The Evolution of Michael Jackson's Hair

1/13/2012

While the rest of the world was obsessed with Michael Jackson's changing appearance, something else on him was changing that went relatively unnoticed......his hair. Michael wore a variety of hairstyles during his life. Being the son of a hairdresser, I can look at a person's hair for a split second and know how it was styled. Growing up around hair products and beauticians, I couldn't help but observe everything (even though I didn't really want to). My mother does hair and was a singer. In fact she was on CBS Records with Michael Jackson during the 1980s. You can read about it here.

As a huge Michael Jackson fan growing up, I realized that Michael Jackson put as much thought into his hair as he did his songwriting and dance routines. There was more to Michael's hair than meets the eye, and that's what I'm about to explore.

Mini- Afro

This picture was obviously taken during the late 1960s, probably a little after the Jackson 5 were signed to Motown Records. This picture of Michael, (who might be 11 years old) shows the beginnings of an afro. African hair naturally grows this way, which is why we call it our natural hair. In this pic, his hair looks combed and packed in neat.

The Afro

Mike looks 14 here. (I think the picture was taken in 1972). This is an afro, similar to the one worn by Ronald McDonald (only not dyed with the color of ketchup.) Michael's hair looks thick and healthy; not at all what it would look like 30 years later but I'll get to that in a minute. This was the early 1970s and the Black Power Movement was in. The Jacksons were not militant but any black person wearing their natural afro hair back then was supporting social change as well as the "Black is Beautiful" phrase. It was all about embracing your culture and being happy with yourself. The following is a picture of Michael from 1976 or 1977, sporting what he called his "crown" afro.

Crown Afro

Michael looks unhappy here, and it's no mystery why. His life was hectic during this time--a changing voice, a growth spurt, leaving Motown (and big brother Jermaine) and a traumatizing case of acne. Worst of all, he hated his nose. I wish I were born back then to tell him, "Look on the bright side, Mike. You won the afro contest!!" Sure enough, Michael's crown afro was the king and would have swallowed the smaller afros worn by his brothers.

Natural Hair? Beat It!!

Notice the small, tight curls in Michael's newly relaxed hair.

In the 1980s, the afro was replaced by an emerging style....the Jheri Curl. To get a Jheri Curl, a person straightens their hair with a chemical called a relaxer. Spraying an expensive bottle of hair spray called "activator" into the hair will provide a glossy sheen and bring the curly texture to life. The curl is often called a "wash and wear" hairstyle, meaning the wetter it is, the better it looks.

Michael kept up with the urban trends. He knew all the latest break-dance moves, fashion statements, and was no different when it came to popular hairstyles. In 1979 he trimmed his "crown afro" and opted for a new look. The beginnings of Michael's Jheri Curl journey began in the music videos for the Off The Wall album and the Triumph tour with his brothers. (pictured above)

"Thriller Curls"

Michael sporting a healthy Jheri Curl in 1982. Notice the wavy texture on top.

In 1982, Michael released his Thriller album and dominated the music scene. By this point, his Jheri Curl had grown longer. To distinguish himself, Michael wore a part in his hair. He also allowed a few curls to hang over his eye, something that became a trademark. Here is a video of him getting his hair styled for the photo cover of the Thriller album. The relaxer had already been applied; he and his crew were combing and styling to get the desired look.

One of the things that made Michael unique was that he never wore his hair the same way. For example, take a good look at Michael's hair during the iconic Thriller video. In the video's opening scene, Michael's hair looked wavy and relaxed--the result of careful combing and sculpting.

Michael's hair was delicately combed during this portion of the short film.

Later in the video, his hair looked more curly and wild, the result of picking out the curls with a comb. He probably preferred it this way because of the dancing. After all, even Superman's trademark curl would be a mess after executing a superhuman dance routine with the walking dead.

Michael plucked out the curls to get a loose, bouncy look for this scene.

Remember, he's wearing the same hairstyle, just alternating the look of it. Michael's co-star, Ola Ray, also had a jheri curl in the video. How cute!!

A "Stringy" Curl

Michael is wearing a combination of water and activator in his hair. Water results in a stringy look for Jheri Curls.

One thing the King of Pop loved to do was wet his hair. When you wet a Jheri Curl, the curls become much looser and result in a wet, stringy look. Michael wet his hair a lot during the BAD and Victory tours (pictured above). He also had a wet head when he was burned in 1984.

A Fiery Setback

To this day, many blame the Jheri Curl for setting Michael's hair ablaze in 1984.

When Michael Jackson was burned during the filming of a Pepsi commercial in January 1984, it changed his life forever. Not only was this the start of a drug addiction, but the beginning of his fondness for wigs and hairpieces. I know the picture above is not pretty, but he suffered second and third degree burns on his scalp. Your hair is not coming back from that. If it does, it won't be in its original condition. Remember how thick Michael's afro looked in the earlier photos? If his hair returned at all, it would not be that thick. Not even close. Regardless, Michael carried on wearing a hairpiece that covered his bald spots. I honestly can't tell you how much of his hair grew back because he kept the burned areas covered for the rest of his life. But I suspect that his hair became thin around the burn areas.

Jheri Curls are notorious to this very day because of the flammable oils within the activator. Michael told several people that he didn't wear any activator that night; only water. Despite that, the activator he applied during the previous days was still present in his hair and ignited the sparks. If you ever pick up any bottle of activator, including Care Free Curl (the activator Michael used) the back of the bottle says, "Caution: HIGHLY FLAMMABLE. Keep away from open flames."

Who's BAD?

By 1987, Michael's Jheri Curl grew into a long shag that he constantly tossed as he danced. He maintained the part in his hair and combed out the curls, making them appear bigger and looser, as opposed to the small and tight curls he had earlier on. His hair looked awesome, but I'm not convinced it was all his.

Michael's hair was short during the black and white scenes in the BAD video, but suddenly became long once the song kicked in?

A screenshot of Michael in the BAD short film. Notice how short his hair is without weave.

Another screenshot of a confident Jackson in the BAD video. What a difference extensions make.

