When Rihanna debuted her asymmetrical bob on her third album, *Good Girl Gone Bad* (2007), the world was instantly captivated. She immediately became a new beauty icon, enchanting everyone. Her unique and bold haircut became an undeniable trend, and every woman wanted hair like Rihanna’s.
However, Rihanna’s influence wasn’t confined to the beauty realm. The hip hop music she delivered also became a source of inspiration for the beauty industry. Hip hop has birthed a diverse array of self-expression and time-tested experimentation. In its evolution, beauty within hip hop has even paved the way for diverse gender expression representation.
Hip hop is more than just music; it’s a culture that encompasses all aspects of life. In the beauty industry, hip hop has introduced a new perspective on what is considered beautiful. Previously, beauty standards were often limited to fair skin, straight hair, and perfect body types. However, with the advent of hip hop, diverse beauty concepts began to be accepted and appreciated.
Hip hop teaches us to celebrate diversity and value all forms of self-expression. There are no longer limitations on how someone should look or behave. Beauty in hip hop is about being yourself without fear of judgment from others.
Men can wear clothing associated with feminine styles, and women are not afraid to embrace masculine aesthetics.
Long before the Rihanna era, the influence of hip hop style in the beauty world began in the late ’80s. Known as the *First Ladies of Hip Hop*, Salt-N-Pepa were popular for their gravity-defying, asymmetrical bob hairstyles.
Fans later emulated these looks. Ironically, the haircut originated from a mistake. Pepa admitted on an episode of *The Steve Harvey Show* that her sister, who had just received her cosmetology license, accidentally shaved off the side with a curling iron.
However, the look became popular and defined the hip hop female hairstyle of its time.
In the ’90s, the singer Lil’ Kim reigned as a beauty queen. Her impact on fashion and beauty is undeniable. She consistently served as a reference and benchmark for fashion designers, rappers, singers, and stylists.
Most iconically, she wore a lavender wig at the 1999 Video Music Awards. Lil’ Kim was ahead of her time in many ways, including wearing logo wigs, created by hairstylist Dionne Alexander.
Alexander crafted Kim’s teal wig featuring the Chanel logo on the bangs, seen on the cover of *Manhattan File* magazine in 2001. She also created a platinum wig with the Versace Greek Key motif, which Kim wore at the Versace Spring/Summer 2001 fashion show.
Years later, neon and vibrant wigs remain relevant. Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, and even Beyoncé have been seen sporting them.
“There was a time when the *Kimberly* album wasn’t selling, and the only reason it sold was because of her looks,” said Nzingha, a makeup artist and beauty editor for *Vibe* Magazine.
Lil’ Kim’s aesthetic celebrated individuality and allowed her to shine amidst the male dominance in hip hop music. Nzingha emphasized that in the mid-’90s, hip hop was still not welcoming to women.
Kim broke these conventions, creating space for other rappers like Missy Elliot, Lauryn Hill, and Foxy Brown to forge unique visual identities that propelled their careers.
As hip hop surged in popularity in the 2000s, major cosmetic brands began to capitalize on its success.
MAC Cosmetics partnered with Blige and Kim for the Viva Glam campaign to support the MAC AIDS Fund, successfully raising $4 million for the cause.
“From that success, Estée Lauder, L’Oréal, and everyone else started paying attention and saying, hip hop is a driving force toward capitalism,” said Camille Lawrence, founder of Black Beauty Archive.
“Finally, the industry began featuring Black individuals as beauty ambassadors, something that hadn’t existed before the 2000s.”
Queen Latifah graced the CoverGirl cover in 2001. Missy Elliot, the first female hip hop artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Diddy partnered with Proactiv in 2005 and launched a fragrance with Estée Lauder. In 2007, Beyoncé became an ambassador for Emporio Armani. Usher and Mariah Carey launched their fragrance lines. Hip hop became synonymous with luxury.
The visual legacy of hip hop is particularly significant considering that during the first half of the 20th century, Black individuals were not even featured on their own album covers. This was because record labels aimed to market these albums as “mainstream.”
“From the 1920s to the 1950s, Black music was categorized as ‘race music’,” said Nzingha.
“There was a period when there was no makeup available for Black women. The only makeup Black women could purchase was lipstick and eyeliner.”
“Beauty is a visual indicator and communicator when nothing else is speaking,” said Lawrence.
The success of hip hop singers as beauty icons is inseparable from the visionary creatives behind them. These include makeup artists Nzingha, Eric Ferrell, and Kevyn Aucoin, and hairstylists Dionne Alexander, Tre Major, and Chuck Amos.
With the rise of popular female hip hop artists, Alexander witnessed a shift in how musicians wanted to present themselves.
“I am incredibly grateful to have played a role in this culture and to have shared my creativity in this way,” expressed Alexander.
How has hip hop beauty evolved into a broader culture?
Alexander explained that in the past, hair colors were limited to brown, red, and blonde. In the ’90s, sporting neon hair would have been considered “crazy.” Today, it’s vastly different; color has transformed how people perceive themselves.
Similarly, the sharply contoured makeup techniques and high arched brows introduced by makeup artists Aucoin and Ferrell are still in vogue. ’90s and 2000s fashion trends are also making a comeback.
“Girls are wearing half-and-half outfits,” said Wallace, Blige’s hairstylist.
Although stars are revisiting old hip hop beauty trends, there remains ample room for innovation and inspiration.
“Hip hop is an art form, and it’s how we express ourselves. Hip hop will never fade with time and will continue to grow; it’s now 50 years old,” stated Lawrence.
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