He’s a chameleon. One day Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio is rocking a buzz cut with literal hair designs shaved into the side, and the next, he’s showing up to a red carpet looking like he just stepped out of a 1970s San Juan surf shop. But there is something specific about Bad Bunny with curly hair that hits different for his fans. It isn't just a style choice. It’s a return to form.
Most people first met Benito during the "Trap King" era. You remember it—the neon sunglasses, the third eye painted on his forehead, and that ultra-clean, almost aerodynamic shaved head. It was sleek. It was futuristic. Then, things shifted. As his music moved from the gritty underground trap of La Nueva Religión toward the global pop-fusion of Un Verano Sin Ti, his hair grew out. The curls emerged.
Honestly, the transition felt symbolic.
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The image of Bad Bunny with curly hair became synonymous with a specific kind of Caribbean pride. In many Latin American communities, there’s been a long-standing, complicated relationship with "pelo malo" (bad hair). By letting his natural texture fly—often messy, often hydrated, sometimes tucked under a trucker hat—Benito signaled a move away from the rigid grooming standards of the early 2010s. He made looking "natural" the ultimate luxury.
The Evolution of the Curl: From Buzz Cuts to Ringlets
If you track his career through his grooming, you can actually see his confidence growing. Early on, the buzz cut was a shield. It was the uniform of the genre. But by the time he dropped YHLQMDLG, we started seeing the top get a little longer. He was experimenting.
By the Un Verano Sin Ti era, the transformation was complete. That album was a love letter to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, and nothing says "beach day in Rincón" like salt-crusted, sun-kissed curls. Fans went feral for it. TikTok was flooded with tutorials on how to get the "Bad Bunny curl," with guys suddenly realizing that they didn't need to cut their hair every two weeks to look sharp.
It’s kinda funny how a hairstyle can change a person's entire aura. With the short hair, he looked like a menace (in the best way possible). With the curls, he looked like a poet. He looked like someone who stayed up until 5:00 AM talking about life on a balcony in Santurce.
Why the Texture Matters
We have to talk about the "Mofongo Curls." That’s what some fans affectionately call the look when it’s at its most chaotic and voluminous. It isn't just about aesthetics; it’s about visibility. For a long time, the leading men in reggaeton and Latin trap followed a very specific "macho" blueprint. Short hair. Sharp lines.
Benito broke that.
He paired those natural curls with sundresses, painted nails, and crop tops. He proved that you can have "soft" hair and still be the biggest artist on the planet. He showed that masculinity isn't a monolith.
How to Get the Bad Bunny With Curly Hair Look (According to Stylists)
Look, you can't just wake up and look like Benito. Well, he might, but for the rest of us, it takes work. If you've been searching for how to replicate Bad Bunny with curly hair, you’ve probably realized it's all about the "Low Taper Fade."
This is the secret sauce.
The sides are kept tight—not necessarily bald, but clean—while the top is left long enough to coil. You need length. You need patience. You also need a lot of moisture. Most guys mess this up by using 3-in-1 shampoo that dries out the follicle.
- Step 1: The Cut. Ask for a low taper. Don't let them touch the top. You want that "weight" so the curls hang naturally rather than sticking straight up like a 90s troll doll.
- Step 2: Hydration. Curly hair is thirsty. Use a sulfate-free shampoo. If you're not using a leave-in conditioner, you've already lost the battle.
- Step 3: The "Scrunch." When your hair is damp, apply a curl cream. Scrunch it upward. Do not—under any circumstances—use a fine-tooth comb once it’s dry. You'll turn into a puffball.
The goal is "effortless." Even though we all know it took twenty minutes in front of the mirror.
The Maintenance Reality
It’s high maintenance to look this low maintenance.
Benito often sports a "wet look" during performances. This usually involves a mix of sea salt spray and a light-hold gel. It mimics the look of just coming out of the ocean. It’s evocative. It smells like sunscreen and expensive cologne.
Beyond the Aesthetic: The Politics of Hair
There is a deeper layer here. It's about Afro-Latino identity and the rejection of European beauty standards. While Benito himself identifies as white/mestizo, his embrace of natural textures in a genre rooted in Black culture matters. It’s a nod to the roots of reggaeton.
In the past, many artists felt pressured to "clean up" their look to cross over into the American market. They wanted to look "polished." Benito did the opposite. He got more "raw" as he got bigger. He wore his hair in braids, in bantu knots, and in those wild, free curls.
He didn't change for the Grammys. He made the Grammys change for him.
The Most Iconic "Curly Benito" Moments
We can't talk about this without mentioning the 2023 Coachella performance. The wind was hitting those curls perfectly. He looked like a titan. Or the "Where She Goes" music video, where the curls were tucked under a cowboy hat, creating this weird, beautiful Western-meets-Caribbean vibe.
Then there was the Met Gala. Even when he’s in high-fashion, custom Jacquemus or Maison Margiela, the hair remains the focal point. It grounds the high-fashion absurdity in something real.
Is the Curly Era Over?
Lately, we’ve seen him go back to shorter styles for his Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Mañana era. It’s the "Pony" era. He’s back to his roots—literally. The shaved head returned, signaling a return to the "bad" Bad Bunny. The trap Benito.
But the fans? They’re still mourning the curls.
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Every time he posts a grainy Instagram story where a single stray curl is visible under a cap, the internet loses its mind. It represents a specific window of time—2021 to 2023—where he felt the most accessible. The most human.
What This Means for Your Style
If you're thinking about growing out your hair to match the Bad Bunny with curly hair vibe, do it. But do it right.
Understand that your curl pattern might not be exactly like his. That’s fine. The "Bad Bunny" way isn't about carbon-copying his DNA; it’s about the attitude. It’s about the "I don't give a damn" energy. It’s about wearing your hair in a way that feels honest to you, regardless of whether it fits the traditional "suit and tie" mold.
Actionable Tips for Curly Hair Success
- Stop washing your hair every day. It strips the oils. Twice a week is plenty.
- Invest in a satin pillowcase. Sounds extra? Maybe. But it prevents your curls from frizzing out while you sleep.
- Find a barber who actually knows how to cut curls. Most barbers are great at fades but panic when they see a ringlet. Look for someone who specializes in texture.
- Air dry whenever possible. Heat is the enemy. Let the air do the work.
Bad Bunny proved that hair is a language. Whether it's shaved, braided, or curly, it tells a story of where he is and where he’s going. The curly era might be on a hiatus, but its impact on men's grooming and cultural expression in the Latin space is permanent.
Benito changed the game by simply letting his hair grow. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most radical thing you can do is just be yourself, frizz and all. Go buy some leave-in conditioner and let it grow. Your hair will thank you.