As someone who came of age in the late 2000s and early 2010s, I have a soft spot in my heart for the twee and indie sleaze aesthetics of said period. That’s why I instantly gravitated towards Gabrielle Union‘s latest hairstyle, which reminded me of those halcyon days wearing American Apparel minidresses with ripped tights, fake glasses and sideswept bangs tucked under floppy knit berets.
Of course, Union’s look was way, way more glamorous and modern than the mega-side bangs of my youth, but I digress. For the Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé movie premiere in Los Angeles, the actor and her go-to hairstylist Larry Sims took the ponytail up a few notches with a pop of volume at her crown, transforming into a sleek pony that flowed down past her shoulders.
The pièce de résistance for the premiere, though, was the big side bang; the front portion of Union’s hair was deeply parted to one side to give the ponytail an extra dose of drama. “Gab giving Black Barbie Opulence,” Sims wrote of the finished look. When seen from the front, it’s a chic, classic pony, but from the side, that little oomph of volume gives the pony a ‘60s touch, almost like a baby beehive shape. The 2010s meets the 1960s meets 2023, all in one look — this is why the ponytail is such a mainstay in any hairstylist’s repertoire!
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