To give Michael the benefit of the doubt, the black or white scenes were filmed in January 1987 and the color scenes were shot that summer, but that still isn't enough time for Michael to grow his hair out that freakishly long.
His "hair" also looked healthy and full, even where he had been burned. He was obviously wearing extensions to make his hair appear fuller, thicker and longer.

A lot of people, (both black and white) were puzzled by Michael's sudden change in skin color. Today we know that he had a skin disorder that he kept under wraps. But back in 1987, some people thought he was trying to hide his ancestry. Due to the fact that Michael couldn't help his skin condition and millions of black people were wearing Jheri Curls at the time, I don't see how he could be labeled a "sell-out." But that's another topic for another blog. Let's fast forward to 1991.

Dangerous

Michael started to wear the wave nouveau in 1991. In this picture, he wore it relatively straight.

Michael welcomed the '90s with a new sound and look. In addition to replacing Quincy Jones with Teddy Riley as his main collaborator, Michael traded in his trademark curls for a loose, stringy look. There's still a slight curl pattern in his hair, but this new hairstyle fit him as well as the New Jack Swing tracks on the Dangerous album. The name of this hairstyle is the wave nouveau. It looks similar to a Jheri Curl but highlights waves more than curls.

This is personally my favorite hairstyle on Michael. I wore it briefly myself in college a few years before I started my dreads. He straightened his hair with a hot comb or a straightener, but I honestly can't tell you which method he used. Like the Jheri Curl, Michael wore the wave nouveau for years but constantly modified the appearance of his hair. The picture below is a rare shot of Michael from behind the scenes of his Dangerous video, Give In To Me. Unlike the previous pictures I posted, he decided to enhance the curls by using activator. He wore his hair this way on the Dangerous tour as well.

This is the basic look of the wave nouveau.

Curly or Straight?

Michael did too much to his hair in 1993. For example, his hair looked loose and curly when he performed at the Superbowl on January 31, but was straight when he was interviewed by Oprah just a few weeks later on February 10. Take a look.

MJ's Curly Hair At The Superbowl On 1/31/1993

MJ's hair looked somewhat wavy but straight on the live interview with Oprah on Feb. 10, 1993

The man certainly had the money to get a fresh relaxer put in his hair each week and evidently was doing just that. His hair looked great but getting too many perms will thin your hair out. I know of quite a few people who had their hair eaten and destroyed by those hair chemicals in relaxers. Another scary thought is that Michael had been wearing relaxers non-stop since 1979. He never once gave his hair a break. Little Richard and James Brown wore relaxers quite often but occasionally went natural to give their hair a break from all those chemicals. Michael never did that. The last time we saw his natural hair was his crown afro on the original cover of the Off The Wall album in 1979. I think all those years of chemicals had caught up to him by late 1993, as evidenced by the picture below.

Uh-Oh. Hair (and legal) troubles..

His hair doesn't look healthy here. It appears to be thinning and breaking off in places. Michael probably didn't care because he had bigger issues to worry about, including allegations of child abuse. But a change had to be made to save his ailing hair, and he made that change in 1995.

Make That Change....

From the looks of things, the 1995 MTV awards was the last time we saw Michael wear all of his own hair in public. He couldn't resist getting another relaxer to maintain those curls, but there's no weave or anything. If he is wearing a hairpiece, it's a small one towards the back of his head to conceal the burn spots. This look (and performance) got a positive reaction from his critics.

Wigs: Give In To Me

MJ wore wigs in music videos such as Scream, Ghosts, Childhood, You Are Not Alone and Stranger In Moscow.

Wait, how did Michael's hair grow so fast within a year? One year after his mesmerizing performance at the 1995 MTV awards, Michael's hair looked long again during the filming of the Scream video with little sister, Janet. This was one of the first times Michael wore a wig. The wig's texture is completely different from Michael's real hair. Not only that, but it's a different texture from Michael's relaxed hair, too. I think Michael was concealing his real hair to give it a rest from relaxers. During the entire HIStory era, Michael's hair would look short in one appearance and suddenly long in the next. Michael evidently didn't care if anyone knew he was wearing wigs.

"Invincible" Hair

No wonder Michael named his 2001 album Invincible. His hair certainly was, concealed by wigs for nearly the rest of the decade. In the above picture, one look at the hairline reveals a lace front wig. The 2000s were like a rerun of the late 90s for Michael's hair; it would appear short one day, then hang down his back the next. I didn't care for the wigs he wore during those years, although I'm partial to these two.

Wearing a lace front wig, Michael ponders a question from British Journalist, Martin Bashir. .

This long wig is referred to by some as a "wrap."

But I was not a fan of wigs like this one.

The hairline reveals a front lace wig.

The wigs he wore from 2000 until April 2009 were usually bone straight. Some were curled under at the bottom. I suspect that he was wearing his natural hair underneath and giving it a much needed break from perms. Since he wasn't performing much during this period, I suppose it was the perfect time for a hair hiatus.

In my opinion, there was no spice to these wigs and I found myself almost praying that he would do something new with his hair. I couldn't see him performing wearing those boring lace front wigs. Michael apparently agreed with me and surprised everyone by reuniting with the wave nouveau. You know what that means? Curls!!!

This Is It

It looks like Michael returned to the wave nouveau for the ill-fated This Is It concerts. I was really excited to see this. He resembled the Michael Jackson of my childhood. From looking at it, it appears that Michael is wearing his real hair for the first time for years, but there are extentions to make it appear fuller and longer than it really is. My immediate guess was that his real hair was attached to a wig and I was proven right when I read the autopsy report. This wig appeared a lot more natural than the recent ones he wore. And unlike the others, he actually wore his own hair with the wig in this case.

Michael wore a variety of different styles throughout his career. He always changed with the times, transitioning from an afro to Jheri Curl, and then branching off in other styles. But regardless of what style he chose, he always modified it in a way to make his hair stand out. Michael Jackson was an innovator in many ways. Not just in music, but with his hair.

