As a Black woman in her mid-20s, Alicia Keys has been my hair inspiration for as long as I can remember.
From her beaded braids, to her natural curls, I’ve consistently been inspired by the Black beauty looks she chooses and the deep significance behind them. “Hair is such a gorgeous expression of our individuality and deserves to be respected,” she said to Glamour UK in November 2020. “I’ve always been proud of wearing braids and I love learning about the power of hair. I’ve always felt royal when I wear braids. There’s something so beautiful about the Blackness of it, about my African ancestry that I just feel truly connected to.” Ain’t that the truth.
Keys first appeared on the cover of ESSENCE in 2002, rocking flawless Fulani braids. She has since been featured as a cover star 5 more times, in 2005, 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2019.
As she grew as an artist and woman, Keys began to showcase a variety of other styles, including finger waves, a cropped haircut and loose curls. She also experimented with bangs, her natural hair and a straightened look.
In addition to being a natural beauty, Keys is a vocal powerhouse whose debut project, Songs in A Minor, was released in 2001. It debuted at#1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums and won 5 of the 6 Grammys it was nominated for. The project is also 7x platinum in the United States. Her most recent release, Alicia, dropped in September 2020 and was lauded by critics, in addition to being a Billboard success. It was her 7th album thus far.
All in all, Alicia Keys is a queen when it comes to beauty and sound and I will forever appreciate her—as we all should.
Scroll to see her hair evolution over the years below.
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70’s Go-Go Girl
2002 Braided Power Puff
“If you’re a woman rocking braids, keep your scalp moisturized and don’t have the hair pulled too tightly. It’s okay to have to get your hair rebraided every two weeks rather than cause breakage and tension around the hairline unnecessarily,” advises celebrity stylist Tippi Shorter, who has worked with Keys’ for the last three years.
2005 Long Lush Locks “I then use an anti-frizz leave-in conditioner from TRESemme after shampooing and conditioning Alicia’s hair to protect her strands and add extra moisture to the hair,” dishes Shorter.
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Braided Beauty
2006 Small Cornrows When ESSENCE magazine talked the star about missing her braids, Keys replied, “Yes, but they’re always in my vibe, in my cipher. I think my braids are beautiful, and there are times that I wear them, just for me. They’re not gone forever.”
2006 Blunt Bangs Long bangs add a youthful sparkle to your appearance. To get a smooth finish like Keys, Shorter says, “Start off with a smoothing shampoo and conditioner like Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Daily Shampoo and Conditioner that helps fight frizz and keeps the hair manageable.”
2007 Undone Waves “If I’m going to blow it out or roll set her curls, I’ll start with the TRESemme 24 Hour Body Foaming Mousse, then style it and finish it off with the 24 Hour Body Finishing Spray that really holds the hair, yet leaves the strands soft and touchable,” explains Shorter.