The inherent fun of beauty — and fashion, for that matter — is that there are no rules. Trends come and go, and certain styles certainly stick, but ultimately style is a personal and artistic choice. True to form, Rihanna just made a characteristically rebellious move. The singer stepped out over the weekend with her hair woven into box braids, but only partially, the back left to fall loose over her shoulders.
The moment immediately divided fans on social, who praised and poked fun at RiRi’s new style. Her half-done, half-free-flowing style made a purposeful statement — an entirely new approach that was something akin to color-blocking but with texture, and for hair. For some, Rihanna’s lengths seemed unfinished; for others, unabashedly cool.
Confusion is only natural when an aesthetic goes against convention. And for Rihanna, trendsetting is the natural order of things. In short: Don’t be surprised if the blocked box braid continues to show up this season — rebels tend to pave the way.
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This story originally appeared on vogue.com.
