POP Chops

What does HAIR have to do with MUSIC? EVERYTHING. Here, architects of POP-STAR hair reveal how a DEFINING LOOK can INSPIRE fanatic DEVOTION.

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It's often said that if you can identify a person's silhouette by his or her hair, that's the mark of a true idol. Would Elvis have been Elvis without his pompadour? What about Tina Turner and her spiky volume? Would Lady Gaga have taken off without her hair bow? A signature hairstyle can help take a pop artist from one-hit wonder to a certified icon.

Think of Ariana Grande's high ponytail, Billie Eilish's two-toned dye jobs, Dolly Parton's sky-high bouffant wigs, and Cher's waist grazing mane; a signature style can make a lasting impact. Diana Ross, whose career has spanned more than 60 years, still does her own voluminous curls and makeup and was on the beauty mood board for the Marc Jacobs Spring 2024 show.

"I could be playing charades with people, and I could make a motion where I'm pretending to bounce invisible hair, and people would recognize Diana Ross," says Los Angeles-based hairstylist Clayton Hawkins, who works with Olivia Rodrigo. "If I pretend to flick my hair and lick my lips, people will know that I'm Cher." Personality, charisma, and musical earworms may give pop stars longevity, but their hair can turn them into a bona fide brand.

Rihanna, founder of the wildly successful Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin, launched Fenty Hair this summer. Beyoncé launched her very own hair-care line, Cécred, in February.

"MAKEUP is BEAUTIFUL and IMPORTANT," says hairstylist Clayton Hawkins, "but you CAN'T WHIP your MAKEUP for DRAMATIC EFFECT."