December 2013 Update: Wow is all I can say. I didn't know that so many people would read this blog and enjoy it the way they have. People are quick to forget that this man was the greatest entertainer ever and if you're gonna perform in sold-out stadiums to millions and millions of people all over the world, your hair better be looking good! That's another thing Michael Jackson taught us. Thanks for reading and share this with your friends.

"It's all for love. L.O.V.E."
-Michael Jackson, 2009

128 Comments

Killer Queen

1/13/2012 09:58:29 pm

Very insightful, AJ. I hadn't even realised that his long and curly style was called a wave nouveau.

SHAINE

5/29/2014 08:16:23 pm

I LOVE MICHAEL!

Kurt

1/15/2012 02:27:19 am

Good analysis AJ. I remember a lot of this stuff you said from the MaxJax forum. But it's all true. I remember those days of sporting that hair-style. lol

mjYanaGirl link

5/30/2012 06:38:50 am

Excellent writeup! I would love to help you expand on the techniques used to create certain looks. But other than that this is very throrough timeline.

Pozycjonowanie wrocław link

7/11/2012 12:09:23 am

I'm not sure exactly where you might be getting your details, but very good topic. I needs to spend some time learning significantly much more or understanding more. Thanks for excellent info I was searching for this information for my mission.

Lily

10/18/2012 11:22:46 pm

Michael Jackson really cares about his look that's why he also did those plastic surgeries... he was so handsome, so charismatic.. i even think sometimes that his look is way more better than some actors... i hate thos straight wigs too.

I watched "This is it" and saw that he is using the curly hair again he still look handsome for me (^___^) I just wished that he just became contented with how he looks. I hate those people around him who just let him do those things to his self.

Michael is really a sad person a very kind and loving person but is also very sensitive but no matter how he looks he always look the handsomest when he perform.

Cameron Best link

11/9/2014 02:12:47 am

This was a great way for me to learn more about Michael's hair because i've been trying to find out how he does it.

Iyla Brewer

6/9/2015 04:12:04 pm

Hey please be positive about his straight hair, even if you don't like it. Like you said he looks good no matter what/where his appearance is. And the comment about you not liking how the people around him "let" him to that to himself I just don't like the way you said it in fact it kind of hurt my feelings because I'm in so much LOVE with Michael and it hurt me that you said that. And as far as you loving him I'm totally with you on that one.☺☺☺

Jessica

2/6/2017 10:15:10 pm

Why did he die and did he really die anybody know.

subash

9/15/2017 12:23:17 am

He suffered by a skin Disorder called Vitiligo. He did not done any plastic surgeries to become white, He was proud to be black person

denveyshred link

10/21/2012 08:06:34 am

the man wanted to be white. the skin desease he had would have left him blotchy with different shades of skin. of course he wore wigs. he was very insecure about himself to have so many surgeries that were irreversible, and ruined his face. he didn't look real in the end. he turned himself into a monster, thinking phyicasl beauty would give him peace and happiness and acceptance in a white man's world. he wanted to distance himself from his blackness, which is not very spiritual at all. as if any of us have a choice as to the way we are born. also i think he had pedofile inclinations, he was not a child molester, more like show and tell and touchy feely to which he would masturbate later. maybe bi, but no real evidence of that. plus his wife had white kids, not mixed, so it was not his sperm, just his name. his lack of self acceptance and his desire to be a music god caused him to whittle himself away to nothing. you can only take to much away, then there is nothing left to work with. he ended up looking like a deformed speed racer character, with a uni-sex look. a shame someone so talented would be obsessed with looking what he thought was perfect. he wanted to be something he never was meant to be. only god creates perfection, not man. accept who you are, don't try to re-create yourself. you will never be satisfied. too sad mj never learned this.

Melanie Zarth

10/24/2012 09:49:32 pm

Oh will you give me a break? There is so many untruths about your post that I am disgusted. Yes Vitiligo makes you blotchy. Do you think he wanted to run around looking like that? And on stage? So, you have no choice but to get rid of all of your pigment. It has nothing to do with wanting to change race. And about the false allegations, and sexual orientation...there is enough truthful documentation about this online that we shoudn't even be having this discussion. MJ was herero...and not into kids that way. Do some research, nobody is hiding the truth from you!!

6/9/2015 04:26:10 pm

I totally agree with you because her facts are all wrong and in my opinion I think she should do some more research on Michael and blame the first website that gave her untrue facts.

Jay

7/26/2013 02:06:33 pm

Shut up.He did not turn himself into a monster,like most people say.Hes a HUMAN,and a BEAUTIFUL MAN(So everyone stop!!)

Freya mathieson

2/1/2016 01:49:59 pm

Omg I love who's bad and dangerous 😎😎

tamyla Tucker link

5/1/2016 08:30:21 pm

I thing you are right leave the man alone didnt do anything to you

virginieL

7/26/2013 05:36:01 pm

denveyshred : before writing so much stupidies you should do better in educating yourself. Your are a poor ignorant, MJ did not to be white, he did not do many surgeries. I am so disgusted by your comments that I don't want to give you more explanation. Your are a poor looser

jacko was a bleached pedophile

2/11/2016 06:54:32 am

You still repeat this same illiterate trash talk to this day. He bleached himself white. He had many surgeries. FACT! There is no such word as "stupidities". Get educated.

Maria

11/6/2013 07:43:45 am

Well first of all, Michael always said he is proud to be an African American, then the change of the color of his skin did not choose him, but unfortunately it is something that nature has given him, he had a Periodontal disease called vitiligo ok?
Well then you believe that he had inclinations to be a pedophile? Are you kidding me? He loved children and would never have harmed,you understand? And I remembered you in the 2005 trial he was acquitted ta all charges, this mean anything to you? So stop the crap and informed, and freak is your dad ok?
And who said that Michael is perfect?! The fanatics but perhaps not the moonwalkes, the moonwalkers love both its strengths and know how to accept its flaws as well, love him as a man and as an artist, certainly do not believe he is a god

Christopher Taylor

2/12/2014 12:05:12 am

Make a quick google search and look at the questionable books and photographs he had in his residence. There's absolutely no doubt that he was sexually attracted to children. The real question is of he every actually acted on that attraction.

