How to Lay Your Edges Like a Pro
A look at the story of edges—where they began and where they’re headed.
In 2018, Ravyn Lenae released “The Night Song,” a slinky R&B tune with a chorus that goes: “Hair down, feeling alright / Got my edges on tight, it’s a party tonight.” That song would often come on my playlist as I was getting ready for nights out while at university. It always felt like a good omen to get my baby hairs exactly how I wanted them while Lenae’s soft voice sang the refrain. But beyond being a getting-ready anthem, the song taps into something deeper. Edges aren’t just a finishing touch; they’re intentional strokes of self-expression that carry cultural weight.
Predominantly popular in Black and Brown culture, edges—also known as baby hairs—are the delicate face-framing hairs that are swooped, swirled or slicked back with gel or pomade. Depending on how they are executed, they can add extra flair to a look, help make it more natural or completely transform it.
Photography courtesy of @amazingishgrace via Instagram
The origins of the style are often attributed to Josephine Baker, whose signature look—a sleek pixie cut with finger waves and gelled-down swooped sideburns—became iconic in the 1920s. At a time when Black beauty wasn’t valued and was rarely centred in mainstream culture, Baker’s look wasn’t just glamorous; it was radical.
Today, edge styling is still a part of many beauty routines (like mine and, apparently, Lenae’s). For some, edges are about polish; for others, finesse. But regardless of how they’re laid, they operate as a visual language that communicates care and confidence.
That language was on full display at the 2025 Met Gala, where Black dandyism set the tone and edges became a deliberate styling choice. Teyana Taylor, Whitney Peak and A$AP Rocky were just some of the many attendees who wore their hair in styles with prominent edges, in keeping with the evening’s theme. More recently, at this year’s Grammy Awards, Summer House star Ciara Miller styled her cornrows with big swooped edges, while Love Island USA’s Leah Kateb added an edges-inspired slicked-down kiss-curl to her blowout. Ayo Edebiri wore a similar style at the Golden Globes.
But what are the best techniques to achieve this look? And how do we do it without creating damage? Because while edges may be small, they are delicate, and excessive styling, friction and product use can lead to breakage, a receding hairline and—at its worst—traction alopecia. Pro hairstylists Koni Bennett and Takisha Sturdivant-Drew share their advice.
Advice from Takisha Sturdivant-Drew
Sturdivant-Drew is a hairstylist to A-Listers like Chase Infiniti, Tessa Thompson and Kerry Washington. In her words, read some of what she has to say.
On the growing popularity: “Edges have always been around, but I’d say over the past four to five years, they’ve become a hit. Because people realize how much they can sculpt and create with their edges—whether it’s a swoop, finger waves or a middle part with an S- or C-curl coming down the face. I mean, I love a slayed edge, as I like to call it.”
On the unconventional way she achieves the perfect swoop: “My hair is naturally curly. And the more experienced I became with it, I realized that I could shape my edges with conditioner to make them hold longer. I don’t always use edge control; I put the conditioner in and rub it all along my edges. Then I just brush my hairline down and shape it with a toothbrush. And that’s how I like to lay my edges at times. It keeps my hair healthy.”
On edges being a form of self-expression: “If you go to a party and you’re like, ‘I want to be super edgy,’ you can go crazy with your edges. Or if it’s a work party and you want to be kind of reserved, you know, you can pull back some. If you want to be expensive and chic, give a peekaboo of an edge instead of going crazy. There are so many ways to dress your hair up or down, to have fun and to party with it.”
On her favourite look of edges she’s done on a client: “My favourite look would be on my client and Toronto native Nesta Cooper. She is so beautiful and has naturally curly hair. I love working with her because she’s always like: ‘Play with my edges! Give me my twirls, curls and waves.’ So I give her all of these twisty S-curl edges because she likes to have fun.”
Advice from Koni Bennett
Bennett is a beauty expert and hairstylist to celebrities like Jordyn woods, Ciara Miller and WNBA Star A’ja Wilson. These are some of the ways she maintains the perfect edge.
On her introduction to edges: “Growing up in Harlem, I saw women wearing their hair mainly two ways: They would either get a silk press or go to an African braiding salon. And I saw them styling the baby hairs that would grow out of their braids. That was my first introduction to how you can be creative with your hair or how it can help define your individual style.”
On how to keep edges intact all day: “Actively apply heat to get the best result on textured hair. Using a blow-dryer to heat up the gel allows the style to dry stiff, firm and quickly, which will ensure the hair doesn’t revert to its kinky texture. If your hair doesn’t hold a pattern or curl, you’re free to let it air-dry and you’ll get a beautiful, glossy finish.”
On keeping edges healthy: “More important than styling the hair is preserving it. If you want beautiful, full, luscious baby hairs, you have to treat them well when you’re not styling them. No matter what style you’re sporting, the most important precursor is starting with balanced and hydrated hair, especially for coarser or thicker textures.”
Get the Look
Koni Bennett’s and Takisha Sturdivant-Drew’s must-have products for laying (and slaying!) your edges.
Ebonie is a writer with a keen interest in fashion, beauty, and pop culture, who is interested in how each of those things interact with—and influence—the societies we live in. In addition to FASHION, she has words in Refinery29: Unbothered, S Magazine, SHARP, Elle Canada, and Bully Magazine. When she’s not writing, she’s probably reading, eating, or strolling (she’s very much trying to spend less time scrolling).
Fashion FWD:
The next best thing to being a fashion editor - BTS access to trends, products & news.