All Grown Up: Celebrities Who Cut Their Braids Off

Braids are for the kids. Check out the celebs who manned up and cut off their cornrows.

July 28, 2011

Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

lead

Ludacris, Carmelo Anthony, and Sean Paul are just three of the many celebs who made their braided hairstyle a part of their signature look. But thank goodness they cut that shit off! Let's be real—if you don't have a "Lil" prefixed to your name, you probably shouldn't have beads in your hair. So for the rest of you braided bandits left out there, it's time for you to get rid of your cornrows. We made a yearbook to congratulate the men who've manned up to the short cut. Click on for All Grown Up: Celebrities Who Cut Their Braids Off.

udonis

Udonis Haslem

Cut-Off Date: July 2011

The reliable Heat forward was known for his signature cornrows, but we too would have changed our look drastically after being so close to the 'ship and losing.

allen iverson

Allen Iverson

Cut-Off Date: February 2009

This cut was very short lived. Can't keep a braided thug down.

slim thug

Slim Thug

Cut-Off Date: July 2009

The cut, the weight loss, and a new album all happened around the same time. Good work, man.

beans

Beanie Sigel

Cut-Off Date: 2004

Beans cut his hair after a prison stint, so it was the mark of a new era. We like the new and improved Sigel.

benzino

Benzino

Cut-Off Date: Who cares?

Has anyone seen Benzino lately? Ever since his beef with Eminem, he's had less publicity than an imprisoned rapper. He probably should've just kept the braids.

bow wow

Bow Wow

Cut-Off Date: August 2006

Bow Wow was in denial when he initially cut his hair off (he grew it right back). At least he dropped the "Lil" in his name.

carmelo

Carmelo Anthony

Cut-Off Date: November 2008

He cut this signature braids off after he lost a bet, but it ended up being a win because he played his best playoffs that season.

chamillionaire

Chamillionaire

Cut-Off Date: July 2009

It was about damn time! Still waiting on that album though.

dre

Dr. Dre

Cut-Off Date: 2001

What, you thought Mr. Detox was safe? Nope! He rocked these during the production of Training Day, and while he didn't keep them for that long, they're still very memorable.

ja rule

Ja Rule

Cut-Off Date: July 2001

He's known for the low fade, but we never forget bad style moments...or bad raps.

jermaine dupri

Jermaine Dupri

Cut-Off Date: January 2005

Holding down 'rows for almost a decade, JD was definitely the front man for the braids movement.

jones

Jim Jones

Cut-Off Date: May 2011

Jones is usually a trendsetter when it comes to style, but he was a little late to join the clean-cut club. Better sooner than later.

lloyd

Lloyd

Cut-Off Date: September 2010

We never thought Lloyd would cut his hair, but he finally took the plunge last year. The head tattoo is a bit much though.

ludacris

Ludacris

Cut-Off Date: July 2006

It doesn't feel right to call him Luda sincehe got the cut. He's more of a Christopher Bridges now—yes, we used the full government.

master p

Master P

Cut-Off Date: 2007

You know that uncle in your family that tries to act hip and young, but everyone knows he's over 40? Yeah, P should've cut his hair before his mid-life crisis hit.

nick cannon

Nick Cannon

Cut-Off Date: September 2003

In the end, whether he cut his hair for personal reasons or for a movie role, he made the right choice. However, he can't undo Love Don't Cost a Thing.

omarion

Omarion

Cut-Off Date: July 2009

Apparently, O's female fan-base wasn't too pleased when he cut his braids off.

r kelly

R. Kelly

Cut-Off Date: June 2009

There is no excuse for the look on the left, unless he was being cast as the new Goldmember. We're glad it didn't last long.

sean paul

Sean Paul

Cut-Off Date: March 2010

The reggae superstar was a little reluctant to the cut at first and rocked the half-bald, half-braids look. Then he finally cut the rest and joined the grown man club.