Under Beyonce's wig: Stars and their hair

Celebrated American star Beyoncé has been known to wear different hairstyles through the years.

She has gone from flowing blonde hair, her signature look, to braids from time to time, among other diverse styles.

Bey has recently shown off her real hair, demystifying the misconception that women who wear wigs do not have healthy hair underneath them.

Her natural hair appears to be very long and healthy, flowing down to her back, almost looking too good to be true.

She showcased her beautiful locs in a video uploaded to her social media accounts last week while promoting her Cécred hair care line launched back in February.

The singer then narrated, speaking about her hair care routine in the clip, which has since gone viral.

“Now that Cécred is known for the quality and what it does for your hair, I think it is about time I show y’all what it does for my hair. I love the lather. It is very soothing, the smells,” she said.

“There is nothing in the world like the conditioner. I love it,” she added, noting that she and her hairstylist used a protein treatment because her colour was fresh, meaning that her hair had recently been dyed blonde, making it more prone to chemical damage.

The Independent reports that the star then took time to call out the myths about wigs, denying that she had been hiding the wear and tear of bleach by wearing a long platinum blonde wig.

“She showed viewers that not only did she have hair, but a lot of it as well, even though she’s been dyeing it for 25 years,” the magazine notes.

Beyonce said: “The stigma and misconception is that people who wear wigs do not have long and healthy hair,” she said. “That’s some bulls*** because it ain’t nobody’s business.”

She added: “It has never grown so long, never been so moisturised, and I have managed to keep my texture and my curls even with my hair so blonde and my hair is flourishing.”

The last time we caught a glimpse of the Texas Hold Em singer’s real hair, her mum, Tina Lawson was trimming it back in 2019, and she shared a clip of the session.

People Magazine reports that at the time, Beyonce’s hair reached down to her waist.

“Before removing the video from her account, Lawson’s post was flooded with comments praising Beyoncé for having ‘hair goals.’”

Some praised the length of the star’s hair, while others pressed for her to “drop her haircare routine.”

It is not just Bey who often covers up her gorgeous natural hair under wigs, but more renowned celebs do it as well.

They may make red carpet appearances in over-the-top, sleek wigs, but shock fans when, once in a while, they show off their looks au naturale.

The celebrated American rapper Cardi B has often left fans with their jaws dropped after showing off her natural waist-length hair.

One of her widely viewed videos on TikTok features her own long, healthy mane. The video shows Cardi rapping in a white tank top and grey sweatpants, portraying her looking laid back and comfortable, and it has accumulated an impressive 50 million views to date.

In the headline-making clip, Cardi looks pretty with no make-up on and eyeglasses as she promotes her new music, with her luscious hair falling all the way down to her back.

“Cardi B dropped a new burner on Thursday night (March 7), teasing what appears to be her next single in TikTok video from the recording studio,” Billboard reported.

“Cardi ripped off her typically acerbic lines over a spare, g-funk style beat, once again making it clear that haters need not apply.”

People Magazine reported on another moment when the Bodak Yellow rapper showed off her hair.

Last year in August, Cardi gushed about how quickly her hair was growing on an Instagram photo.

“Going makeup-free in the mirror selfie she posted, Cardi slightly tilts her head to show just how long her hair has gotten. She wore a pink cardigan, white tank, grey leggings and white jewelled sandals while sitting on a stool for the photo,” People reported, noting that her hair was waist-length at the time.

The report added that Cardi has always been candid about her hair care journey on social media, opening up about struggling with managing it since childhood, and later learning the best ways to care for it and lengthen it over time.

"They will try to make us believe our hair won't grow this long and it is not true," Cardi said in a 2021 Instagram post. "A lot of hair products we used back then were not good for our hair but that's all we had to choose from also we couldn't afford to get to the salon regularly, if at all.”

"Now everybody is getting better options, making affordable good products, learning from natural hair YouTube and TikTok about how to care for our hair better,” she added.

There has no doubt been an increase in the popularity of wigs over the last few years, with the ladies opting for the style for its versatility and convenience, among other reasons.

“In this century, wigs are worn for their versatility. It allows women, especially black women to change their look without making permanent alterations. Wigs are now more often than not, an experiment with one’s style,” a national publication reports.

The report adds: “Black female celebrities from Beyoncé to Rihanna to Nicki Minaj and Kerry Washington are all known to wear the hell out of a wig. For someone like the late Tina Turner, wigs even became a part of her image as in the case of Mary J Blige and the young, playful Zendaya.”

Another star who often offers the pleasant surprise of her ever-growing and glowing afro is the Grammy-winning rapper Meg The Stallion.

While often donning luxurious wigs for red-carpet events, performances and music videos, Meg sometimes switches it up, giving us a glimpse of her beautiful hair.

“Megan Thee Stallion's hair never ceases to amaze me. The sheer length of her gorgeous curls has me weak with envy – and that is before we even get onto the volume. That head of hair is an achievement that deserves awards,” Elena Chabo wrote in a Cosmopolitan Magazine piece.

The rapper opened up about her hair care routine in an Instagram post in 2021.

She captioned a ‘washday’ video:  “I use the Rice Water Moisturising Hair Milk to keep my curls moisturised and far from being dry! This product is not heavy on my hair which I love, and it is so easy to apply. While you are on this #hotgirlhairjourney, you have to keep your hair moisturised!”

Wigs are a great way to protect natural hair and even aid in covering up hair loss. But these stars, and more, show that not all wig enthusiasts have short hair and that it is a misconception.

An Indian blog about wigs debunks some of the myths and misconceptions surrounding them, reporting that wigs are not just for people with hair loss.

“Wigs have transcended their functional use and have become a sought-after fashion accessory embraced by people of diverse ages and hair types. Regardless of hair conditions, many people opt for wigs as a means to experiment with different looks, add volume, or achieve the desired length. Wigs offer a convenient way to explore various hairstyles effortlessly,” the report says.