Windy

8/14/2015 10:24:57 pm

A proud "African American" would have been a proud father of "African American" children. He chose the complexion of his children.

marnie

1/6/2014 09:32:04 am

Totally agree. He shunned his blackness in favour of being white. When he died the authorities found bottles of bleach in his home totally confirming what most if us always knew. Even if his skin was blotchy, which I believe it was, why didn't he choose to colour his white patches in to match his black skin? Why'd he so willingly turn white givrn that it would've been easier to colour the blotchy patches to match his black skin rather than turn all the healthy brown skin white to match the blotchy patches??!!!

ifeelstronglyaboutthis

8/14/2014 06:20:09 am

uh... he had vitiligo, as you know, and yes, vitiligo makes skin appear blotchy. it also, in some cases, spreads drastically, covering most of the skin. this was how it was for michael. he wore makeup at first to conceal the white patches, but it came to be that michael's skin was more white than black, so he and his dermatologist and makeup artist decided that the best course of action would be to gradually change the colour of the makeup he wears from dark to very light, to accommodate his skin. get educated before spreading ignorance. also, michael wanted to heal the world, and he did nothing but help children and others around the world. he donated millions to charity, and paid for treaments for sick kids. funny isnt it? how if it was a WHITE MAN doing all this, they would be praised, but if its michael, he's shunned. because of his race. it stuns me how racism is still alive in this world. also michael was very self concious throughout his life because he recieved much criticism on his looks from his dad, and other adults who called him spotty, big nose, ugly etc. michael was a proud black man, who only wanted to help make the world a better place and entertain.

Moondust

10/2/2017 10:24:00 am

What you say is nonsense. He was me and still is the number one Entertainer in the world when Thriller came out and he was totally black so you can't say anything about white and black not about that. Geez people Ugg and I love Michael Jackson and always will and my grandchildren love him and will continue to.

Rajith

8/23/2014 07:31:17 pm

'the man wanted to be white' What tabloid magazine did you get that from? Pure bullsh*t. He was a proud black american. With the white blotches increasing, spreading and taking over his original brown skin, what colour would you expect him to bleach towards? Green? Use your common sense.
For someone who was so obsessed with his face and nose, you think he would show himself in public without any concealment looking like that? Would you? Have you SEEN vitiligo patients?
You better do some research about these things without spreading untruths. Yes he did alter his nose several times. Yes he did have a cleft placed on his chin, yes he bleached his skin (only to conceal the effects of vitiligo) not to become white and distance himself from his race, and he certainly did not have any kind of sexual interaction with any kid. Who the blue hell told you he would 'masturbate later'? Were you there?
Your comment is so ridiculous that it almost makes ME ashamed of the human race.

Ali

11/20/2014 09:01:19 am

Do you think Michael was the first or only person to decide to homogenize his skin tone after suffering from the tone disfiguring effects from vitiligo? No! It's the ideal treatment for people with vast melanin loss...only it is a bit expensive so some people will simply create the same effect with makeup.

Try thinking for yourself for a change rather than parrot the ignorant statements of others before you, in your attempt to accuse him of wanting to be white. It's bad enough he had to deal with the traumatic loss of his racial identifying trait, on top of a huge complex which turned into body dysmorphic disorder due to the insults and remarks certain family members made, along with some callous fans who not only made him feel insecure of his image, but did so right before he had to go out on a stage while knowing he would be the center of attention. If you or I had a bad self-image or low confidence, we could at least keep to ourselves, limit exposure...but he had no choice but to be paraded in front of millions of people.
Grow up.

6/9/2015 04:20:53 pm

You really hurt me talking like that and if Michael was alive and he could see the things you are saying about him how would think that would make him look and feel. Looks to me what you thought was a perfect thing to say wasn't really so perfect after all huh.😤😡

Billy

6/22/2015 04:02:37 pm

Yes the skin condition was patchy and it was well known that MJ applied cream to even out his skin tone therefore eliminating the patches.

andrea

8/14/2015 06:29:31 pm

denveyshredlink
I disagree with some of your comments. Michael was a black African American and was proud of his race. Yes, he did have vitiligo (which he couldn't help and it was proved he had it in his autopsy) and it was really bad.
Michael was not a paedophile/molester. He love for children was pure and innocent, not sexual. He was found not guilty in a court of law and was always innocent. He most certainly was a very spiritual man. He was God fearing and was here to help mankind.
He did so much for this planet and gave lots of his
money to various charities. Michael was very misunderstood by many people. They just didn't get him at all and sadly they never will.
R.i.p beautiful Michael xxx.

P.s. Can i ask are you a fan of MJ?. (Not that it
matters to me if you are or not).

8/14/2015 10:26:48 pm

Interesting commentary. Hard to hear but something to think about...

Zoey "Michael Jackson" Pryce link

12/24/2015 02:40:26 pm

Actually He Did NOT Want To Be White . And WDYM He Had So Many Surgeries ? He Only Had 2 On His Nose And Chin So . And Why R U Including Race Into This ? This Has Nothing To Do With Him Not Wanting To Be Black . It's Not His Fault That He Can't Control His Skin Disorder . Give The Man A Break And Stop Writing False Stuff About My Husband -.-

annie

1/16/2016 02:36:28 pm

I see you don't know anything about him

Christopher Porter

7/31/2016 04:21:59 am

Dude. Changing of skin color doesn't change his heritage. Fuck outta here.

george

11/14/2016 08:09:14 am

mj was agreate entertainer but he ended up looking like alady putting on all those wiggs and struggling to look different nway pple should accept who they are and move on for the sake of ur happiness

sally

11/15/2016 05:45:55 pm

it seems your jealous of him. people like you, are here to criticism everything especial from black people you do not like to see blacks are well off

tor

1/13/2017 10:58:54 am

I have to agree with this. I can understand Michael's decision to bleach his skin to even out blotchiness caused by vitiligo, but he didn't stop there. Every major cosmetic decision he made appears eurocentric. His nose job slimmed his bridge into a thin, sharp edge. His cosmetic surgery enhanced his chin and added a cleft. His continued use of relaxers and straight/wavy wigs -- MJ never wore any natural textured wigs, despite their availability. Add to all this, the fact that he chose to dye his skin completely white and there is a pattern of behavior. It paints a picture.

