From his original shaggy mane to his recent cropped cut, The Biebs has had female fans holding their breath to see what he’ll do next with his tresses. Anna Klassen on the transformation of the newly legal singer’s hottest accessory.
Before he made a name for himself in the music scene, Justin Bieber was already a prize fought over by Hollywood big guns Justin Timberlake and Usher. When he finally made his debut at the 2009 Kids Choice Awards, he sported the haircut that would define the early years of his career—with long Bieber bangs that nearly obstructed his vision but would be swooned over by preteens for months to come.
Several months later, with the release of his single “Favorite Gir,l” Bieber was still sporting the shag, but had cleaned up his look and transformed it into something a bit more smoldering. As if somehow glued together, this Beatles-esque cut swayed and moved in perfect motion with every flick of his head, all the while remaining surprisingly tidy.
Not only did this chapter in the Biebster’s life mark a monumental career achievement—performing at the White House—but it also was the beginning of his hat-wearing phase. From roughly December 2009 to February 2010, Bieber donned a variety of stylish headwear, from the straight-brimmed baseball cap to wintry ski hats with furry ear flaps.
An uncertain and risky move—in February 2011 Justin shed his trademark shag for a more grown-up look. Showing off his maturing facial structure, Biebs trimmed his bowl-cut bangs and received mixed reviews from fans. The cropped cut initially cost him 80,000 “unfollows” on Twitter, although it was hardly a dent in his more than 18 million fans. Bieber said of the change, “I just wanted to, that’s all, not really a big reason; I just woke up and said, ‘I don’t want this anymore,’ so I just cut it.”
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Joining the ranks of Bruno Mars and other retro enthusiasts, Bieber took a step into the 1960s with his vintage pompadour and frosted tips.
Later that month, Bieber ditched his pompadour for another retro-inspired look—a slicked-back ’do for the American Music Awards. Pairing the style with a black velvet suit and off-kilter bow tie, Beiber looked 100 percent old-fashioned.
In probably the most controversial move in his hair’s career, JB took to the salon and darkened his once-golden locks a deep auburn brown. Maybe girlfriend Selena Gomez was his inspiration for change, as a week earlier she had experimented with purple-streaked hair.
Since his debut on the YouTube scene in 2007, the Biebs has never stopped searching for new ways to boost his fame and popularity. For his latest single, “Boyfriend,” he had fans help select the album cover and choose photos showing off his upturned, dark brown locks. The chosen cover shows Bieber in a checkered black-and-white short-sleeved collared shirt, tousling his most noteworthy asset—his mane.
