6 Times Rihanna Rocked The Chicest Bangs
Rihanna isn't scared to take risks. Just look at her R-rated "Loud" era, her unapologetic street style, or her revolutionary impact on the beauty industry. Year after year, the singer-turned-fashion maven and business mogul continues to redefine conventions and set new standards in whatever field she graces.
With that in mind, we shouldn't be surprised she fully embraces hair experimentation — and looks great doing it. Each time she switches it up, she transforms her look into something fresh and unexpected, setting her apart in her status as our moodboard inspiration. With her Fenty fabulousness, we found love in so many of the ways she's shown us how to rock chic bangs. She can certainly now take a bow.
Rihanna's 2017 Met Gala bangs were lighthearted and lovely
To channel the spirit of Comme des Garćons and its founder Rei Kawakubo at the 2017 Met Gala, Rihanna honored the avant-garde with feathery bangs. Her deconstructed bouquet look recalled the conceptual, postmodern ethos Kawakubo is known for, while her fringe — which elegantly contoured the corners of her face — seemed to be a softer, feminine take on the designer's own hallmark hairstyle. The result was a "Work" of art.
Rihanna's Perfect Magazine bangs were Mob Wife ready
Truly a "Good Girl Gone Bad," Rihanna went full mob wife for her August 2024 spread in Perfect Magazine — flaunting a leopard print coat and full, retro bangs. They were styled straight and arched inwards at the ends for a sultry, vintage feel not dissimilar from Sabrina Carpenter's trademark Shangri-La haircut. Paired with a voluminous, old-Hollywood updo, this look was a hot, high-drama statement.
Rihanna's side bang was the real MVP
Fenty Beauty's bestselling red MVP lipstick commanded airtime on RiRi's Instagram, a look she undoubtedly strengthened with an equally seductive and trendy dramatic side bang moment. A swooping, asymmetrical curve grazed one eyebrow, its subtly wavy texture adding an interesting aspect to the form. The high-glamour aesthetic of this hair flattered the bold lip very nicely.
The diminutive V-Day bangs were savagely good
Rihanna's Valentine's Day SAVAGE x Fenty campaign took the gothic brooding of "Disturbia" and the unbridled carnal audacity of "S&M." Of course, the hair was instrumental in bringing this racy convergence to fruition. Micro bangs, the vintage hair trend otherwise known as baby bangs, were cut very short above the eyebrows, with jagged edges and red stripes that lent a punk, rebellious energy to the look. This vision wholly personified the attitude we know and love her for.
The singer steered choppy waters with ease
As we've seen, Rihanna does choppy bangs so very well. Her appearance at the Footwear News Achievement Awards in New York saw her again sport a snipped, saw-edged style. She let her signature swagger do the talking with a slightly uneven cut in the fringe — a bold move not many could pull off, but she certainly does. Teamed with a spiky bun atop her head, we were reminded of just how cool our BadGalRiRi really is.
Her blue bangs were beautiful
During the making of her final album, "Anti," Rihanna's blue hair lifted our spirits and left us feeling anything but blue. Much like the record itself (a decisive move away from pop into the more mature and sensuous throes of R&B), this hair signaled the icon's fearless embrace of bold reinvention, and her willingness to color outside the lines. Her bangs, full and straight, skimmed just below the brow — a classic, effortless cut. The soft, round, low-maintenance bang style was ideal for someone whose flair was known for the chic nonchalance of an It Girl off-duty.