Time and again, Katy Perry has proved that the world is her runway. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter (via the Recording Academy) regularly experiments with her style, hair, beauty looks, and music. The early 2010s saw her in eccentric, elaborate costumes like the iconic pink vintage curls and vinyl record dress she rocked at the 2011 VMAs (via Page Six), while she favored a more laid-back, edgy look in the late 2010s (via W Magazine). Her bleached pixie cut and astronaut print Chanel suit speaks to her beauty and style prowess (via U Interview).
Perry’s aesthetic can’t be forced into one genre, and that’s what makes every red carpet appearance and music release so refreshing. Her hair evolution is as expansive as her music career. Her cotton candy pink wigs to platinum blond, Marilyn Monroe-esque curls have inspired many dye jobs. Name a color or hairstyle, and Katy Perry’s already tried it. Let’s take a look back at the “American Idol” judge’s most defining hairstyles.
Katy Perry's signature jet black hair and side bangs reigned supreme
There are so many definitive looks that came out of the early 2000s. From pinned beach waves a la the Olsen twins to Lindsay Lohan’s iconic ponytail with a poof, the 2000s were the era of experimentation (via Cosmopolitan). Singer Katy Perry’s side-swept bangs and choppy locks played around with contrasting lengths and cuts, which was very on brand for that time.
Before she flirted with brighter colors, she rocked dark locks for years as her music and stage presence was on the come up. But her signature dark hue isn’t the one she was born with. In a 2015 interview with Glamour, Perry revealed that her natural hair color is actually a “boring dishwater squirrel brown.” She also opened up about what sparked her love of hair dye and accessories. “I’ve been playing with colors since I was 15,” she explained. “I loved the grunge green, and shocking blue was fun. Colored hair is such a huge accessory that you don’t even need to add extra stuff.”
In 2008, she channeled old Hollywood starlet glamour with vintage curls and accessories
After the success of her 2008 smash single “I Kissed a Girl,” Katy Perry’s beauty looks and style went through a huge transformation (via Beauty/Crew). The popstar traded in her signature layered cut for vintage curls, colorful makeup, and intricate and playful costumes. Per the Daily Mail, she had 10 outfits on rotation during her hosting duties at the 2008 MTV European Music Awards (pictured on the left) — all equally over-the-top and daring. At one point, she stunned her audience in a carnival-inspired Manish Arora corset dress, which came complete with an elaborate built-in carousel skirt.
Perry’s vintage waves complemented her quirky, pin-up style. She also incorporated fun hair accessories into her look, like the floral headband pictured above. Not only did the singer-songwriter and style icon constantly push the envelope, she backed up her outfit choices with pure confidence.
Over the next decade, her hair colors were a rainbow dream
Katy Perry has played around with so many hair colors and haircuts that it’s hard to keep up. Still, she’s managed to pull off every single color. As she further cemented her status as a style icon, she transitioned from her dark vintage curls to candy-colored hair. Her electric blue wig at Nickelodeon’s 2010 Kids Choice Awards (pictured on the left) was a major serve.
Every look she’s debuted in a music video or on the red carpet is intentionally offbeat. The CoverGirl spokesperson told Glamour that she intentionally dyes her hair in bright colors and rocks outlandish costumes to make the distinction between her onstage persona and her. “I’m Katy Perry onstage,” she explained. “At home I’m Katheryn Hudson. I’ve created this cartoon look when performing, but offstage I don’t always have three hours to put it together.”
She also added that her makeup routine at home is drastically different from what you see at events and performances. “That’s when I’m just about lashes, shaping my brows, and more natural skin. I use CoverGirl mascara, and I like lash extensions too — they make you feel like Bambi. Then a nice bronzer and a good powder,” she added (via Glamour).
She chopped off her locks and debuted 2 new hairstyles in a span of a few months
Forever the hair chameleon, Katy Perry tested the waters and rocked a blunt, platinum blond bob at the beginning of 2017, as reported by Allure. The short style expertly framed her face and brought out her cheekbones. Though the look fit her perfectly, it was only temporary. In March 2017, Perry shocked fans when she debuted a bold new cut in her Instagram video.
She waved goodbye to her bob and shaved the sides of her hair. The popstar simply captioned the video “I WASNT READY TILL NOW,” and can be heard asking her hairstylist Chris McMillan (via Refinery29) for his thoughts on the new hairdo. His response was 100% positive, and he confirmed that he wanted to chop off her locks since they first teamed up. Per BuzzFeed, many speculated that the hair transformation was an attempt at a fresh start, considering Perry and then-boyfriend Orlando Bloom initially broke up around the time of the Instagram reveal.
There's a deeper, emotional meaning behind her bold pixie cut
In May 2017, the “Fireworks” singer changed her hair again and teased a stunning pixie cut. Katy Perry, who regularly opens up to fans about her life, eventually revealed the real reason behind her haircuts. In a raw and emotional appearance on Viceland series “The Therapist,” she admitted that the constant switch-up was an attempt at grounding herself and figuring out the real her.
“I’m really strong as Katy Perry and then sometimes I’m not as strong as Katheryn Hudson,” she admitted (via Insider). “People like talk about my hair, right? They don’t like it or they wish that it was longer. I so badly want to be Katheryn Hudson that I don’t even want to look like Katy Perry anymore sometimes.”
She also shared the mental and emotional costs of her onstage persona, and how her new look was a way of catching her breath and processing her emotions in a healthy way (via Insider). Perry’s used her hair evolution to connect with her fans beyond the music. Long or short, bubblegum pink or platinum blond, she isn’t defined by her hair and will always be celebrated for being her authentic self.
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