The Definitive "Cosby Show" 30th Anniversary Hair Retrospective

In honor of the show's 30th anniversary, we take a look back at some of the Huxtables' most memorable hairstyles.

Sep 19, 2014
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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Image via Complex Original

Before you were keeping up with the Kardashians, there was another family that you looked to religiously: the Huxtables. The Cosby Show, home to the Huxtable clan, could do no wrong in the eyes of America. For eight seasons, Clair and Cliff raised their five children and their millions of viewers, collectively teaching us all valuable lessons that transcended across generations. Not only did the family teach us a thing or two about life, but it also put its two cents in about style. In honor of The Cosby Show’s 30th anniversary, here is a look back at 15 iconic hair moments during the 202-episode run.

The Shag

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Who: Theo

The only son of the Huxtable clan sported the shag during the show’s opening season in 1984. Long before Kanye rocked this “mullet” in 2009, Theo did it first.

The Flattop

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Who: Theo

Theo rocked his shag relentlessly for the first three seasons. Although in 1986, he decided to give it a break and get with the times. His flattop made its debut in the middle of Season 3, where he sported a modest version of the hairstyle.

The Dye Job

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Who: Theo

With the opening credits of Season 6, Theo got fancy on us. He went back to his flattop, this time with a reverse ombré. Once he cut the flattop, he kept his color, sporting a brown head of hair.

The Gumby

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Who: Theo

Theo’s Gumby was debatable. It wasn’t quiet as dramatic as the others floating around in ’89, but it was pretty darn close. The sloping haircut was something new for this Huxtable, albeit very short-lived.

The TWA

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Who: Vanessa

For those of you unfamiliar with the language of naturals, Vanessa definitely had the ending stage of a TWA (Teeny Weeny Afro). Vanessa debuted her natural hair during the opening credits of Season 5. She took an edge to her small ’fro and rocked a bold cut.

The Curly Puffs

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Who: Vanessa

Vanessa, full of sass, had hair with just as much personality as she possessed herself. Her curly puffs captured her innocence and her ability to seem like a little woman in training. These ’70s-inspired curls were her styling staple during the first season.

The Long Tresses

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Who: Vanessa

A head full of long curls was a right of passage for Vanessa. She started hanging around the college scene and this brought her hair journey full circle. The young girl who was full of sass with the baby curls was now a full-grown woman with a full head of beautiful tendrils.

The Plaits

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Who: Rudy

It was only right that the baby of the bunch would wear her signature plaits, making it hard to find her anything but adorable. Worn in two or three braids, Rudy looked like the little girl you saw on the swings in the playground.

The Massive Puff

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Who: Rudy

Throughout the series Rudy gave us a bit of puff action, but her puff demanded attention in Season 4. Rudy wasn’t the little four-year-old anymore, and the baby of the family had grown up on us, outgrowing her braids in the process.

The Bang

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Who: Denise

It wouldn’t be an accurate portrayal of the ’80s without big hair, and Denise’s bang was larger than life.

The Pixie

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Who: Denise

For Season 2, Denise ditched her oversized bang and cut it all off in lieu of a pixie cut. Before there was Toni, Halle, or Rihanna, Lisa Bonet did the short hair justice.

The Dreads

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Who: Denise

After Denise takes a job in Africa, she comes back as a new woman, equipped with a husband and stepdaughter. Her homecoming wasn’t complete without her waist-length dreads, a total change from her previous looks.

The Mom 'Do

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Who: Clair

Clair’s hair was always amazing. The right amount of volume mixed with the right amount of curl provided an effortless look for the mother of five. It was truly a mother’s hairstyle: not too much glitz or glamour, yet still elegant.

The Bun

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Who: Olivia

Denise’s stepdaughter Olivia filled the void of the cute toddler role. Instead of Rudy’s iconic braids, Olivia’s signature bun gave her an innocent aura. Her hair, usually pulled up, showed her expressive eyes, which made her punch lines ten times funnier.

The Side Part

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Who: Kenny

Kenny, better known as Bud, had all the advice on women. His brother made sure to keep him hip. We’re guessing his brother kept him on trend with his side part, too.

TV ShowsThe Cosby ShowBill CosbyTelevision

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