I reckon there might be a clause in a boyband’s contract that at least one boybander must fuck about with different hairstyles once a firm fan base is established. Quite often they were either the second lead or the first to jump ship, after which they would get the clippers and take everything off in a middle finger move to former management.
exhibit 1 (above); Zayn Malik. In & out of 1D, that glorious dark hair was thinned for a textbook first gen faux hawk, blown back and brush rolled for a number of quiffs, streaked and loosely curled for a jelly roll, slicked but for a strand for a cry baby, undercut with a top knot, and more. On leaving 1D, the hair went, came, went, went, came, came, came, came… I dunno how many times, but he’s sure had fun with a variety of long and short.
further examples; Robbie Williams of Take That^, Shane Lynch of Boyzone, Nicky Byrne of Westlife, Matt Willis of Busted, Harry Judd of McFly, Scott Robinson of 5ive, Brian Harvey of East 17, Keith Flint of The Prodigy (ok, not strictly a boyband….but they were all male), Duncan James of Blue, Aston Merrygold of JLS, Jaymi Hensley of Union J, Jay McGuinness of The Wanted.
And it didn’t stop with the UK, Backstreet Boy Nick Carter cut the curtains for some spikier styles, Justin Timberlake tossed off the spaghetti noodles for scruffier crewcuts, buzzed, and straightened and slicked back. I’m sure there are plenty more of lesser worldwide fame that could be added to the list too.
(^Jason Orange sported a very fetching low hawk during TT’s earlier heights of fame, while Howard Donald grew out his curly curtains and went for shoulder length dreadlocks around the same time. But otherwise neither had too many other noticeable deviations.)