Country music has always been deeply rooted in storytelling.
And, within that time, country music’s visual identityparticularly its performers' hair and makeuphas evolved dramatically.
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Todays highly glamorized starlets are a far cry from the genres clean-cut pioneers.
The transformation reflects broader cultural shifts, technological advances, and countrys expanding reach to mainstream audiences.
By the 1970s and 1980s, the television age was in full swing.
Hair became sleeker, with soft waves and straightened styles replacing the voluminous curls of the past.
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Makeup became more natural, with glowing skin and softly smudged eyeshadow and liner in neutral shades.
Bold eyes and lips were typically reserved for red-carpet appearances and award shows.
That makeup style was very in line with what even supermodels were wearing at the time.
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That pattern continued into the aughts.
As Higgins notes, the long blonde ringlet revolution was in full effect.
“Makeup in country music is going two different ways right now.
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You have the Dolly kind of approach, which is super glam, almost doll-like.
The rise of social media is a major factor in this transformation.
Platforms like Instagram and TikTok enable artists to express their style further and receive real-time feedback and encouragement.
