From Afros to Curls, 'Michael' Puts the King of Pop's Iconic Hair Evolution on Screen
The biographical film 'Michael' has captivated global audiences while examining the signature styles that defined the King of Pop from 1966 through 1988. Through performances by Juliano Krue Valdi and Jaafar Jackson, the production highlights Michael Jackson's musical legacy alongside the memorable hairstyles that shaped each era of his career.
Since arriving in theaters on April 24, the biographical drama 'Michael' has climbed to become the second-highest-grossing biopic in box office history, according to reporting by HelloBeautiful. Capturing the life and career of Michael Jackson between 1966 and 1988, the project has resonated widely with audiences, earning the cast and creative team the Gotham Musical Tribute at the 36th Annual Gotham Film Awards Ceremony, as initially reported by Variety. Beyond the music and choreography, the film brings renewed attention to Jackson's distinct personal styling, which served as a cultural marker for generations of fans.
The production divides Jackson's formative and peak creative periods between two performers. Actor Juliano Krue Valdi portrays the entertainer during his childhood years with the Jackson 5, providing his own vocal performances for early Motown classics such as 'Who's Loving You' and 'I Want You Back,' a milestone the young performer detailed in an interview with CNN. As the story transitions into Jackson's teenage and young adult years, his nephew Jaafar Jackson assumes the role, delivering a performance that HelloBeautiful notes captures the late icon's physical presence and vocal spirit.
Across this timeline, Jackson's hairstyles track his artistic reinventions. Viewers watch the progression from the natural, structured afros of the Jackson 5 era in the late 1960s and 1970s to the defined Jheri curl and later wet-and-wavy aesthetics that anchored his solo supremacy. The film also documents a pivotal and traumatic moment in Jackson's life: the filming of a 1984 Pepsi commercial. During production, a pyrotechnic device detonated behind Jackson, causing severe hair loss as well as second- and third-degree burns across his scalp.
As documented by USA Today and cited by HelloBeautiful, the severe injury required surgery three months later to eliminate scar tissue, permanently shifting his hair care regimen and personal health journey. While later signature textures such as his flowy silk press fall outside the film's 1988 boundary, Jackson's evolving hair remains intrinsically tied to his catalog. Archival moments cited by HelloBeautiful, including his 1975 London stage performance, his 1988 'Bad' tour run at Madison Square Garden, and his 1989 appearances at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, highlight how deeply his visual identity resonated with the global public. The biopic honors that visual journey as an indelible piece of cultural history.