The durag has climbed to great heights in mainstream fashion, but has always been a prominent piece for wavers and the Black population. In the beginning, the durag was specifically functional and primarily used by Black people for waving their hair. Fast forward to the modern day, and the durag prevails. Not only is the durag an essential hair tool for wavers, but also a fashion trend that is embraced universally.
The durag was not always embraced, however. In 2001, the NFL banned players from wearing durags, and the NBA followed close in their footsteps, banning durags in 2005. The stigmatization of the durag was notable during this time in the early 2000’s. Some middle and high schools even went to the extent of forbidding the headpiece from their grounds. Due to the negative stereotypes surrounding durags during this era, they fell out of popularity and public sight. A decade later, the durag began its climb back into the spotlight.
What sparked this shift? The durag’s resurgence is credited to the Black community’s unceasing support and celebrity voices who worked to redefine it once again. Which celebrities played a leading role in the resurgence of the durag? Keep reading to find out. Veeta has researched and compiled a list of four major celebrities that pushed the durag back into acceptance and adoration.
1. Allen Iverson
One person who advocated for durags and helped bring them back into fruition was Allen Iverson. Iverson, a former professional basketball player, wore braids that he would often accessorize with a silky or satin durag for fashion and functional purposes. He would wear the durag during basketball games, televised interviews and in day to day life. Being a prominent figure in professional sports, Iverson’s consistent wearing of the durag was influential for the culture and promoted the overall acceptance of it.
2. Rihanna
Another celebrity who pushed the durag back into popularity is Rihanna. In 2014, Rihanna advocated the durag in a fashion-forward and luxurious way, stunting a crystalized durag to her CFDA Fashion Icon Award ceremony. She accepted her award and showed the world that the durag is a head piece that can, in fact, be elegant and iconic. Fast forward two years later to 2016, and Rihanna was back in action, rocking a durag during her performance of “Rude Boy” at the VMA’s. The next year, during her Fenty X Puma fashion show, Rihanna embellished her models in durags as well. By continuing to push the durag into the spotlight, Rihanna worked to redefine the durag as a specialty, stylish headpiece.
3. A$AP Ferg
Famous rapper A$AP Ferg has consistently supported durag rights and constantly wears them to private and public events. Whether that be an award ceremony, interview, sports game or performance, at the Paris Fashion Week or at Jimbo’s on 126th and Amsterdam, Ferg is renowned for his durag style. Ferg’s 2017 hit album, Still Striving, features a cover art image of him rocking a durag. Ferg even teamed up with GQ and made a tutorial video about how to properly tie a durag. Having worn durags since he was 7 or 8 years old, Ferg’s passion for durags and the culture behind it provides him as an impactful voice in the durag movement.
4. Solange
Last but certainly not least is famous singer Solange, who is arguably one of the most influential women of color known today. Solange, the younger sister of Beyoncé, has made several impactful statements about the durag, one of her most notable appearances being at the 2018 Met Gala. Solange had all heads turning when she showed up to the “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” -themed event. She wore a stunning, halo-shaped durag with “MY GOD WEARS A DURAG” embroidered down the back. Solange made more than a fashion statement wearing this prominent durag headpiece to the Met Gala: Solange’s durag was her way of bringing attention to the influence of Black religion and the durag’s cultural importance in Black culture. Her famed sister, Beyonce, is another strong voice that has made an impact on the durag resurgence, having included the headpiece in her and Jay-Z’s music video, Apes**t.
