If you close your eyes and think of 1990, you probably see a 20-year-old girl with a massive voice and even bigger hair. Those ringlets were everywhere. They defined an entire era of pop music. But here is the thing: what we saw on the cover of her debut album wasn't just a "style choice." It was a battleground. For decades, fans have obsessed over mariah carey curly hair, begging for its return every time she debuts a new sleek blowout.
There’s a common myth that Mariah simply "grew out" of her curls or that she prefers her hair straight because it’s "more glamorous." The reality is way more complicated. It’s a mix of personal trauma, industry control, and the literal physics of biracial hair texture that most people just don't get.
The Secret History of Those 90s Ringlets
When Mariah first hit the scene, the world saw those tight, voluminous curls as her "natural" look. They were. Sorta. In her memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, she actually reveals that her management—specifically Tommy Mottola—pushed for that specific texture. Why? Because they thought the curls made her look more "ambiguous" or "Italian." They were trying to market her in a way that didn't explicitly lean into her Black heritage.
It’s kind of heartbreaking when you think about it. Her hair was being used as a tool for racial palatability before she even had a say in her own image.
But there was a practical struggle too. Mariah has been very vocal about how, growing up with a white mother who didn't know how to handle textured hair, her curls were often a source of "shame." They were tangled. They were "unkempt." By the time she became a superstar, she was finally working with professionals, but even then, it wasn't easy. She told Meghan Markle on the Archetypes podcast that white stylists often didn't know what to do with her hair, while others would "shellac" it with way too much heavy grease.
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The Evolution of the Texture
If you look closely at the "Vision of Love" era versus the Daydream era, you can see the shift.
- 1990-1992: Maximum volume, tight spirals, often enhanced by perms to keep them uniform for the cameras.
- 1993-1995: The curls started to get "softer." This was the Music Box era where she was beginning to experiment with blowouts and larger barrel curls.
- 1997-Present: The "Butterfly" era changed everything. Straight hair became a symbol of her freedom.
Why the "CurlyRiah" Returns are So Rare
You've probably noticed that when Mariah does go back to her natural texture now, it looks different. It’s longer, usually a honey-blonde ombré, and it has a "beachy" vibe rather than the tight coils of 1990. In late 2023 and again in early 2025, she was spotted in Aspen with her natural curls flowing down to her waist.
The internet basically melted.
But maintaining mariah carey curly hair at 55 isn't the same as doing it at 20. Decades of high-heat styling, bleach to achieve that signature blonde, and the weight of extensions take a toll. Stylists like Dior Sovoa, who has worked with her recently, have to balance her natural texture with the "Diva" expectations.
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The Maintenance Nightmare
Honestly, curls are a lot of work. Mariah has mentioned that if she has to do her hair from scratch, she'll leave it natural, but for "The Queen of Christmas," "natural" often isn't "stage-ready." Her current routine involves:
- Extreme Hydration: Curls like hers are naturally porous. They drink up moisture.
- Lightweight Oils: Sovoa has mentioned using British M Annatto Hair Oil because it absorbs quickly without weighing the hair down.
- Strategic Extensions: Most of the "big" curly looks we see now are a blend of her natural hair and high-quality curly extensions to provide the density that age and heat-styling sometimes take away.
The Racial Identity Tied to the Tresses
We can't talk about Mariah’s hair without talking about race. For many fans in the Black and biracial communities, seeing Mariah with her natural texture in the early 90s was a huge moment of representation. When she started straightening it, some felt she was "distancing" herself from that identity.
But according to Mariah, it was the opposite. Straightening her hair was a way to take back control. It was her choosing her own look instead of letting a record executive decide which version of "ethnic" she should be.
It’s a nuanced take that a lot of casual listeners miss. The straight hair isn't a rejection of her roots; it's a celebration of her autonomy.
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How to Get the "Modern Mariah" Curl
If you’re trying to replicate the mariah carey curly hair look today, don't reach for the 1/2-inch curling iron just yet. The modern look is all about "lived-in" texture.
Start with a deep conditioning treatment. Curls need a foundation of health. Mariah’s colorist, Kyle White, has even mentioned adding rosewater to dye treatments to prevent the dryness that kills curl definition. You want to use a diffuser on low heat to keep the frizz at bay while maximizing volume at the roots.
Basically, you’re looking for "expensive" curls—shiny, defined, but still a little bit wild.
Actionable Tips for Your Own Curls:
- Don't over-wash. Mariah has joked about her hair "loving dirt," and it’s true—natural oils help define the spiral.
- Use a silk wrap. To keep that "laid" look she loves, sleeping on silk is non-negotiable to prevent breakage.
- Mix your products. Don't be afraid to cocktail a leave-in conditioner with a light-hold gel.
The saga of Mariah's hair is really just the story of her life: a constant tug-of-war between what the world expects and who she actually is. Whether it’s bone-straight or a mountain of ringlets, it’s always going to be iconic because she finally owns the narrative.