Black Is Beautiful: A Celebration of Afros

A look at the gorgeous celebs who went big and natural.

Beyoncé Knowles - After Sheryl Underwood slammed Black hair on her CBS show The Talk, saying she couldn't understand why Heidi Klum would bother saving her children's Afro hair after a cut, the public took to Twitter to respond to her ignorant comments. She's since apologized for her "bad choice of words," but we're here to show that "the long, silky stuff" is not the only kind of beautiful hair there is. Check out some of our favorite Afro looks that our top celebs have rocked over the years, beginning with Beyoncé as Foxxy Cleopatra in Austin Powers in Goldmember. (Photo: New Line Cinema)

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Beyoncé Knowles - After Sheryl Underwood slammed Black hair on her CBS show The Talk, saying she couldn't understand why Heidi Klum would bother saving her children's Afro hair after a cut, the public took to Twitter to respond to her ignorant comments. She's since apologized for her "bad choice of words," but we're here to show that "the long, silky stuff" is not the only kind of beautiful hair there is. Check out some of our favorite Afro looks that our top celebs have rocked over the years, beginning with Beyoncé as Foxxy Cleopatra in Austin Powers in Goldmember. (Photo: New Line Cinema)

Solange Knowles - We loved Solange's evolving style and fell even harder for the singer-DJ when she decided to cut her hair and go all natural. (Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

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Solange Knowles - We loved Solange's evolving style and fell even harder for the singer-DJ when she decided to cut her hair and go all natural. (Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Best: Prince Joins Twitter - After years of shying away from social media — or any media, for that matter — the reclusive star finally joined Twitter this year with a series of hilarious tweets, including the much-loathed food shot (of his salad) and a selfie. Welcome to the digital age, Purple One! (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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Prince - The iconic rock star has and will always continue to be a bonafide sex symbol to millions worldwide. Who can deny that his well-kept mane has something to do with it?  (Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Wild and Free - If you’re on the fence about rocking a voluminous, picked-out Afro, we’re pretty sure Erykah will help tip the scale in favor. She’s absolutely breathtaking in this look, especially when paired with a bold, berry lip. (Photo: Kris Connor/Getty Images for BET)

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Erykah Badu - Whether it's wrapped up in a gorgeous head scarf or set free to dance in the wind, the singer has one bad (meaning good) hairdo. (Photo: Kris Connor/Getty Images for BET)

Esperanza Spalding - When the jazz singer burst onto the scene as the winner of the "Best New Artist" award at the 2011 Grammy Awards, everyone wanted to get to know this woman with the impressive Afro. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

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Esperanza Spalding - When the jazz singer burst onto the scene as the winner of the "Best New Artist" award at the 2011 Grammy Awards, everyone wanted to get to know this woman with the impressive Afro. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

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Lauryn Hill's First Verse on "Lost Ones" - L-Boogie doesn't even bother to hit those Sister Act notes on "Lost One." And she doesn't need to. Instead, she gives that pure Fugee-la flow to deliver a memorable commentary on the miseducation of the commercialized, using multisyllabic words and internal rhyme schemes. "It's funny how money change a situation/ Miscommunication leads to complication/ My emancipation don't fit your equation/ I was on the humble, you on every station..." (and that's just the opening bars). (Photo: Paul Smith/ WENN)

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Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill has always known how to rock a natural look, whether it be braided up or picked out into a fluffy crown of hair.  (Photo: Paul Smith/ WENN) 

Photo By Photo: Paul Smith/ WENN

Diana Ross - The singer has always been proud of her wild hair and she, along with daughter Tracee Ellis Ross, has inspired much natural hair envy. (Photo: Gregg DeGuirePictureGroup)

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Diana Ross - The singer has always been proud of her wild hair and she, along with daughter Tracee Ellis Ross, has inspired much natural hair envy. (Photo: Gregg DeGuirePictureGroup)

Pam Grier - Before famed white action film sheroes like Sigourney Weaver, Angelina Jolie or Uma Thurman there was Pam Grier, who could be credited as America's first female action star. During the hey-day of blaxploitation, the actress terrorized drug kingpins in the hit films Coffy (1973) and Foxy Brown (1974).  (Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios)

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Pam Grier - The actress found success in 1970s blaxploitation movies, where she played bold and badass chicks who didn't step down for anybody. (Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios)

Angela Davis - In the 1960s, the political activist became the portrait of a strong Black woman who fought for equal rights. (Photo: UPI Photo /Landov)

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Angela Davis - In the 1960s, the political activist became the portrait of a strong Black woman who fought for equal rights. (Photo: UPI Photo /Landov)

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Michael Jackson - Long before opting for the sleek and straight look, Michael sported an Afro poof in his youth. (Photo: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)

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Michael Jackson - Long before opting for the sleek and straight look, Michael sported an Afro poof in his youth. (Photo: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)