Hair is essential to almost everyone’s look. Mail or female, hair can really make or break a person’s style. However, the best thing about hair is that it’s extremely versatile. It can be styled in countless ways, and when cut – it grows back. However, it’s no secret that people have different hair textures, and as a result, there are some hairstyles that were created by – and are predominately worn by certain groups of people. Recently, 17-year-old, Kylie Jenner, caught some heat after posting an Instagram photo of herself rocking cornrows – a hairstyle commonly worn in the black community. Fellow teen star, 16-year-old Amandla Stenberg (Rue in the Hunger Games), saw the photo and decided to make a statement. In the comments section, Amandla wrote: “When u appropriate black features and culture but fail to use ur position of power to help black Americans by directing attention towards ur wigs instead of police brutality or racism.”
Her comment instantly sparked a heated debate. Was she being too hard on Kylie, or did she have a valid point? Amandla has spoken out on cultural appropriation in the past, making the point that many things – such as cornrows – are seemed unprofessional and unattractive when black people wear or do them, but are instantly trendy and acceptable when done by white people. However, Kylie’s friend, pop star, Justin Bieber, rushed to Jenner’s defense stating: “Guys leave her alone, we’re all trying to figure it out and she happens to be under a microscope,” adding that his friend is not “racist.” While the debate wages on, one thing is for sure, Kylie isn’t the first – not will she be the last – star to come under fire for wearing a particular hairstyle. Here are 10 celebrities whose hairstyles have caused big controversy.
Cassie
A few years ago, model/singer, Cassie, began sporting a new look in which one side of her head was shaved. Initially this didn’t cause controversy – only confusion – but eventually, young girls everywhere began mimicking the hairstyle. Of course, seeing a bunch of young ladies walking around with half of their hair cut off definitely had more than a few people raising their eyebrows. It got to the point that people on social media were begging people to stop cutting their hair like Cassie, and to cut the madness instead.
(Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
In Britney Spears’ case, it was actually a lack of hair that caused her the most controversy. Back in 2007, Spears was dealing with a lot of personal issues, and then she shocked everyone even more when she decided to completely shave her head. While initial reports stated that Spears shaved her head due to some sort of mental break down, later reports suggested that she did it to cover up drug use. Well, that escalated quickly.
(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Gabby Douglas
At the 2012 Olympics, Gabby Douglas took the world by storm when she took home the gold medal for the best all-around gymnast; becoming the first Black person to do so. However, despite her incredible skill, there were some people who were completely focused about something else: her hair. Many people who watched Douglas were critical about her ponytail, which many had deemed as downright ugly. As a result, heated debates began all over the Internet about the criticism that Douglas was facing her hair, with many people noting that it was simply not appropriate to judge someone based on their hair, especially a teenager – and especially one who just took home two Olympic gold medals. The conversation quickly became about how black women and their hair is often criticized and made fun of regardless of their status and or accomplishments.
(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Blue Ivy Carter
Blue Ivy Carter may not technically be a celebrity, but her parents are so famous that she’s already an A-lister. However, although she is just three-years-old, Blue Ivy’s hair has already become a huge topic of conversation. Many people are wondering why Blue Ivy’s hair always looks so “messy,” and have even called Beyonce and Jay-Z’s parenting skills into question because of it. However, others believe that it’s their right as parents to do their daughter’s hair how ever they see fit, and that it’s never okay to criticize such a small child.
(Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images)
Oprah
Over the last few years, black women have been ditching the relaxers in extremely high numbers and rocking their natural hair. But, when Oprah decided to wear her ‘natural’ hair on her own magazine cover, many people began speculating that it wasn’t actually her natural hair at all. In fact, many thought that Oprah’s hair on the cover wasn’t hers at all (unless of course that if it was fake, it was technically hers because she bought it). Oprah maintains that her hair on the cover was indeed hers, and at the end of the day, it’s kind of hard to call Oprah a liar.
(Photo by Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images)
Sinead O’Connor
Sinead O’Connor has never been the type of person to care what other people think. During the 80s, O’Connor proved just how much outside opinions didn’t matter when she proudly sported a shaved head. O’Connor has since shared that she shaved her hair in an attempt to fight against stereotypes placed on women, especially in the music industry, and as a way to rebel against the way she was ‘supposed’ to look. To the surprise of many, O’Connors shaved head didn’t hard her career, and actually made her more unique.
(Photo by Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)
Naomi Campbell is one of the most well-known models of her generation. However, even models can’t be on their A game all the time, and a few years ago it became clear that there was something going on with Campbell’s hair. After being photographed with thinning edges, Campbell and her hair became the topic of conversations all over the Internet. Campbell’s apparent hairless also pointed out the damage that can be done from years of wearing tight hairstyles and/or weaves.
(Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Bill Clinton
In 1993, then president, Bill Clinton, received what could quite possibly be the most famous presidential haircut ever. While on board Air Force One, Clinton got a haircut which some reported cost $200. However, it wasn’t the price that caused all of the controversy. It was the fact that two airport runways were shut down while Clinton’s hair was being cut. Initial reports claimed that the haircut caused serious delays and air traffic problems, although it has since been proved that that was not the case.
(Photo by Niall Carson – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Zendaya Coleman
Earlier this year, when Zendaya Coleman showed up to the Academy Awards sporting dread locks, many thought she looked great. However, TV personality, Guiliana Rancic made a comment about Zendaya’s hair that still haunts her months later. When she spotted Zendaya on the red carpet, Rancic made a statement that Zendaya looked like she smelled like “patchouli oil” or “weed,” insinuating that people with locked hair must also be drug users. Rancic’s comments were deemed racist by most, and she quickly apologized.
(Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
Of course Kylie Jenner has to top the list. She is the latest star whose hair has sparked some very serious controversy. Although Kylie has remained quiet – other than her initial response to Amandla’s comment – she may eventually choose to speak on the hairstyle choice. However, more so than any other case, this seems to be one where people will never see eye-to-eye.
(Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
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