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Nicki Minaj’s Hairstyles Over the Years

Check out our gallery of Nicki Minaj's hairstyles over the years. Get hair inspirations from this American music icon to find a hairstyle that will look just as good on you.

Onika Tanya Maraj is more popularly known as Nicki Minaj. She has an Indo-Asian descent which contributed to her unique look and long raven hair and her parents were both gospel singers which means that music runs in the family. Unfortunately, her father was a drug addict so it was a troublesome childhood for her and that is why she lived with her grandmother until the age of five before joining her mother in Queens.

Singing wasn’t her first love. Some people don’t know that she actually wanted to be an actress first and strived for it, even attended acting lessons in high school where she was usually seen wearing long dreadlocks or loose and tousled curly raven hairstyle. She was 19 years old and struggling to make it as an actress so for a while, she worked as a waitress in Red Lobster. She was sadly fired because she was rude to some of the customers. This didn’t deter her as she shifted her sights to singing instead. She started making demos and uploading them online. This was the advent of social media with MySpace as the main thoroughfare of most people.

She started getting recognized for her witty lyrics and sharp wit. She was eventually recruited by Young Money for “The Come Up” DVD series which brought Nicki Minaj to a whole new audience. Part of those who took notice of her rapping skills was the legend Lil Wayne who tagged her to be a part of collaborations in his mixtapes. This prompted her to release her own mixtape, “Playtime Is Over” back in April of 2007 which also introduced the world to a Nicki Minaj with raven and tousled curly hair with wispy bangs.

Since then, Nicki Minaj had skyrocketed to be one of the top rapping talents of the world, releasing album after album of hits. She was even elevated to whole new levels when she tapped into the Pop genre-mixing it with her witty rap to create a brand new blend of music that fans went crazy for. These Pop albums gave her multi-platinum records and the top of the charts internationally.

Nicki Minaj is now one of the icons of the music industry with millions of adoring fans worldwide. Everyone wants to copy her sense of style, fashion and, of course, hairstyles. Back in 2018, Nicki Minaj made headlines with her ultra-long and straight raven hairstyle that touches the ground which she had been growing ever since 2016. And so with that, let us show you her other beautiful hairstyles over the years.

Photos

Nicki Minaj attended the 2018 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala on May 7, 2018 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, New York. She wore a lovely red and black dress to go with her straight and long black hair incorporated with gemstones.

Nicki Minaj attended the 2018 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala on May 7, 2018, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, New York. She wore a lovely red and black dress to go with her straight and long black hair incorporated with gemstones.

Nicky Minaj attended the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 20, 2018, in New York. She complemented her sexy curves with a long and straight raven hairstyle styled into twin ponytails.

Nicky Minaj attended the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on August 20, 2018, in New York. She complimented her sexy curves with a long and straight raven hairstyle styled into twin ponytails.

On September 11, 2018, Nicki Minaj attended the runway for Oscar De La Renta during New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2019 at Spring Studios Terrace. She was seen wearing a fashion forward red and black dress to match her shoulder-length blond hairstyle with a tousled wet-look finish.

On September 11, 2018, Nicki Minaj attended the runway for Oscar De La Renta during New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2019 at Spring Studios Terrace. She was seen wearing a fashion-forward red and black dress to match her shoulder-length blond hairstyle with a tousled wet-look finish.

On May 25, 2017, Nicky Minaj flaunted her very long and straight raven loose hairstyle with a black dress at the 24th amfAR Gala Cannes at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes.

On May 25, 2017, Nicky Minaj flaunted her very long and straight raven loose hairstyle with a black dress at the 24th amfAR Gala Cannes at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Antibes.

Nicki Minaj attended the 2017 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, NY on May 1, 2017. She was seen wearing a long red gown that she paired with her very long and straight raven hair on her back.

Nicki Minaj attended the 2017 Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Benefit Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, NY on May 1, 2017. She was seen wearing a long red gown that she paired with her very long and straight raven hair on her back.

Nicki Minaj wore a body-hugging pink latex jumpsuit that she paired with her long and straight loose blond hairstyle at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards held at the Forum in Inglewood, USA on August 27, 2017.

Nicki Minaj wore a body-hugging pink latex jumpsuit that she paired with her long and straight loose blond hairstyle at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards held at The Forum in Inglewood, USA on August 27, 2017.

Nicki Minaj went with a simple make-up and wore an all-white outfit that emphasized her center-parted long and straight raven hairstyle tucked behind her ear at the TIDAL X: 1015 concert at the Barclays Center on October 15, 2016, in New York.

Nicki Minaj went with simple make-up and wore an all-white outfit that emphasized her center-parted long and straight raven hairstyle tucked behind her ear at the TIDAL X: 1015 concert at the Barclays Center on October 15, 2016, in New York.

