When it comes time to dole out red-carpet superlatives, the one I look most forward to bestowing upon a celebrity and their famous hair is the title of Best Baby Hairs. There’s something so satisfying about watching a halo of aimless wisps get gelled, brushed, and swooped into strategically placed swirls that frame the face. Laid edges are like the cherry on top of an already excellent hairstyle, and as natural hairstyles become more prevalent and prominent on mainstream red carpets, it’s pleasing to see them finally get their time in the spotlight.
Styling baby hairs has long been a way for communities of color to express themselves. The designs being created by celebrity hairstylists like Kahh Spence, Vernon François, Nikki Nelms, Lacy Redway, Ursula Stephen, Rio Sreedharan, Nai’vasha Johnson, and Shelby Swain (a.k.a., the Beyoncé of BabyHair) further underline how painting baby hairs with gel and a brush is a true art form. Baby hairs can often accessorize looks better than actual hair accessories can.
From the swirls surrounding Tiara Thomas’s cornrows and the waves accenting Tessa Thompson’s pigtails to that time Beyoncé discovered a new way to wear braids, here’s a look back at some of the best red-carpet baby-hair looks of late to keep you extra inspired when you dip into your edge control.
Megan Thee Stallion
Hot Girl Meg paired her middle part with generous swoops for the 2021 BET awards.
Zendaya
Here, the creator of the world’s best selfie models swoops that swim into the world’s flirtiest ponytail.
Tiara Thomas
The singer-songwriter was a winner at this year’s Oscars, and so were these picture-perfect swoops.
Jodie Turner-Smith
Sleek baby hairs were front and center at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, thanks to the actress’s looks.
Ciara
Never forget Ciara’s glorious hair changes at the 2019 Met Gala. Cesar DeLeon Ramirez first accented these Afro puffs with cascading waves of baby hairs.
Rihanna
Rih turned heads at the 2019 Fashion Awards when she showed up with both A$AP Rocky and these delicate edges that swooped into her cornrows.
Doja Cat
The baby hairs Jared Henderson styled for the 2021 Billboard Music Awards were impressively as precise as the graphic liner hanging out underneath.
Beyoncé
When Kim Kimble created these mesmerizing “finger-wave braids” that mimicked swirled edges, everyone rightfully lost their minds.
Laura Harrier
Sometimes a singular, shiny swoop is all you need to make a big impact.
Normani
Like just above the ear.
H.E.R.
Or right above the brow.
Teyana Taylor
Other times, the more baby hairs, the merrier.
Zoë Kravitz
This braided top knot from 2016 makes an excellent case for tracing your entire hairline with swirls.
Jhené Aiko
Earlier this year, hairstylist Jazmine Harris made an equally excellent case for creating faux–baby bangs out of baby hairs.
FKA Twigs
Don’t be afraid to let your swirls swim further out onto your forehead.
Yara Shahidi
And embrace asymmetry.
Zazie Beetz
Also good to know: Swirled baby hairs (like these, styled by Lacy Redway for the 2019 Met Gala) look really good under veils as well.
Chloe Bailey
A trio of teeny-tiny spirals are the perfect complement to curly locs.
Storm Reid
Stacked vertically, baby hairs make the perfect set of steps that lead up to a sleek updo.
Cardi B
Stylist Tokyo Stylez used two generous side-swoops to support the rapper’s sculptural 2019 Grammys look.
Amandla Stenberg
I admire most things Vernon François creates for Stenberg, and these swirls paired to each individual part are no exception.
H.E.R.
H.E.R.’s 2020 Grammys look was yet another reminder that her hairstylist Nina Monique could teach a master class in baby-hair swooping.
Ella Mai
As could Kahh Spence, who makes intricate swoops like the ones he regularly creates for Ella Mai look easy.
Alicia Keys
Nai’vasha Johnson dressed up the swirls she created for the 2020 Grammys host with tiny, light-catching crystals.
Tessa Thompson
And if these dreamy pigtails by Redway don’t make you want to give in to adult pigtails, I don’t know what will.
Megan Thee Stallion
Hot Girl Meg paired her middle part with generous swoops for the 2021 BET awards.
Zendaya
Here, the creator of the world’s best selfie models swoops that swim into the world’s flirtiest ponytail.
Tiara Thomas
The singer-songwriter was a winner at this year’s Oscars, and so were these picture-perfect swoops.
Jodie Turner-Smith
Sleek baby hairs were front and center at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, thanks to the actress’s looks.
Ciara
Never forget Ciara’s glorious hair changes at the 2019 Met Gala. Cesar DeLeon Ramirez first accented these Afro puffs with cascading waves of baby hairs.
Rihanna
Rih turned heads at the 2019 Fashion Awards when she showed up with both A$AP Rocky and these delicate edges that swooped into her cornrows.
Doja Cat
The baby hairs Jared Henderson styled for the 2021 Billboard Music Awards were impressively as precise as the graphic liner hanging out underneath.
Beyoncé
When Kim Kimble created these mesmerizing “finger-wave braids” that mimicked swirled edges, everyone rightfully lost their minds.
Laura Harrier
Sometimes a singular, shiny swoop is all you need to make a big impact.
Normani
Like just above the ear.
H.E.R.
Or right above the brow.
Teyana Taylor
Other times, the more baby hairs, the merrier.
Zoë Kravitz
This braided top knot from 2016 makes an excellent case for tracing your entire hairline with swirls.
Jhené Aiko
Earlier this year, hairstylist Jazmine Harris made an equally excellent case for creating faux–baby bangs out of baby hairs.
FKA Twigs
Don’t be afraid to let your swirls swim further out onto your forehead.
Yara Shahidi
And embrace asymmetry.
Zazie Beetz
Also good to know: Swirled baby hairs (like these, styled by Lacy Redway for the 2019 Met Gala) look really good under veils as well.
Chloe Bailey
A trio of teeny-tiny spirals are the perfect complement to curly locs.
Storm Reid
Stacked vertically, baby hairs make the perfect set of steps that lead up to a sleek updo.
Cardi B
Stylist Tokyo Stylez used two generous side-swoops to support the rapper’s sculptural 2019 Grammys look.
Amandla Stenberg
I admire most things Vernon François creates for Stenberg, and these swirls paired to each individual part are no exception.
H.E.R.
H.E.R.’s 2020 Grammys look was yet another reminder that her hairstylist Nina Monique could teach a master class in baby-hair swooping.
Ella Mai
As could Kahh Spence, who makes intricate swoops like the ones he regularly creates for Ella Mai look easy.
Alicia Keys
Nai’vasha Johnson dressed up the swirls she created for the 2020 Grammys host with tiny, light-catching crystals.
Tessa Thompson
And if these dreamy pigtails by Redway don’t make you want to give in to adult pigtails, I don’t know what will.
