What’s the obsession with renaming Black hairstyles?

I was scrolling on Instagram when I saw a graphic from HelloBeautiful titled “Vogue Renamed The Afro A ‘Cloud Bob’ And Black Women Aren’t Having It.” I went to see for myself and instantly rolled my eyes. The image of Tracee Ellis Ross labeled ‘Cloud Bob’ has since been removed, but I’m still confused.

The article lists 16 “flattering haircuts for thick hair” and includes various styles, from feathery layers to long layers with curtain bangs. For those styles, the images are mostly accurate. What I don’t understand is why Vogue called Ellis’s Afro a Cloud Bob instead of using its real name. They’ve written an article before defining this so-called new cut, but the images don’t match that description; they’re describing an Afro.

One of the first results on Google when I typed “Vogue Cloud Bob” was a Vogue piece from September 2025 about how to wear the style, calling it “Fall’s breeziest haircut.”

I do not see an Afro like Tracee Ellis Ross’s in this story, so why was it used in the list? Vogue spoke to hairstylist Tom Smith in the 2025 article, who defined the Cloud Bob as “a short-to-mid-length cut defined by its ethereal sensibility. It’s a rounded haircut with a soft, airy silhouette.” That’s an Afro.

The images in the story show regular, fluffy hair that is not round. They’re mixing the two up, and yes, it is a big deal.

I was mesmerized by Afros on TV.

Growing up watching classic Black productions, I always admired beautiful, thick, round hair. Without yet knowing what the cut was officially called. The first time I saw an Afro was while watching reruns of shows and movies with characters like Foxy Brown and Thelma Evans from the ‘70s. If you go back and watch Blaxploitation movies from that time and episodes of Soul Train, you’ll see everyone was sporting a clean fro, and a hairpick wasn’t too far away.

A style, but also a statement

Before Afros became a fashion trend, they were a statement for something much more powerful. An EBONY article from 2017 touches on this perfectly. It says that in the 60s, the look “quickly emerged as a symbol for Black beauty, liberation and pride.”

I protect my hair with braids and extensions, but in its natural state, it’s an Afro. Its name is history, culture, and pride. No rebranding from Vogue or anyone else will ever change that.

Header image credit: Alexandre Canteiro/Habib Musliu from Pexels via Canva Pro