On May 2, 2016, Nicki Minaj attended the Manus x Machina Fashion in an Age of Technology Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. She went with a black sheer outfit to pair with her side-swept curly raven hairstyle with blond highlights.

On May 2, 2016, Nicki Minaj attended the Manus x Machina Fashion in an Age of Technology Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. She went with a black sheer outfit to pair with her side-swept curly raven hairstyle with blond highlights.

On August 30 2015, Nicki Minaj paired her lovely vintage gold dress with a straight and loose raven hairstyle incorporated with blunt bangs when she attended the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater.

On August 30, 2015, Nicki Minaj paired her lovely vintage gold dress with a straight and loose raven hairstyle incorporated with blunt bangs when she attended the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater.

Nicki Minaj went with a simple yet lovely look to her black and white dress that went quite well with her straight raven long hairstyle tucked behind her ears at the 2015 BET Awards - Press Room at the Microsoft Theater on June 28, 2015 in Los Angeles, CA.

Nicki Minaj went with a simple yet lovely look to her black and white dress that went quite well with her straight raven long hairstyle tucked behind her ears at the 2015 BET Awards – Press Room at the Microsoft Theater on June 28, 2015, in Los Angeles, CA.

Nicki Minaj was in attendance at the Grammy Awards 2015 on February 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, CA. She came wearing an elegant and shiny black dress that she paired with a tousled and side-swept raven hairstyle.

Nicki Minaj was in attendance at the Grammy Awards 2015 on February 8, 2015, in Los Angeles, CA. She came wearing an elegant and shiny black dress that she paired with a tousled and side-swept raven hairstyle.

Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill were at the 2015 BET Awards - Arrivals at the Microsoft Theater on June 28, 2015 in Los Angeles, CA. Minaj wore a long black dress that emphasized her curves as well as her long and loose straight black hairstyle tucked behind her ears.

Nicki Minaj and Meek Mill were at the 2015 BET Awards – Arrivals at the Microsoft Theater on June 28, 2015 in Los Angeles, CA. Minaj wore a long black dress that emphasized her curves as well as her long and loose straight black hairstyle tucked behind her ears.

Nicki Minaj attended the The Bridge" Season 2 Premiere Screening on April 21, 2014 in Westwood, CA. She was quite charming in her white dress and straight center-parted raven hairstyle that frames her face quite well.

Nicki Minaj attended The Bridge” Season 2 Premiere Screening on April 21, 2014, in Westwood, CA. She was quite charming in her white dress and straight center-parted raven hairstyle that frames her face quite well.

Nicki Minaj paired her stunning and sexy black dress with a medium-length curly raven hairstyle loose on her shoulders with a slight side-swept look at the 2014 Billboard Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 18, 2014 in Las Vegas, NV.

Nicki Minaj paired her stunning and sexy black dress with a medium-length curly raven hairstyle loose on her shoulders with a slight side-swept look at the 2014 Billboard Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 18, 2014, in Las Vegas, NV.

Nicki Minaj attended the 2014 American Music Awards on November 23, 2014 in Los Angeles, CA. She was quite lovely in her short black dress that went quite well with her straight and loose shoulder-length bob hairstyle.

Nicki Minaj attended the 2014 American Music Awards on November 23, 2014, in Los Angeles, CA. She was quite lovely in her short black dress that went quite well with her straight and loose shoulder-length bob hairstyle.

Nicki Minaj wore a form-hugging black dress that she paired well with a side-swept wavy black hairstyle that has brown highlights at the 2014 MTV Movie Awards held at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, USA on April 13, 2014.

Nicki Minaj wore a form-hugging black dress that she paired well with a side-swept wavy black hairstyle that has brown highlights at the 2014 MTV Movie Awards held at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, USA on April 13, 2014.

Nicki Minaj was quite beautiful in her short black dress that went quite perfectly with her neat and slick bun hairstyle when she attended the Fashion Rocks at the Barclays Center on September 9, 2014 in New York.

Nicki Minaj was quite beautiful in her short black dress that went quite perfectly with her neat and slick bun hairstyle when she attended the Fashion Rocks at the Barclays Center on September 9, 2014 in New York.

Nicki Minaj went with a simple and lovely look to her short animal print dress that she paired with a shoulder-length black hairstyle that has vintage curls at the tips at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards held at the Forum in Los Angeles on August 24, 2014.

Nicki Minaj went with a simple and lovely look to her short animal print dress that she paired with a shoulder-length black hairstyle that has vintage curls at the tips at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards held at The Forum in Los Angeles on August 24, 2014.

Nicki Minaj paired her black embroidered sheer dress with a medium-length curly raven hairstyle incorporated with straight and thick blunt bangs at the FOX Winter TCA All-Star Party 2013, Langham Huntington Hotel, Pasadena, CA on January 8, 2013.