Looking at him, it's hard for me to believe he wasn't psychologically damaged about race and beauty standards. He was so clearly aiming for a eurocentric 'prince charming' aesthetic.

Irvinf

2/12/2017 11:20:52 pm

Thank you for this comment, it was obvious he was steering towards getting Eurocentric features, tbh you have to be a blind idiot to think he wasn't trying to be white even a bit.

Kobe

7/29/2017 12:32:53 pm

Well, he decided to make his nose smaller because of the teasing he received as a kid.
He hated how big his nose and he decided off with it. I don't think it had anything to do with being white. He just didn't want to have a big nose.
Well, we don't know how the cleft chin got there in the first place. Michael said that it was unwanted surgery, but others said he liked it because it gave him a more masculine look.
I don't think it had anything to do with him being white I think.

Breanna Pedlar

8/7/2017 02:13:01 pm

Most of what you just said is completely false he only had two plastic surgeries one including his nose also he didn't want to be white he had a skin disorder called vitiligo you can see the blotches on his skin in some pictures and there is makeup on his Billie jean glove that he used to even out his skin and he looked amazing in every way he as not inappropriate to children at all he loved there pure innocence and love and doesn't have that in him that's just not how his mind is and he was not a monster he was an angel and still is an angel he believed in god and followed every word in the bible I'm trying to follow his example by donating money to charities like the heal LA foundation and I'm only 13 also he changed my life forever by teaching me about god and the innocence of children he also taught me to never give up on my dreams so I'm going to become a singer he was so amazing. It sounds like your an adult critisising someone you don't even began to compare to you can't even come near him so if I were you I would take some advice from someone who's a child herself and heal the world

Marit link

12/11/2017 07:32:27 pm

Hey whats up Michael was pure black... He had vitiligo at the beginning he tried to cover it up with makeup, but when he sweat you could see the blotches. His grandfather had vitiligo. Michael wanted to use the dark skin bleach, but the doctors said that had a worst side affect the the white one so he was forced to use the white one. Michael said on the opera show that he had vitiligo it went through his dads side. Michael also said it would be wrong if a white kid played him... he said " I am a black American, and I am proud" watch the video. He WAS PURE BLACK. his family also said that Michael isn't white he is black, and that's why in the pepsi commercial Michael was in the kid acting for him was black.

Karen Marie

10/23/2012 04:00:33 pm

I would like to know why the comment from denveyshred was given approval to be posted? There is absolutely 0 value to the things that person said in response to Mr. Dugger's analysis of MJ's hair. More like a visceral attack and one the world has seen enough of.
I actually thought this to be an interesting subject, not knowing anything about hair at all. Honestly, a part of me felt intrusive as well, knowing the insecurity Michael felt about being judged, scrutinized. His hair was beautiful. His heart & soul was too. Please, don't allow these cruel tongues to ruin your site. Zero tolerance must be the rule.
Thank you.

10/24/2012 01:57:11 pm

i didn't mean to attack. my statement is an analisys of the human need for love and acceptance, human nature as it were. no one determines who we are born. if we all could accept that fact and be comfortable in our own skin, it would solve the insecurity and emptiness in us all, and direct us inward, where the true peace and knowledge is. even the very successful suffer with the drive for perfection. let god change us, lest we be a self made man. though he was loved, i'm not sure he could feel it though. he was a tortured man. we all wear wigs, or should i say masks.

MCLEEAIGHT

12/28/2012 12:57:27 pm

blah blah blah denveyshred. there is ample proof that MJ had no problem being Black and was in fact very much honored and proud to be African American - a statement he made many times. And this article on his hair further proves it - he wore all of the same styles that most Black people wore form the 70s, 80s, 90s and into the 2000s. Everybody rocked an afro in the 70s, the jheri curl (long and short) was the style of choice for the majority of young Blacks in the 80s, the late 80s and 90s saw the strighter relaxers and wave nouveaus, even on guys, similar to how Prince, James Brown and Morris Day wore their hair. So MJ was no different.

Yes, his skin lightened because he extreme vitiligo - and yes, he did completely even it out because no superstar in the limelight would be dumb enough to walk around with huge blotches of white and missing color, especially not then. Disability is still hard to accept for peopl ein these times. it was definitely unacceptable back in the 80s and 90s, especially if you were Black. Mike was great - maybe a little misguided and poor decision-maker, but a great and caring guy. More men need to be like him instead of being overmacho blowhards.

Plus, he is not his hair - he rocked it however he wanted and had the right to do so.

6/9/2015 04:43:36 pm

SHUT UP YOU HORRIBLE PERSON IT WAS NOT MICHAEL'S FAULT THAT HE HAD A SKIN DISORDER I HAVE ONE BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT I'M TRYING TO CHANGE MY COLOR FROM BLACK TO WHITE. AND BEFORE YOU THINK YOU FEEL THE NEED TO TALK ABOUT ANYONE ELSE BUT YOUR SELF YOU OBVIOUSLY NEED HELP.ALSO PEOPLE HAVE EVERY RIGHT IN THEIR SOUL TO CHANGE THE WAY THEY LOOK BECAUSE THE LAST TIME I CHECKED NO REMEMBERS YOU BEING THERE WHEN THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS BEING SIGNED FOR FREEDOM. SO AGAIN IF YOU THINK YOU FEEL THE NEED TO TALK ABOUT ANYONE ELSE BUT YOUR SELF JUST CHECK YOUR SELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YOUR SELF AND SOMEONE ENDS UP TRACKING YOU ANS THEY HAVE YO GO TO JAIL BECAUSE THEY BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF YOU.

anonymous link

11/6/2012 03:51:05 am

I have learned so much about Michael in the 3 years since his death. His love for God and the persecution he suffered because of his faith being one of those things. No one knew that, did they. Do we take time to really get to know a person? No...we believe the lies that the media portrays, but they didn't know him at all. If they had, they would know of his kind heart and the pain that their lies caused. I have learned who the real Michael Jackson is, so before we pass judgement, we better know what we are talking about first. Take the time to research and really know this awesome entertainer, and you will see what I see in him...Love.

