The Hair Era That Raised Me...

This is Torey Butts, Master Barber-Stylist and salon owner of BLAQUE Beauty Salon in Greenville, Mississippi. Widely regarded as the GOAT in our hair community, Torey’s work was untouchable—immaculate, precise, and always ahead of its time. As a young stylist coming up, I looked up to him heavy. Nobody could imitate his work, and believe me, they tried. I’m beyond grateful he let me capture these moments.

A full spotlight on Torey coming soon—because legends deserve their flowers while they can still smell 'em. 💈✂️🖤

A Southern Girl’s Journey Through Early 2000s Hair Trends

Let me tell y’all something right now: the early 2000s hair trends are alive, well, and STILL shaking up the game in 2025.

I’m from Greenville, Mississippi. I came up in the early 90s the age of relaxers, roller wraps, and microwave ponytails. Back then? Baby… wearing wigs or weaves got you called weaved-head real quick. Folks would straight clown you in school. But let’s be real—we were still slaying.

A very crunchy french roll.. a staple in the black relaxed communtiy int he 90s..

NOW THIS IS A FRENCH ROLL!!

Yes lord.. A ROLLER WRAP WILL ALWYS BE TEA!

From Shame to Slay: The Evolution of Weaves

Weaves went from being lowkey embarrassing to a full-blown art form. I remember gluing in tracks with my real hair and blending it with just ONE pack of hair. And it would LAST, okay? We took care of our styles back then. My first style ever was a microwave ponytail. Then came pin-curl ponies, barrel curls, tucks, buns, and yes—the iconic Chinese balls.

By the late ’90s, we were in full Pump It Up mode. Our styles were holding like our lives depended on it. Gone were the Jheri curls of the early ’90s; now it was about asymmetrical cuts, roller sets, and wraps sculpted into perfection. No flat irons—just setting lotion, a good wrap, and some skills.

Babyyy, she would’ve shut Greenville High DOWN on picture day in this! 🔥

This here? A pin barrel curl ponytail with a deep swoop and two pieces in the front—exactly how you had to say it when you was tryna book this style back in the day.

The Impact of Music Videos

We didn’t have Instagram or TikTok. We had BET and music videos. That was our fashion show, our inspiration board. If you saw a girl in a video with a bangin’ style, best believe you were showing your stylist that VHS pause screen saying, “I want this one.”

And we made it our own—Greenville style. Just because it was in a video didn’t mean it was global. We took those trends and gave them local flavor.

YALL MISSY HAD US IN CHOKE HOLD!! HAD ME WANTING FINGER WAVES AT 14 YEARS OLD!

The Rise of the Sew-In

Weave styles evolved into updos, then into ponytails, and then came the sew-ins. By 2006, I was experimenting with my sister’s prom hair. I didn’t know how to sew in right, but baby—I got it done. No YouTube, no tutorials. Just vibes, trial-and-error, and me figuring it out with my hands.

From 2007 to 2010, sew-ins swept the nation. The frontals were out. Nobody wanted glue anymore—you could just sew it in and keep it pushin’. That’s when hair packs went from $25 to $100 and up. We started getting bougie with it—name brands only. You had to find the right brand that didn’t tangle and shed like a cat.

TRIGGER WARNING.. this is not a sew-in this is an invisible part. and we dont want it to come back!!

Then around 2012? We found bundle hair on YouTube. Game-changer. Higher quality, better installs, and we all became mini-hair scientists, figuring out what worked and what didn’t.

Back when YouTube was just getting its footing in the hair world, FABalosity was that girl. She was one of the first people I saw really talk about bundles, like—GENUINE virgin hair, not beauty supply remy wrapped in gold foil. She introduced me (and half the hair world) to the concept of premium weave.

ABalosity Is HER… Literally. 💁🏾‍♀️

A few weeks after watching one of her videos, I was obsessed. Like, plotting. I was trying to figure out how to purchase this hair, what vendor she used, how to measure bundles, and which textures lasted longest. I didn’t have a business yet, but my mind was already moving.

Not long after, my own clients started asking, “Where you get that hair from?” Sis… my list was lined up before I ever placed my first order. 😂

FABalosity didn’t just give reviews—she sparked a whole movement. And the way she styled, colored, curled, and laid those bundles? Legendary.

More on her impact coming soon in a dedicated spotlight, because she paved the way for so many of us to not only wear bundles—but to own our hair business dreams.

And That’s Just the Start...

I could go on forever, but let me wrap it here before this becomes a hair memoir. 😅 Just know: the hair trends that shaped us back then? They’re still in rotation today. Styles change, but Black girl innovation? That’s forever.

Stay tuned for part two, cause I haven’t even gotten into quick weaves, invisible parts, and the moment lace fronts snuck in and took over the world.