This year’s standout photo stories oscillated between the loudest and quietest of spaces, from sweaty basement venues in Glasgow and euphoric London raves to quiet New York apartment bathrooms. Judging by Dazed Beauty readers’ favourites, it seems we were all attuned to themes of identity, community and radical self-expression in 2024. And what could be more expressive than a playful exploration of pubic hair, the chaotic moshpits of a heavy metal festival, or a performance art-meets-Japanese women’s wrestling showdown?

Here, we've rounded up seven of the best-performing beauty photo stories from 2024. 

MOTHERLAND

Pubes in any form you can imagine: braided, dyed or styled. That’s what Motherland, an exhibition in Paris, explored earlier this year, showcasing pubic hair through a playful and empowering lens. By embracing pubic hair as a symbol of self-expression, the exhibition broke down stigmas surrounding it. Created by an all-women team, with make-up by Lynski, the gallery presented an intimate portrayal of womanhood.

BEAUTY AT DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL

Straight from the moshpits, photographer Caitlin Chescoe captured the DIY styles at the 2024 Download Festival. In line with their rejection of all things conventional, Chescoe’s images spotlight the community spirit that thrives in the heavy music scene. Expect greyscale tattoos, piercings and a lot of dyed hair.

PONYBOY

Outside of one of Glasgow’s basement venues, a pocket of queer community spills out. Their faces are flushed with smudged face paint, prosthetics and sweat as they queue for another LGBTQ+ centred club spectacle by the Scottish beauty collective, Ponyboy. Here, photographers Spit and El Hogg give us a ticket into the hedonistic world at the event Clubkid – click for provocative slogan t-shirts, string vests and barely-there bras.

FKA TWIGS PERFORMANCE

FKA twigs consecrated the beginning of her Eusexua era with rave performance art in an industrial London venue. Twigs was joined on stage by SFX make-up artist Tilda Mace, who painted shapes onto twigs’s body in a mesmerising ritual, captured by photographer Roma Joana.

ALL THE GIRLS

Janaiah Lloyd’s photo series, All the Girls, captures intimate moments of girlhood that unfold in bathroom spaces. Focusing on hair care, beauty rituals and the emotional bonds shared in these spaces, Lloyd sheds light on the often-overlooked experiences of women of colour.

MISS AMERICANA

With exaggerated wigs and pageant-style make-up, this shoot pays tribute to the spirit of Americana. Led by photographer Lewis Vorn and make-up artist Aimee Twist, musician Aimee Gillingwater embodies a glamorous old Hollywood-inspired figure. Channelling the aesthetics of stars like Dolly Parton and Lana Del Rey, the team recreates three classic archetypes of the all-American girl.

SUKEBAN

Facepaint, neon hair extensions, and a whole lot of latex – Sukeban, the Japanese women’s wrestling league, made their London debut and Dazed was there to capture it all. Combining the entertainment and sport of wrestling with exaggerated beauty looks by Pat McGrath and Andrew Dahling, the wrestlers took to the ring for a sweaty night of fighting, documented by photographer Gracie Brackstone.