Kala link

7/18/2014 02:59:39 pm

Amen to that. I was one of those people that believed some of what the media said but as I researched more I found out a lot of stuff the media was wrong about. I even cried when I watched the oprah interview because I was soo wrong about soo many things about Michael Jackson. First I found out about his skin disease then it was about him believing in God. I was even surprised myself that I judged of him not being a Christian because I always think someone is a Christian when I first meet them. Then I found out about how difficult his childhood was and how much he loved kids and animals. By the time the interview was over I had a puddle surrounding my feet from me crying, I was asking God for forgiveness for judging someone before getting to know them. I highly respect Michael Jackson and am happy that he's in a happier place although we miss him dearly and can't wait to see him when my time comes. Kala,🙏

annie link

6/7/2017 01:22:14 pm

You're comleptely right

jr link

11/20/2012 11:53:09 pm

i going to be mj 1 day

Jade Smith

12/16/2012 10:20:31 pm

Thanks for this, I have often wondered about Michael's hair. My favourite style has to be the Jheri Curl, it really suited him. Very sexy!

sam

12/18/2012 07:14:02 am

we still love you

Michael Jackson lover link

8/24/2013 09:14:23 am

Oh michael jackson I can't wait to see u in heaven one day he's my fave and I'm 11 I'm not some racist jerk but michael jackson was hot in the bad era

6/7/2017 01:23:04 pm

more like sexy in the thriller era and amazing in the bad era

Maryam

1/12/2013 01:48:10 pm

Hey AJ, I personaly am a huge MJ fan, I really liked your Hair Revolution MJ articles, and i do believe that denveyshread is completely wrong about michael, he was not a pedophile he didnt change his race on purpose, he actually said that he is a black american, the kids were all his, and i think that your articles were great and really helpful, i learned alot, and i always love learning new things about michael, so thank u, if u have time you can reply by using my email. :) Bye!

Myriam

1/14/2013 01:45:00 am

In any way Michael looked better when K. Faye did make his hair

12/24/2013 04:20:09 pm

Sorry, I wanted to say when K. Faye did NOT make his hair. The way she did his makeup was also a shame : lipstick, lashes ........ ridiiculous. In spite of what she says Michael did not want this kind of makeup. Look at his makeup at James Brown's funeral, it was perfect cz K. Faye did not do it.

Angie

1/14/2013 02:39:02 am

Good job buddy, you did some real good homework. Keep up the good work. This is so beautiful, I love it. Many people don't know Michael at all, they just judge and live off tabloid junk, ha ha, you just proved them wrong. Not to mention MJ wore a shirt that read: "Curls for my girls" during 'This is it".

Also just to let you know they burned MJ on purpose in 1984, because MJ was black and too famous, so they tried a way to destroy, trust me this is the truth. That's why MJ said "you keep me in the fire!" in his 'They don't care about us' song.

ason

1/14/2013 05:03:09 am

Very interesting blog, thank you! Around the Bad time, and with the curls, he was so handsome at times it was breathtaking - I'm a woman, and I wanted to look like him - which doesn't mean I think he was feminine, just beautiful.

And can we please talk about and enjoy his marvelous art, be it his music, clothes or hair, without for the umpteenth time bring in those allegations that were so thoroughly refuted a very, very long time ago?

Finally, I am happy to see that more and more people with African hair feel free to wear it natural again, not feeling they have to use strong and potentially dangerous chemicals every day, and spend a huge amount of money on keeping their hair straight. I watched "Good Hair", and that was an eye-opener.

Thanks again! (Oh, how I wish he was still here - and happy.)

Freya mathieson link

1/4/2016 02:32:58 pm

I love Michael when he was singing black or white

Felix

1/19/2013 03:54:26 pm

Thank you for a great analysis on the history of Michael's hair. You broke it down in clear terms. Much appreciated. I loved the straight nouveau style he sported on Oprah and the short cut in 1995. Either way, Michael was a beautiful soul inside and out.

clarence barnes

2/27/2013 09:41:31 pm

I am a fan of Michael Jackson for a number of reasons. For me I liked Michael so well is because in 1982 Michael and my blood brother were, I thought, identical twins. They looked so much alike. My broher did not wear a hair piece. The length of it reached his shoulders easily. He was such a handsome fellow,my brother.So you might understand why it is easy fo me like Michael.
My brother finished his race prior to Michael's homegoing. And when I heard the news I could not accept that the greatest entertainer of all time as some would say, is not here. However I do feel the greatest entertainer of all time is and was Sammy Davis,jr
I just like to know where he bought his hair pieces so that I might some for myself.

2/28/2013 02:19:51 am

Nice story Clarence. I'm a fan of MJ's too. I fell in love with MJ when I was 5, but then my love for him sort of slacked off from not being exposed to him as much. But when I was 9, I was reintroduced to MJ, and I've been a fan every since :)

2/28/2013 02:20:19 am

2/28/2013 02:35:37 am

I sort of see why you think your brother may have looked like MJ's twin in 1982. Because according to the way your eyes look in that picture above, sort of favor MJ's eyes during Thriller. And you and your brother being brothers probably look similar, having similar eyes, I guess. Because if you have eyes like MJ, he probably does too, especially sense you said he looked like MJ's twin in 1982, lol.

2/28/2013 03:01:02 am

What makes me angry, is that they tried to blame MJ for the Pepsi burn because of the activator he had in his hair. Whether MJ had activator or not, it's still not his fought. In order for a fire to start, it has to touch him first, it can't start on it's own. The sparks shouldn't have touched him in the first place. So if MJ had a afro, you think the fire would of bounced off his head? I don't think so, it would have burned him even with an afro. Of course he would have been burned at a lower degree, but he still would of been burned. The fire shouldn't have touched him in the first place. If MJ would of went to a fire camp, he wouldn't have got burned if he kept his hair away from it. MJ was burned because they literally aimed the sparks at his haed on purpose, knowing he had activator in his hair, knowing he would burn well. I don't know who these illuminati people think they're fooling, but it sure isn't me. These people will pay for what they did to MJ. And the fire they sat on MJ will be 10 times worse in hell.

