If you haven’t memorized the names of all the “American Idol” singers yet, you surely know them by their hair choices.
The girl with the punk streaks is Gina Glocksen. The guy with the shaved head is Phil Stacey. The Pillsbury ‘fro-boy – nickname courtesy of Jimmy Kimmel – is Chris Sligh.
And, of course, the dude who’s worn it wavy, curly, straight and ponytail-plus- hat is Mr. Hair Excitement himself, Sanjaya Malakar.
It’s been a notable season for hairstyles on “Idol,” a show that’s always tweaking the physical image of its contestants as it nudges them toward pop-star perfection.
Just last week, judge Randy Jackson softened his slamming of Sanjaya’s version of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by praising his lovely locks.
“You know what I look forward to, man, every week?” Jackson declared. “Dude, you’re throwing down some different ‘dos with the hair, man … dude, ‘Hair Idol,’ you’ve got it jumping off.”
Come to think of it, a follicle smackdown wouldn’t be a bad idea for a bunch of aspiring music superstars. Attention-grabbing hairdos have long been an ingredient of the Top-40 success formula, from the fashion-revolution moptops of the Beatles in the 1960s to the buzz-cut sexybackness of Justin Timberlake today.
Sometimes hair creates instant branding. Before they were squashed by a lip-syncing scandal, Milli Vanilli used their long braids as part of their marketing strategy. Crazy swoops of ’80s hair helped define artists like Boy George and A Flock of Seagulls.
Big names, too, know the power of the comb and brush. Prince. Mick Jagger. Beyoncé. John Mayer. There’s not a split end nor bad perm among them.
Each season, the “Idol” hopefuls arrive unpolished and ready to be groomed by the show’s stylists.
Some contestants have hair that’s already memorable. Season 1’s Justin Guarini boasted those sun-kissed curls. Jasmine Trias tucked a flower into her hair as her trademark on the third season. Last year’s winner, Taylor Hicks, made premature grayness hip for a while.
Other contenders require more help from products and flat irons.
During Season 2, Clay Aiken’s hair was transformed from messy-geeky to artfully tufted. Nowadays, he’s evolved post-post-show into a much lengthier, lankier ‘do.
So far, the 11 remaining finalists are experiencing some hair-raising changes.
When LaKisha Jones initially auditioned, her hair had a “really rigid, corporate look” that was stiff around her face, says Zuri. The style was more suited to the bank teller she was at the time than the star she’s working to become.
Recently, LaKisha’s tresses have gotten much softer and sexier.
“She’s diva-like, she’s glamorous. Her hair is now all about glamour. It flows, it’s freer,” says Indigo Zuri Indigo Zuri, owner of an image-consulting firm in Ferndale, Mich., who’d like to see her try a lighter shade.
