinum waves.

24
Keri Hilson

Keri’s short, honey-blonde crop spawned a zillion imitations.

25
Katerina Graham

Katerina Graham always rocks her long, dark waves in fashion-forward styles like funky, asymmetric updos and loose braids.

26
Katerina Graham

Katerina looks stunning in a teased, curly updo and look-at-me lashes.

27
Katerina Graham

Here, Graham goes for a casual chic style with this loose side ponytail.

28
Estelle

We credit British songbird Estelle with single-handedly bringing back the short bowl cut! This tress trendsetter is always at the forefront of what’s cool and edgy.

29
Estelle

Here, the British songstress lengthens her locks with some wavy, chin-length pieces.

30
Estelle

At the BET Awards, Estelle turned heads in a dramatic, uber-short pixie.

31
Kalenna Harper and Dawn Richard

Dirty Money’s Kalenna Harper and Dawn Richard are always pushing boundaries when it comes to their hairstyles. Whether it’s a two-toned rooster cut or a Louise Brooks bob, these girls are fierce.

32
Kalenna Harper & Dawn Richard

On “106 and Park,” the Dirty Money girls looked fierce in their glossy, asymmetric bangs.

33
Kalenna Harper & Dawn Richard

We love Dawn’s single platinum stripe and Kalenna’s smooth, jet-black side-swoop.

34
Esperanza Spalding

Esperanza Spalding may have won the Grammy for Best New Artist this year, but everyone was looking at her hair. Her lush, oversized afro is beyond chic — and she knows it!

35
Esperanza Spalding

At the Grammy’s, Spalding hit the red carpet in an elegant afro upsweep.

36
Esperanza Spalding

Here, she poses with her Best New Artist Grammy…and the fluffiest, softest-look ’fro on the face of the Earth!

37
Marsha Ambrosious

The former Floetry singer’s curly natural bob is quickly becoming as famous as her gorgeous, sultry voice.

38
Marsha Ambrosius

Marsha’s natural strands are very versatile! Here, she sports a flat-ironed, softly layered cut.

39
Marsha Ambrosius

The singer looks so cool in her bouncy, bronze-streaked curls.

40
Cassie

We can’t be totally sure that Cassie started the side-shave trend, but she was definitely one of the first — and now everyone and their auntie is rocking this edgy look.

41
Cassie

Cassie takes a break from her usual cutting-edge styles with a gorgeous oversize bun.

42
Cassie

Here, the stunning model/singer sports a messy updo with a long, swooping bang.

43
Amber Rose

When Kanye’s former girlfriend stepped on the scene with an almost-bald buzz cut and a fashion pout, a trend was born.

44
Amber Rose

Paired with bronzed skin and dangly earrings, Amber Rose’s buzz cut looks oh-so-feminine.

45
Amber Rose

Shades and crimson lipstick add edge to Rose’s platinum buzz cut.

46
Shingai Shoniwa

The lead singer of the “Noisettes” is well-known for her sculptural, imaginative natural hairstyles. We love her devotion to whimsical hair accessories.

47
Shingai Shoniwa

The singer looks positively regal in this mile-high upsweep.

48
Shingai Shoniwa

With matte, strawberry pink lips and pearly eyeshadow, Shoniwa adds a flirty touch to her edgy pompadour.

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