The Hair She Dared to Wear: The Coiffures of Patti Labelle - Page 6

When you think of Ms. Patti LaBelle, naturally her one-of-a-kind voice comes to mind first. Then perhaps you recall her kicking off her shoes during her epic performances. You may even think about the fact that she’s one of the last true divas we still have left these days. But when you talk about Patti LaBelle, you cannot neglect to mention the hair. One of the first black women to rock the “big hair, don’t care” look, Patti has never been afraid to experiment with her tresses. Check out some of her hairdos over the years.

TWA 

Before Patti and her group members Nona Hendryx, Sarah Dash and Cindy Birdsong went extra extravagant with the wigs, bejeweled hair and the spritz, she kept it relatively simple. In this picture from the early ’70s, before Patti and the Blue Belles decided to take on a more flamboyant stage look, Patti rocked a short afro under some of her conservative performance wigs.

Headdresses 

In the late ’60’s Patti and the BlueBelles looked like your average girl group. With the help of Patti they had a totally different sound; but on the outside they looked liked everybody else,  black girls in white girl wigs. But in 1973 British manager, Vicki Wickham suggested the ladies take on a more eye-catching look like rock stars Elton John and David Bowie. They lost the standard wigs and donned unique costumes and Vegas-show-girl esque headpieces. It turned out to be a good movie. The group started getting more attention. The clothes were what reeled them in but the voices are what kept their attention.

Sky High

Once Patti went solo, she toned it way down with the costumes but stepped up her hair game ten-fold. This gravity-defying hair became one of LaBelle’s signature looks. Though it was liable to shift a little during one of her soul-stirring performances, it was always memorable.

The Poof 

Don’t you just love this look. Somewhere in between relaxed and natural, this hair is all about texture. Even though you’d be hard pressed to find someone daring enough to take on this look, you’ve got to appreciate the artistry.

Asymmetrical Slick Up

This look is definitely more toned down than her other styles but the shape, texture and whispy tendrils still manage to bring a dramatic flair.

Big, Bold and Bountiful 

What can we say about this look? It takes big to a whole new level. With the backward facing curls and the volume, this hair is supposed to get you noticed. On another note, does this look remind you of Celia Cruz?

Highlight It!

In a bold move, Patti ditched the black and went for warmer tones in her hair pieces. This picture is from one of her many appearances on the Oprah show. Being that Oprah was a huge fan of Patti (and probably an eventual friend), it’s no surprise that the diva stopped by the show the most throughout its 25 year run.

Short and Sassy

This tamed do may be a far cry from the BlueBelle days and more demure than her other more famous looks but if you ask me this short cut really suits Ms. Patti. It’s classic, yet modern and allows us to see all the expression on her face when she sings and writhes on the floor. Gotta love it.

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