Nicki Minaj paired her black embroidered sheer dress with a medium-length curly raven hairstyle incorporated with straight and thick blunt bangs at the FOX Winter TCA All-Star Party 2013, Langham Huntington Hotel, Pasadena, CA on January 8, 2013.

Nicki Minaj paired her lovely black long dress with a straight and loose medium-length blond hairstyle that curtains her face quite well at the 2013 BET Awards at Nokia Theater L.A. Live on June 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.

Nicki Minaj paired her lovely black long dress with a straight and loose medium-length blond hairstyle that curtains her face quite well at the 2013 BET Awards at Nokia Theater L.A. Live on June 30, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.

Nicki Minaj attended the 'American Idol' Premiere Event at Royce Hall, UCLA on January 9, 2013 in Westwood, CA. She wore a colorful short dress that went well with her long and straight blond hairstyle loose on her shoulders.

Nicki Minaj attended the ‘American Idol’ Premiere Event at Royce Hall, UCLA on January 9, 2013 in Westwood, CA. She wore a colorful short dress that went well with her long and straight blond hairstyle loose on her shoulders.

Nicki Minaj paired her brilliant white sequined dress with an equally bright loose and tousled blond hairstyle with layers and curls at the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party held at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood on February 24, 2013.

Nicki Minaj paired her brilliant white sequined dress with an equally bright loose and tousled blond hairstyle with layers and curls at the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party held at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood on February 24, 2013.

Nicki Minaj was in attendance at the American Idol Season 12 Finale Press Room at the Nokia Theater at LA Live on May 16, 2013. She was seen wearing a casual ensemble outfit with a black jacket that emphasized her long and straight blond hairstyle loose on her shoulders.

Nicki Minaj was in attendance at the American Idol Season 12 Finale Press Room at the Nokia Theater at LA Live on May 16, 2013. She was seen wearing a casual ensemble outfit with a black jacket that emphasized her long and straight blond hairstyle loose on her shoulders.

On September 6, 2012, Nicky Minaj was at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards at Staples Center, Los Angeles. She wore an artistic red and black body suit that she paired with a tousled and curly yellow-dyed shoulder-length hairstyle.

On September 6, 2012, Nicky Minaj was at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards at Staples Center, Los Angeles. She wore an artistic red and black bodysuit that she paired with a tousled and curly yellow-dyed shoulder-length hairstyle.

Nicki Minaj was at the 40th Anniversary American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre LA Live on November 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA. She wore a neon green dress that she paired with a blond tousled and curly thick hairstyle.

Nicki Minaj was at the 40th Anniversary American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre LA Live on November 18, 2012, in Los Angeles, CA. She wore a neon green dress that she paired with a blond tousled and curly thick hairstyle.

Nicki Minaj performed on stage at the Alcatraz Concert in Milan, Italy on June 21, 2012. She was seen performing in a colorful outfit that she paired with a long and loose blond hairstyle with curls at the tips on her shoulders.

Nicki Minaj performed on stage at the Alcatraz Concert in Milan, Italy on June 21, 2012. She was seen performing in a colorful outfit that she paired with a long and loose blond hairstyle with curls at the tips on her shoulders.

Nicki Minaj performed on the Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza on August 14, 2012 in New York City. She paired her red body suit and red leather boots with a long and curly blond hairstyle loose on her shoulders with a slight tousled finish.

Nicki Minaj performed on the Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza on August 14, 2012, in New York City. She paired her red bodysuit and red leather boots with a long and curly blond hairstyle loose on her shoulders with a slightly tousled finish.

Nicki Minaj was at the launch of her album, Pink Friday at the Roman Reloaded at HMV in Whiteleys, London on April 19, 2012. She paired her quirky pink outfit with a pair of pink leather boots and a long blond straight hairstyle in a pink beret.

Nicki Minaj was at the launch of her album, Pink Friday at the Roman Reloaded at HMV in Whiteleys, London on April 19, 2012. She paired her quirky pink outfit with a pair of pink leather boots and a long blond straight hairstyle in a pink beret.

Nicki Minaj was at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards at the Gibson Amphitheatre, Universal Studios, Hollywood on June 5, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA. She went with a casual outfit to pair with her chin-length raven straight hairstyle with blunt bangs.

Nicki Minaj was at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards at the Gibson Amphitheatre, Universal Studios, Hollywood on June 5, 2011, in Los Angeles, CA. She went with a casual outfit to pair with her chin-length raven straight hairstyle with blunt bangs.

Nicki Minaj flaunted her hard-earned trophy at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards Press Room in Nokia Theatre LA Live, Los Angeles, CA on August 28, 2011. She wore an artistic and colorful outfit that she paired with an equally colorful beehive bun hairstyle with bangs.

