Fuzzworthy: 20 memorable songs about hair

Willow Smith was only 10 years old when she released her debut single, “Whip My Hair,” and the song became an instant hit. The empowerment track finds Willow knowing that she can push through anything. Sometimes one just needs to whip their hair and persevere. “Whip My Hair” became a top-20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Lady Gaga wants to encourage and empower people to be themselves authentically with her 2011 single “Hair.” Since hair can beam with versatile styles, Gaga alludes to that in regards to changing it up with highlights and bangs. However, the main message is that Gaga wants to express her freedom and uses hair as an analogy. 

In the Black community, hair has always been about personal expression — everything from empowerment to individuality. On “I Am Not My Hair,” soulful singer India.Arie expresses the different hairstyles she’s had throughout her life before she cuts it all off because she wants people to truly see her for her inner beauty. 

On Mario’s second single, “Braid My Hair,” the singer expresses that while he lives the life of a musician, sometimes he just wants to go home to relieve some stress. Part of the relief process is getting his hair braided; in that moment, he feels more comfortable and at ease. 

Ariana Grande is known for wearing a high ponytail as her signature hairstyle, but on her 2020 track “My Hair,” she’s ready to let her hair down just a bit. On the track, Grande is ready to get intimate with a partner, and she’s giving them permission to touch and caress her hair. As she sings in the second verse, “It’s been way long overdue / Just like these inches down my back / Usually don’t let people touch it / But tonight, you get a pass.” 

Solange is well aware that hair in the Black community is a sense of pride, expression, and the importance of cherishing their crowns. On her song “Don’t Touch My Hair,” she highlights how Black people should feel respected and protective of their identity and soul. 

On MAGIC!’s 2014 single “Let Your Hair Down,” the band expresses that they want people to relax and let go of their inhibitions. As they sing on the hook, “Baby let your hair down, let me run my fingers through it / We can be ourselves now, go ahead be foolish.” 

In 2007, The-Dream released his debut album, Love/Hate, to rave reviews. One of the standout tracks is “Playing In Her Hair,” in which The-Dream describes knowing how in love he is with a girl because he’s playing with her hair. It’s a special form of intimacy that The-Dream knows has him hooked to her. 

Sometimes having long hair can be known as a sense of rebellion. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young are contemplating changing their hair length on their song “Almost Cut My Hair.” It’s evident from the first verse as they sing, “Almost cut my hair / It happened just the other day / It was getting kinda long / I could’ve said it was in my way / But I didn’t and I wonder why.”

Sometimes when people hear their favorite song come on, they might dance so hard that they need to relieve their hair from touching their neck. That’s the sentiment on “Hair Up,” performed by Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, and Ron Funches. As they sing on the hook, “Come on baby, let’s go crazy / We ain’t never gonna stop / Hair up / Come on baby, let’s go crazy.”

Kelly Rowland is encouraging people to be confident and love their hair enough to show it off at all times. As she sings in the first verse, “It don’t matter how I wear it / It’s beautiful in every color / Long short, straight or curly / I love what I see in the mirror.”

On Led Zeppelin’s “The Girl I Love She Got Long Black Wavy Hair,” the band describes their admiration for a woman. In addition to her flowing locks, the band describes her as a sweet woman with a nice strut. 

On Mario’s self-titled debut album, one of the standout deep-cut anthems was “Chick Wit Da Braids.” Mario expresses how a certain girl catches his eye, but he may need to tread lightly because he’s heard some things about her personality. As he sings on the hook, “That chick with the braids / In the escalade / Oh honey looking with the chocolate skin / But I heard she was trifling.”

Nelly Furtado wants to let loose and be comfortable on her 2006 track “Let My Hair Down.” The singer is about feeling good, allowing things to flow, and letting one’s hair down is a sign of relief and freedom.

Hair is used as a figure of speech on Prince’s 1985 track “She’s Always In My Hair.” On the track, Prince expresses how he may go through some tough times, but his partner is always around to support him through anything. As he sings in the first verse, “Whenever my hopes and dreams / Are aimed in the wrong direction / She’s always there / Telling me how much she cares / She’s always in my hair.”

Jessie James Decker is all about coming into her own and showing people what she’s made of on her track “Flip My Hair.” As she sings on the hook, “Now watch me flip my hair / I move it to the other side ‘cause I don’t care / Just watch me as I come alive and flip my hair.” 

In 2012, folk rock band The Lumineers released its self-titled debut album. The opening track, "Flowers In Your Hair," finds the protagonist reflecting on his childhood and how a girl he grew up with always caught his eye. One of the girl's distinct features is the flowers in her hair. 

Girl group 702 wants listeners to relax and have a good time on their track “Let Your Hair Down.” It’s as simple as unwinding and letting things flow as they come. As they sing on the hook, “Let your hair down / When you’re up in the club and don’t wanna get crunk / Let your hair down / When you think you’re too cute to rock your own suit.” 

In 2015, girl group Little Mix released their third album, Get Weird. In the final single, "Hair," the girls are trying to get over a breakup by using the idiom "gotta get him out of my hair." As they sing in the third verse, "Hair on the floor like my memory of him / Now I feel brand new / This chick is over you." 

In 1996, Beck released his fifth studio album, Odelay. On the second single, "Devil's Haircut," the singer uses hair more as a metaphor to explore themes of life, evil, mentality, and transformation.