Joshua Wtason

3/19/2013 06:37:40 am

Man, you did a great job. Nice writeup

Justin

4/12/2013 01:53:59 am

Very informative piece. However, the Scream video was shot in May 1995. I believe he cut his hair before the You Are Not Alone videoshoot in July 1995. The MTV performance was in September 1995.

Bliss

4/12/2013 07:08:56 am

That's so observant of you and It's amazing how much you know about hair styling. I wouldn't have been able to solve all these "mysteries" about MJ's hair just by looking at him in pictures and videos nor do I have the knowledge to do so lol
That was an interesting read, thank you :)

Brihauna Wilson link

4/17/2013 06:17:16 pm

I didn't know that the first pic on invincible hair was a wig!

Aww Nall

6/12/2013 10:23:48 am

Some of this is correct...But some of these pics are weaves that you have as his real hair...look a little closer...

MJ fan

6/30/2013 08:30:21 am

First u missed his very short hair which u can see in you ar not alone and childhood video. Secondly I think his hair were always great. And I didn't understand what did u mean by hair trouble?

mj defender

7/5/2013 09:51:35 am

Being in the public eye, of course he didn't want his skin blotchy so he had treatments to make his skin tone even! Figure that out by your self Einstein? He didn't ask for vitiligo, he found a way to make it work for him. Duh?

delzy

7/23/2013 09:38:58 am

i loved d afro nd d jerrycurl,i wish i met him during his lifetime

yohimbine link

9/6/2013 03:10:52 pm

I am happy that I found your post while searching for informative posts. It is really informative and quality of the content is extraordinary....

Elisa M O O N W A L K E R

10/14/2013 09:52:40 am

The Curl's Looked AMAZING on Michael <3 I have curls and it looks amazing on me too xD #CurlyTeam

lovin'Michael

10/20/2013 01:53:16 am

I wish, and I'm hoping in time with a new generation, people would STOP mentioning those damn false allegations and batshir everytime they talk about Michael Jackson!!!!!! I was reading, and reading more and had my fingers crossed, really getting into the hair side of this post....hoping and BAM there is was "uh-oh hair and legal troubles" ---- dude, you ruined it for me, totally. One has nothing to do with the other. Get over it. I'm outta here!!!!!

Gabriela Else link

11/13/2013 02:44:30 pm

The afro look is Classic image all time.

Eve

11/21/2013 10:20:48 pm

Once i came across to a picture, a very rare one, with Michael at a swimming pool. He was pretty young then, his hair was long, wet and seemed to be braided. Maybe it were water drops in his hair that made it appear that the braids were ending with white beads.
How I wish there were more pictures available.....

Elijah link

1/7/2014 09:02:31 pm

Michael Jackson loved children which he didn't have a childhood so he was determined to make others lives better than his #2020

Michael Domnic

12/4/2016 12:16:05 pm

Thank you for this great article. Truly Michael was obsessed with his looks and he set a trand for us to follow in appearance, fashion and music.

Mariapaola

1/19/2014 01:36:55 am

It's really a good article! Thank u for it.

But I think Michael's hair in Stranger in Moscow were his.
Then I don't think he wore always wigs since 2000 to April 2009.
I think sometimes he used hair straightener.

About his skin...he suffered of vitiligo total.
He started to use lightening Cream for uniform his skin's colour only since 1990, after he tried to reinstate the pigment of his black skin by UV (unfortunately they fail).

Stephin

2/5/2014 02:21:23 am

Thnk u for giving this oppurtunity

Eric

3/15/2014 03:41:03 pm

Hello any idea of the name of the hair he has on that " make that change" photo? I would like to get my hair done that way and would like to know how

commander selvam link

5/1/2014 04:15:32 pm

good post thanks for sharing this

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5/14/2014 01:53:54 pm

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MIGUELSPAULDING link

5/20/2014 02:05:48 am

MAD

jose del

5/21/2014 02:19:20 am

Always loved michaels hair during the bad tour, he's my hair idol.

betty link

5/27/2014 06:05:52 pm

the post is imformative and worth reading it!

5/28/2014 11:26:31 am

AJ, I want to ask you a question, there's a lot of people saying MJ changed his hair the more his face changed, like the more his face looked white the straighter his hair got. Is that true?

5/28/2014 11:28:52 am

AJ, I have a question. Some people are saying that the more MJ's face looked white the more he straighten his hair with less curls. Is that true?

Michael

5/31/2014 05:19:54 am

Thanks for this blog it really helped a lot and it helped me to actually get and maintain the hairstyle i want

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6/1/2015 09:12:20 pm

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Calvin

11/4/2015 02:03:09 am

Thanks i have hair like yours..and i dance like you so by that i will keep the spirit alive .

5/31/2014 04:55:17 pm

Well, I guess you won't answer my question. Why approve my question if you're not going to answer it? Well I guess MJ did what fit him best, nothing wrong with that.

chantelle

6/25/2014 07:27:43 am

This really sucks but well looks pretty good and disgusting . ahhhhhhhhhh.

Flanny

7/20/2014 07:40:30 am

what is the invincible hair called?