Nicki Minaj flaunted her hard-earned trophy at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards Press Room in Nokia Theatre LA Live, Los Angeles, CA on August 28, 2011. She wore an artistic and colorful outfit that she paired with an equally colorful beehive bun hairstyle with bangs.

Nicki Minaj was at the 2011 Grammy Awards on February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA. She wore an animal print sheer body suit to pair with her unique Frankenstein's bride beehive blond hairstyle dyed with black and animal print at the base.

Nicki Minaj was at the 2011 Grammy Awards on February 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA. She wore an animal print sheer bodysuit to pair with her unique Frankenstein’s bride beehive blond hairstyle dyed with black and animal print at the base.

Nicki Minaj was in attendance at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. She wore a blue outfit to match her long and curly dyed pink hairstyle loose and tousled on her shoulders with a slight side-swept finish.

Nicki Minaj was in attendance at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. She wore a blue outfit to match her long and curly dyed pink hairstyle loose and tousled on her shoulders with a slight side-swept finish.

Nicki Minaj walked the red carpet of the 2011 iHeartRadio Music Festival on September 24, 2011 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. She came wearing a colorful vintage outfit that she paired with pink accessories and a tousled curly platinum hairstyle with blunt blond bangs.

Nicki Minaj walked the red carpet of the 2011 iHeartRadio Music Festival on September 24, 2011, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. She came wearing a colorful vintage outfit that she paired with pink accessories and a tousled curly platinum hairstyle with blunt blond bangs.

Nicki Minaj performed on the runway during the 2011 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at the Lexington Avenue Armory on November 9, 2011 in New York City. She was seen with a colorful and artistic outfit with her pink-dyed curly shoulder-length hairstyle.

Nicki Minaj performed on the runway during the 2011 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show at the Lexington Avenue Armory on November 9, 2011, in New York City. She was seen with a colorful and artistic outfit with her pink-dyed curly shoulder-length hairstyle.

Nicki Minaj attended the 2011 American Music Awards Nominations Press Conference at the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE on October 11, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA. She was quite stunning in her sexy and colorful outfit to pair with her blue and white long hairstyle with blunt bangs.

Nicki Minaj attended the 2011 American Music Awards Nominations Press Conference at the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE on October 11, 2011, in Los Angeles, CA. She was quite stunning in her sexy and colorful outfit to pair with her blue and white long hairstyle with blunt bangs.

Nicki Minaj was at the 2011 American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles on November 20, 2011 Los Angeles, CA. She wore a black and green lovely dress with her shoulder-length curly tousled pink hairstyle.

Nicki Minaj was at the 2011 American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles on November 20, 2011, Los Angeles, CA. She wore a black and green lovely dress with her shoulder-length curly tousled pink hairstyle.

Nicki Minaj went with a simple and casual look to her ensemble outfit and chin-length straight blond hairstyle with blunt bangs at the Samsung Infuse 4G For AT&T Launch Event at Milk Studios on May 12, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA.

Nicki Minaj went with a simple and casual look to her ensemble outfit and chin-length straight blond hairstyle with blunt bangs at the Samsung Infuse 4G For AT&T Launch Event at Milk Studios on May 12, 2011, in Los Angeles, CA.

Nicki Minaj wore a pair of gray leggings with her purple striped dress and chin-length raven hairstyle with blunt bangs at the 11th Annual BET Awards at Shrine Auditorium on June 26, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA.

Nicki Minaj wore a pair of gray leggings with her purple striped dress and chin-length raven hairstyle with blunt bangs at the 11th Annual BET Awards at Shrine Auditorium on June 26, 2011, in Los Angeles, CA.

Nicki Minaj was quite lovely in her bright dress and straight layered pink hairstyle with blunt bangs at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards Press Room, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles, CA on August 12, 2010.

Nicki Minaj was quite lovely in her bright dress and straight layered pink hairstyle with blunt bangs at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards Press Room, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles, CA on August 12, 2010.

Nicki Minaj celebrated her 26th Birthday Party at the TAO Nightclub at The Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV on December 9, 2010. She wore a bejeweled sheer outfit with pearls to pair with her long and straight white hairstyle that has blunt bangs.

Nicki Minaj celebrated her 26th Birthday Party at the TAO Nightclub at The Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV on December 9, 2010. She wore a bejeweled sheer outfit with pearls to pair with her long and straight white hairstyle that has blunt bangs.

Nicki Minaj attended the 2010 American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles on November 21, 2010 Los Angeles, CA. She came wearing a colorful artistic dress that she paired with her long and straight white hair with green dye at the tips and blunt tousled bangs.

Nicki Minaj attended the 2010 American Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles on November 21, 2010, Los Angeles, CA. She came wearing a colorful artistic dress that she paired with her long and straight white hair with green dye at the tips and blunt tousled bangs.

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