Ariana Grande, a pop icon known for her vocal prowess and signature high ponytail, has constantly reinvented herself throughout her career. While her classic ponytail remains a defining symbol, her hairstyles have undergone a remarkable transformation, showcasing a diverse range of colors, textures, and styles. This article delves into the fascinating evolution of Ariana Grande's hair, from the damaging effects of her early acting days to her current embrace of natural textures and experimental styles.
Grande's journey began with her role as Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon shows Victorious and Sam & Cat. To achieve Cat's signature bright red hair color, Grande had to bleach and dye her hair approximately every other week. This intense chemical process severely damaged her hair, leading to a loss of her natural curl pattern and overall hair health. The constant bleaching and dyeing took a toll, leaving her hair brittle and prone to breakage.
In 2013, Grande began transitioning away from the vibrant red, opting for a light brown color. During this period, she frequently wore extensions to compensate for the damage caused by her Nickelodeon days. Her signature style at the time was a curly half-high ponytail, often accessorized with a headband. This marked a major transitional phase in Grande's hair journey as she moved towards a more mature and sophisticated look. She started to wear a lighter hair color, a light brown with subtle blonde highlights at the ends and slowly abandoned her former "Yours Truly era" curly ponytail for the iconic one we all know.
As Grande's music career soared, so did the popularity of her high ponytail. This specific ponytail style was what characterized Ariana at the time, often paired with the famous cat ears headband. She continued introducing her fanbase by channeling this ponytail for the "Break Free" and "Bang Bang" videos. In "Love Me Harder", Ariana debuted her hair down and in "One Last Time", we saw her iconic ponytail for the second time. The high ponytail became synonymous with Ariana Grande, solidifying her image as a pop superstar. While variations in color and texture emerged, the core style remained a constant.
Ahead of Grande's third album Dangerous Woman, Grande started to wear a straight ponytail and she later cut her bangs, very representative of that period of time. Grande also had ombré hair at some point in 2016. As she continued to evolve as an artist, Grande began experimenting with her hairstyles. In 2017 when she was on tour, Grande started to wear the space buns hairstyle repeatedly, paired with her bangs and straight hair. These playful and trendy styles showcased her willingness to experiment and stay ahead of the curve.
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At the end of 2017, Ariana debuted her platinum hair as well as her long, mermaid-like platinum hair down. During most of her appearances with her platinum hair, Grande wore extensions and sometimes wigs to preserve the state of her already damaged hair. Grande wore her iconic long platinum straight ponytail. This dramatic transformation showcased her versatility and willingness to push boundaries. However, maintaining the platinum look required significant effort and often involved the use of extensions and wigs to protect her natural hair.
After a few months with her platinum hair, Ariana decided to go back to a brunette color and introduce her very famous ponytail she kept up until the Sweetener World Tour. At this point, Grande was only wearing a clip-on ponytail as she started the process to gain back healthy hair. This decision reflected a growing awareness of the importance of hair health and a commitment to restoring her natural hair.
With the release of her fifth album and her third world tour, Grande carried on the extra long and straight ponytail she introduced in late 2018. This hairstyle was very convenient for Ariana as she could perform easily with this ponytail while still protecting her natural hair underneath the fake ponytail. During her headlining performance at Coachella 2019, Grande wore a ponytail by the famous wigmaker, WhatWigs. This allowed her to maintain her signature look while giving her natural hair a break from styling and heat.
When lockdown started, Grande quarantined in her L.A home and showcased her natural hair for the first time since 2018. In fact, she finally succeeded to recover her original curly, dark brown hair color and texture. This marked a significant moment in her hair journey, as she embraced her natural texture and shared it with the world. It was a testament to her dedication to hair health and a celebration of her authentic self.
Just like she did in 2020, Grande continued to take care of her hair and she started to wear her signature ponytail in a revamped way. In fact, she adapted the ponytail to her shorter hair length, with a more 60s style. This demonstrated her ability to adapt her signature style to her evolving hair length and texture. The 60s-inspired ponytails added a touch of retro glamour to her look.
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Grande temporarily moved to London, United Kingdom for the shooting of the Wicked Movies in which she will star as Glinda. For the role, Grande dyed her hair blonde on October 21, 2022 and introduced her blonde hair via. Instagram on October 26, 2022. Grande also bleached her eyebrows to fit Glinda's physical appearance better. This transformation marked a significant departure from her signature brunette look, showcasing her commitment to the role and her willingness to embrace new styles. During Spring 2023, she started to experiment with her hairstyles. She tried blonde curly hair, blonde buns, blonde bangs or blonde braids.
Around early 2024, Grande wore a brown wig for "The Boy Is Mine" music video. Alyx liu liked a comment under their post asking if ariana was on another hair journey. So far in 2025, Grande has attended many ceremonies and photoshoots. It is noticeable that her hair has gotten much darker than in past years, and she has started wearing her ponytail higher-though it has also become shorter-and has begun experimenting with other hairstyles such as buns or simply letting her hair down. On January 27, 2025, new paparazzi shots were posted of Grande arriving in Miami. These recent appearances showcase her continued experimentation with different styles and colors.
You may often see Ariana Grande on social media with a variety of hair colors, including silver, blonde, and even lavender, so you may be curious about what her natural hair color is. Although Ariana Grande is best recognized for her signature high ponytails, she has openly said that most of her long, straight hair is not her natural hair. Grande's natural hair color is dark brown, almost black. Her willingness to experiment with different colors and styles has kept her fans guessing and solidified her status as a style icon.
No matter how Ariana Grande's hairstyle changes, she always manages to pull it off perfectly. At the 2025 Oscars, Grande dazzled in a pale pink gown featuring strapless bustier and structured satin ruffles that flowed into a sparkling tulle skirt. Grande graced the 2025 Golden Globes red carpet in a stunning 1966 Givenchy Haute Couture gown. Ariana Grande blonde hair, which is frequently styled in wavy curls or a high ponytail, radiates a trendy and fresh vibe. Ariana's red hair is a nod to her early days on Nickelodeon, where she played the lively character Cat Valentine. Ariana Ariana's pink hair is a playful and flirty departure from her usual look.
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