Deroi

7/30/2014 01:12:07 pm

It's a shame that after five years his fans still can't share their personal interpretation of Michael without negative jerks condeming him because of what he did with his skin or false allegations. It's his skin he can change it purple for all I care. Like he said why should that even matter. People tan and others whitened their skin every day for whatever reason. For him to lighten his skin he obviously had to know it had been done long before him. His dermatalogist recommended he used Benoquin 20% Monobenzone which cause skin depigmentation for vitiligo patients. To know that Someone before Michael had to have had the same condition. How else would they know to use that. I am a black male and a huge fan of Michael. I idolize him. I bleached my skin, had my nose done, added extensions, and own many outfits he popularized. I look very similar to the way he looked during the Bad era. Some embrace it, some judge and criticize, but who cares you can't please everybody. I think MJ eventually realized that in his own way. Probably why he changed his appearance whenever he felt it was time. Personally, I preferred the Bad look, but I forever love him regardless of his skin, surgery, or stupid false allegations

sniffmanuell link

8/21/2014 12:52:49 am

wow! wow! you put it so well!! I'm starting to understand hair styles...

lisajackson16

8/23/2014 07:12:44 pm

my parents actually said that i have the michael jackson hairstyle from 2002 but the problem is my hair curls naturally so i kinda look like mj from the ''remember the time'' music video

randyrkaraoke

9/1/2014 04:53:13 pm

Michael's burned scalp was for the most part eliminated to some degree through balloons and scalp stretchers, which then the doctor cut away the scar tissue and sewed Michael back up. There are pictures if you google Michael Jackson burn where the procedure was done in 1984. He had to have it done a few times because Lupus and healing scar tissue don't mix apparently.

Hair Salon Jobs link

11/10/2014 02:37:24 pm

Jackson's hair style was world famous. He used to care of his hair style. He was a very good singer. We all miss him.

Miranda Yuen

2/3/2015 10:07:04 pm

MJFan

2/26/2015 08:38:55 am

After MJ's autopsy report was released, a lot of news outlets described MJ's real hair as "peach fuzz" (what is that?) and some news outlets said that he was almost completely bald. So was MJ actually bald at the time of his death in 2009?

Kelsey

4/2/2015 06:37:59 pm

Omg His hair was fabulous most of the time. Thank you for this article, I think it's time I revisit my beloveds music and have me a Jam sess before bed! Thanks again

eric link

4/8/2015 04:18:14 pm

man of multi-style. hats off to dawn. your post rockz

Angel

6/28/2015 11:24:34 pm

Oh Michael is handsome whatever his hairstyles.But I loved the most is his hair during 1995 the short hair.He looks his best for me that time.And I did not agree in one picture Michael in crown afro yes he look sad.But he looks so handsome though.His nose is also good as well.I just hope that there is someone who will praise him how handsome he is and remind him that theres nothing wrong with his looks.But I really loved Michael so much I miss him everyday.😭😔

Lando Calrissiano

7/26/2015 02:13:30 am

This was a very insightful article. Thank you for taking the time to research and show us MJ's different phases!

8/14/2015 10:20:15 pm

Nice concept. However, perhaps you should have confided in a professional black hair care stylist for your descriptions and processes of the varying styles. There are a few inaccuracies that, for example; a person who has "relaxed" hair is not a candidate for a Jheri Curl. And in some instances hair extensions were added for fullness and length. There were a few more, but I am sure you meant well. No harm done.

hairstyles link

9/27/2015 09:33:36 am

I loved Michael Jackson's hairstyle. Thanks for sharing this beautiful blog post.

Linda Cannon

11/13/2015 01:31:56 pm

The blog was very interesting!! I loved MJ's music and What a great talent he was and he left us all too soon. His music is ageless.

Michelle

2/27/2016 03:24:40 pm

Awesome post, just what I was looking!! Really great to read a post that was informative and kept on point.

I'm so sick of reading information full of conjecture about completely different topics.

Always been a huge MJ fan and have now converted my daughter into one. Spending many a Saturday rewatching old concerts and looking for answers to many questions and tonights was his hair. It answered it perfectly and it was the first thing I clicked.

I honestly still think I could be in love with this man and the music and art he created.

Dima link

6/12/2016 05:57:48 pm

So what is michael real hair

Simeyon

6/20/2016 08:12:56 pm

Micheal i admired him all doing his career of king of pop i loved the man hair styles it fot him good but i never knew it was a wave noveau i remembered they cost 60 bucks at the shop to get a wave nouveau put in ur hair i even switched from my perm to a nouveau and my hair looks and grows way better than a perm witch i have a s curl texturizer now its many styles i can were like mj did sometimes i wear a dry look afro or waves silky look or ill brush it to the back for a straighter look ...

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7/5/2016 02:35:54 am

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7/28/2016 08:42:12 pm

He lived for us, for the stardom, the limelight - the crowds. Everything that he did to his body was for the stage and showmanship - for us. He gave his all, his energy, his skin, his hair, the bones in his face - all to entertain us. If any of us were to undergo this metamorphosis, it would be like torture. But for Michael, it was simply to give to his fans.

VirginieL

12/11/2016 01:37:09 am

Thank you for saying this, there are so many ignorant people to educate

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Patricia Rice

11/30/2016 08:09:23 pm

Thanks for the blog

Drew Palermo link

12/2/2016 10:44:50 am

Phenomenal article. Helped me an intense amount on my school project about the evolution of hair! Michael Jackson is a prime example of revolutionary hair fads, and this article puts all the evidence into one spot! 10/10! Would read this again!

x_Shaina McCain link

2/13/2018 08:13:30 pm

Thank you for telling everyone this.

Chidosky

2/14/2017 10:53:07 am

I think Michael was a very handsome man,even if he wanted to change his looks so what, that's his life and no one's business.

Ana María link

3/25/2017 04:54:42 am

Yo te amo Michael Jackson mucho

No Important link

2/13/2018 08:09:26 pm

I honestly don't care if he wore wigs or not. All that matters is that he was nice and very talented man, and his music will live forever.

S.M link

2/13/2018 08:11:28 pm

I really don't care if Michael was wearing wigs or not. All that matters is that he is a nice and very talented man, and his music will live on forever.
We love you Michael Jackson.

Tttj

6/17/2017 04:50:33 am

Wow!! So instresting thanks!!

shuboo

9/1/2017 09:36:00 am

Michael was an angel.......a visionary is every dimension.....I miss him

Terri

11/7/2017 08:42:43 pm

I think MJ looked great in every era of his life. I liked the long wet curl look the best I think but all his styles looked good. This man wrote the book on sexy, hott, sweet, and bad as hell! I miss MJ and will always love him! RIP MJ.

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