Black Alt-girl beauty inspo8 Images
The alternative scene has historically been thought of as a white, male space, despite Black women’s long involvement in the counterculture, from Poly Styrene to Skunk Anansie’s Skin to Rico Nasty. When it comes to alt-beauty, social media today is filled with Black creatives infusing their culture into the aesthetic which has always embraced the ‘different’ but traditionally lacked diversity.
“Black women have always been on the edge of alt-beauty because rejecting Eurocentric beauty standards has often left us ‘othered.’ But that’s also what’s given us the freedom to carve out our own version of what alternative beauty looks like,” says Chelsea Mtada, beauty cultural strategist for SEEN Group. “Icons like Lil’ Kim in the 90s really set the tone, with her colourful wigs that completely broke the mould. Her bold greens, blues and reds weren’t just for shock value – they were a celebration of creativity and individuality at a time when Black women’s beauty wasn’t really being embraced by the mainstream.”
From teeth gap grillz and tiger print buss down wigs to avant-garde nail art, Black women are reshaping the alternative scene by blending its goth and punk essence with an Afrocentric zest. For Black women, alt-beauty is not just about standing out, it’s about intersecting our culture in the boldest and most authentic way. “Black women should be able to express themselves in any way, shape, or form and it doesn’t have to conform to typical standards of beauty,” says hair brand founder and creator Mikai McDermott. “We can make beauty a better place by having more fun. It doesn’t have to be this restricting place, we can make it more freeing.”
Here are five of the most buzz-worthy trends and the creatives leading the way.
Teeth gap grillz have long been one of the coolest trends emerging from Black hip-hop culture, but dare I say that the Black alt-girls are doing it best? Inspired by the traditional teeth gaps – celebrated as a mark of beauty in many African cultures including Ghanaian, Namibian and Nigerian – Black women like MUA and content creator Emani are fusing that pride with decorative gold, silver or platinum grillz which incorporate and play with the gaps.
Historically tooth gaps have not always been celebrated in Western society, seen as imperfections and “fixed” with braces or veneers, but teeth gap grillz have become a way to celebrate and embrace them. “The idea of alt-beauty being historically gothic and monochromatic comes from a very Western perspective. When we look at Afrocentric beauty, free from Westernised standards, we see body [and face] piercings, skin and facial augmentation, coloured hair, and moulded hairstyles – practices deeply rooted in tribal heritage,” says Mtada. “These elements aren’t a direct ‘FU’ to the system, but a continuation of beauty rituals that have existed for generations.”
@mikaimcdermott bleached brow tutorial!! I do this every two weeks because I’m not precious about my brow hair lmaooo #ukblackgirlmakeup #bleachedbrows ♬ original sound – mikai
When it comes to brows, the bleached look has long been an alt-beauty staple. But when it comes to Black women who are not necessarily prone to having naturally fair-looking brows, having them bleached blonde or skin tinted, is taking it up a notch. The magic is really in that stark contrast of deep complexions against lightened brows. It’s edgy, futuristic and ethereal. Creators such as Mikai McDermott and Naezrah make a great case for it.
Dreadlocks are nothing new, nor is rocking your afro hair freely. But the alt-version of these looks takes the traditional style and twists it into something more avant-garde. Black women are experimenting with colour, shape and embellishments, turning natural coils and locs into a canvas for expressionism. Bright neons, metallic threads, shaping and sculpting, and intricate wraps all make their way into these re-imagined looks.
Naezrah’s alt-styled locs are a great example of how Black women can experiment with hair colour and texture in ways that feel alternative. While creator and afro hair specialist Solar also makes a convincing case for how afro hair is one of the most versatile hair types out there – it can quite literally defy gravity. She uses shaping and sculpting to create intricate styles and designs without braiding, all while adding an alt edge to it.
Tiger print buss down wigs are everything you never thought alt-beauty could be. They combine bold colours, and patterns – typically seen in anime-inspired e-girl aesthetics – with high-gloss, 24-inch bone straight wigs. It’s a trend that Yewande Biala, Irish TV personality and fashion influencer, has embraced wholeheartedly. Like many of the Black alt-girls (some even celebs such as rappers Cardi-B and Saweetie), you’ll find her on socials sporting these dramatic looks that marry hair colour play with gothic sensibility.
Designs featuring 3D elements, extreme lengths and bold patterns make nails a central part of the alt-beauty conversation. The addition of goth-inspired adornments like spikes, dark shades and metallic finishes add a macabre twist to traditionally colourful, extravagant Black nail art.
“Historically, XXL nail art was known as ‘ghetto-fabulous’ and not always seen as professional or accepted in mainstream society. Now, the fashion industry has evolved it into something that is more approachable,” says Sherrile Riley, Nails & Brows Mayfair founder. “Avant-garde and bold nails give a sense of identity and it’s a wonderful way to celebrate individual personality. When I was growing up there was the fastest woman in the world Florence ‘FloJo’ Joyner who would do beautiful bold nails on the track. In Caribbean culture they’ve always done beautiful, colourful, long nails with jewellery and piercings and that was done as a statement and big middle finger to society.”
Yewande and Naezrah are known for turning their nails into art pieces, often showcasing looks that incorporate everything from miniature sculptures to rhinestones, creating nail art that feels both high-fashion and subversive. These bold nails are a way for Black women to bring their signature magic into alt-beauty while maintaining that connection to the long history of nail artistry in Black culture.
