by Cher: Icon of Bold Fashion and Hairstyle Choices
For over five decades, Cher has cemented her status as an entertainment icon known for her bold fashion sense and ever-changing hairstyles. While many of Cher’s looks from her illustrious career are considered legendary, some have certainly raised eyebrows due to their extreme and unconventional nature. However, Cher has never been one to shy away from experimentation or pushing boundaries with her image. Here is a look at some of Cher’s most eccentric hairstyles from different eras that highlighted her daring and innovative approach to self-expression.
The Black Cleopatra Wig (1972)
In the early 1970s, Cher was embracing an Egyptian-inspired aesthetic and incorporated elements of Cleopatra into many of her outfits and hairstyles. One such dramatic look was her black Cleopatra wig from 1972. The wig featured blunt bangs cut in a straight line across her forehead and a deep side part. The color and cut of the wig were certainly striking and eye-catching. However, some felt the severe blunt bangs and harsh part were not particularly flattering for Cher’s facial features and proportions at the time.
Nonetheless, Cher pulled off the dramatic wig with confidence on stage and in photoshoots. She was never one to shy away from bold fashion risks, even if some looks did not perfectly suit her. The black Cleopatra wig aligned with her artistic vision and interest in Egyptian iconography during that period. It also highlighted Cher’s willingness to experiment radically with her hair through wigs and extensions long before they became commonplace. While the wig may not have been her most becoming style, it demonstrated Cher’s fearless attitude towards self-expression through hairstyles.
The Feathered Farrah Flip (1978)
In the late 1970s, the ultra-long feathered hairstyle popularized by model Farrah Fawcett was all the rage. However, Cher’s interpretation of the trend-setting ‘do was even more over-the-top than the original. For a TV special filmed in 1978, Cher sported a voluminous mane of hair teased high with layers that fell almost to her thighs. The hairstyle featured massive amounts of backcombing, hairspray, and teasing to achieve its lofty height and fullness.
Cher’s “Farrah Flip,” as it came to be called, took the feathered look to an extreme that bordered on parody. Towering high above her head, the hairstyle was an impressive feat of hair engineering but bordered on cartoonish with its exaggerated proportions. While big hair was in vogue during the disco era, even Cher’s contemporaries thought her version pushed the limits of taste and practicality. Still, it demonstrated Cher’s playful approach to trends and her willingness to take things to their most over-the-top conclusion for the sake of spectacle and fun.
The Beaded Dreadlock Extensions (1980s)
During the 1980s, Cher began embracing more bohemian, hippie-inspired styles that aligned with the counterculture movement taking hold. She frequently incorporated elaborate hair extensions into her looks, from feathers to braids to pieces. One particularly memorable instance from this era involved Cher sporting beaded dreadlock hair extensions. Her natural hair was pulled back while lengthy extensions made to look like beaded dreadlocks cascaded down her back and shoulders.
While daring and creative, Cher’s choice of dreadlock extensions was also culturally questionable. Dreadlocks hold deep spiritual and cultural significance for Rastafarians and those of African descent. For Cher, a white woman, to sport faux dreadlocks as a fashionable accessory ignored this important context and cultural appropriation was rightly called out. It highlighted that while Cher pushed boundaries, not all of her experimentation landed appropriately or with cultural sensitivity. Still, it demonstrated her interest in world cultures and her boundary-pushing approach to self-expression through hair.
The Spiky Blue Pixie Cut (2010)
After decades of changing up her hairstyles, Cher took one of her most dramatic hair transformations in 2010 when she debuted a shocking blue pixie cut. Gone were her long tresses, replaced by an edgy, close-cropped style with spiky bangs cut short across her forehead. The bold blue hue took her new look to an even more attention-grabbing level. At age 64, Cher embraced a style usually associated with much younger women, showcasing her fearless attitude towards defying conventions of age and gender norms.
While a big change, the pixie cut suited Cher’s androgynous sense of style. It also highlighted her smooth, wrinkle-free complexion that many attributed to cosmetic procedures. However, some critics argued the severe style and bright color were overly youthful and drew more attention to signs of aging like sagging jowls. Regardless of mixed reviews, Cher owned her new ‘do with confidence. It demonstrated, yet again, that she was willing to take big fashion and beauty risks that others her age may not have attempted.
The Multi-Colored Bob (2020)
Fast forward a decade, and Cher continues experimenting boldly with hair color and cuts well into her 70s. In 2020, the singer debuted another dramatic transformation – a short, blunt multi-colored bob. The style featured choppy layers in a mix of platinum blonde, bright pink, and electric blue hues. It showed that Cher remains as fearless as ever in embracing youthful trends that push sartorial boundaries.
While some thought the vibrant colors and short cut veered too young, most admired Cher’s refusal to conform to expectations of aging gracefully. She proved that personal style has no expiration date. The multi-colored bob has become one of Cher’s most iconic recent looks, inspiring generations of younger fans. It underscores how Cher revolutionized notions of aging in the entertainment industry by continually reinventing herself through daring fashion instead of fading quietly into the background.
A Legacy of Boundary-Pushing Style
Over five decades in the spotlight, Cher has established herself as a true icon known not just for her music but also her bold fashion sense and ever-changing hairstyles. While some of her looks were more flattering than others, all demonstrated Cher’s fearless attitude towards experimentation and pushing boundaries. From Cleopatra wigs to blue bobs, Cher’s hairstyles reflected her interest in world cultures, challenged norms of aging, and highlighted her innovative approach to self-expression through image.
More than any of her contemporaries, Cher proved that personal style has no limits of practicality, age or gender. Her willingness to take fashion risks that others may not attempt is part of what has sustained her global fame for generations. Even when styles miss the mark, Cher’s commitment to originality and visual storytelling through hair and clothes inspires younger artists. Her boundary-pushing legacy lives on as an example of how redefining conventions can keep creativity flowing throughout a long, legendary career.
