Janelle Monae's 20 Best Hair Looks—From Blunt Bobs to Space Buns

Janelle Monae is no stranger to being adventurous with her hair. The singer and actress has showcased various bold, beautiful hairstyles on the red carpet, in her music videos, and beyond. As she rose to prominence in the 2010s, she became known for her gravity-defying, '50s-inspired quiff. And over the years, she's worn many other equally exciting looks, like space buns, blunt bobs, and sky-high topknots.

All this to say, Monae can pull off absolutely any look and is an endless source of hair inspiration. Ahead, we recapped 20 of her best hairstyles to date.

Perfect Pixie

Monae's gorgeous pixie cut is the work of her longtime stylist, Nikki Nelms. Here, they opted to style the cropped haircut with a few forward-facing wisps to add extra pizzazz.

Blunt Bob

At the top of 2024, Monae graced the "New Year's Rockin' Eve" stage sporting a chic bob. Keeping the trendy haircut bone-straight and sleek shows off the beauty of the blunt cut.

Double Buns

Monae has also experimented with color a bit over the years, and this ultra-cool space bun style features two distinct blonde hues. The key to achieving this look is loosely shaping and pining the two buns to give them a less structured feel.

Faux Fur Accessories

Another way to elevate space buns? Add accessories. Here, Monae accessorized her two buns with mini faux fur pom poms that closely matched the color of her outfit.

Structural Ponytail

A braided ponytail can be elevated in many ways, as Monae has demonstrated with this look. Here, the singer's extra-long ponytail has been styled in a beautiful structural shape.

High Top Knot

Monae also worked with Nikki Nelms to achieve her 2023 Met Gala hair. The duo's take on a topknot is so unexpected and unique, as they aimed to create a sky-high cylinder-like shape. It's definitely one of the best Met Gala hairdos in our book.

Layered Pixie

Contrary to popular belief, you can have a lot of fun with a pixie cut. Giving your hair a quick zhuzh with a flat iron and adding volume at the roots can give your short haircut tons of flair. Throw on a bedazzled headband to complete the look.

Short And Sweet

This 1920s-inspired hairdo is yet another cool take on a pixie cut. The perfectly shaped curl added at the front of Monae’s hair is the perfect finishing touch.

Modern Pompadour

Monae is a master at making retro hairstyles feel modern—and this pompadour look is a prime example. She put her own spin on the voluminous style by adding a tucked curl at the front.

Jeweled Top Knot

A full and fluffy topknot is a sophisticated style, but adding hair jewels gives it an even more elegant aesthetic. Here, Monae added dazzling gems to the base of her bun and throughout the topknot itself.

Braided Bun

The styling options for box braids are endless. Case in point: Monae's low bun. This look is a masterclass in accessorizing; she's added a few pearls to her bun before completing the look with a tilted bowler hat.

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Messy Bun

This topknot is beautifully messy—and we love that. Weaving in black wire throughout the bun gives it a bold edge.

Golden Girl

It’s safe to say that a topknot has been a go-to style for Monae through the years, and we love how her stylist manages to make them look different every single time. Here, a shiny gold wire has been woven through her loose topknot to give it an elegant, extravagant vibe.

Chic Braided Pigtails

Think of this style as the grown-up version of braided pigtails. We're obsessed with all the chic touches Monae added to her two braids—like the braided bows, Chanel pins, and pearly gems.

Cool Quiff

We couldn't recap Monae's best looks without including her signature quiff. Starting with dry and brushed hair is the key to achieving the look. Don't be afraid to keep teasing your hair until you have a bouffant that's as gravity-defying as Monae's.

Cool Girl Braid

Monae knows how to make a classic braided style uniquely her own. She decorated her lengthy, loose-braided ponytail with white pom poms to give the look a cool edge.

Chic Cornrows

Cornrows are such a versatile style, as they can be worn in so many ways. Here, Monae opted for three chunky, straight-back braids. To enhance the classic protective style, she chose a bold black headband and silver wire.

Side-Swept Hair

A side-swept hairdo will forever feel timeless. With this style, about half of Monae’s hair has been parted on the right to create a dramatic side bang. The rest of her hair is pulled back into a low bun to let the sweeping front pieces shine.

Crown Braid

Crown braids are an intricate, elegant style—and we love Monae's take on the hairdo. Adding a thin ribbon throughout the hair makes the braid stand out even more.

'60s Bouffant

This is how to do a '60s-inspired look. The hair, the outfit, the makeup; What's not to love? Monae's bouffant is such a signature style from the era, and there are many ways to style it. For this red carpet appearance, Monae went for a side fringe and completed the look with a trendy chunky headband.

Up Next: Alicia Keys Has Always Been the Blueprint for Braids—These 17 Styles Prove It

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