The Shocking Truth About Ariana Grande's Natural Hair Colour And Why She Hides Her Curls

For years, the iconic, sky-high ponytail was as synonymous with Ariana Grande as her four-octave vocal range, leading millions to believe that pin-straight, honey-brown hair was her natural look. However, the pop superstar’s true hair identity is a fascinating story of damage, recovery, and a return to her roots, with her natural colour being a deep, rich brunette, almost black, and her texture a beautiful, tight curl. As of late 2025, following her time as Glinda in the *Wicked* film, Grande has been embracing a return to her natural dark shade, offering fans a fresh, authentic look that is a stark contrast to her highly-stylised past.

The journey to embracing her natural texture and colour has been a long one, rooted in the demands of her early acting career. While the world became accustomed to her signature sleek style, the reality is that her hair had suffered significant damage, forcing her to rely on extensions and wigs. This deep dive reveals the definitive truth about Ariana Grande's natural hair colour, the surprising texture she rarely shows, and the history that led to her most iconic, yet restrictive, hairstyle.

Ariana Grande-Butera: A Quick Biography Profile

Before diving into the details of her hair evolution, here is a quick look at the vital statistics of the global superstar.

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• Full Name: Ariana Grande-Butera
• Born: June 26, 1993
• Birth Place: Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
• Nationality: American (of Italian descent, half Sicilian and half Abruzzese)
• Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Producer
• Debut: 2008 (Broadway's 13)
• Breakthrough Role: Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon’s Victorious (2010)
• Iconic Style: High Ponytail, Cat-Eye Liner, Over-the-Knee Boots

The Definitive Truth: Ariana Grande's Natural Hair Colour and Texture

The question of "What is Ariana Grande's natural hair colour?" has followed the singer throughout her career, largely because she rarely showcases it. The answer is a definitive deep brown, often described as almost black.

This natural brunette shade is the colour she sported in her early childhood photos and before she landed the role that would change her hair forever.

The Surprising Natural Texture: Corkscrew Curls

Even more surprising than the colour for many fans is her natural hair texture. Ariana Grande's real hair is naturally curly, featuring beautiful, tight ringlets or corkscrew curls.

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She has occasionally shared rare glimpses of her natural curls on social media, particularly during periods of self-isolation in 2020, which delighted her fans and highlighted the extent of the damage she had been recovering from.

Her hair stylist, Josh Liu, has also been credited with helping her maintain and restore the health of her natural texture, proving that the sleek styles the public is used to are the result of intense styling and the strategic use of extensions.

From Red Dye to High Ponytails: The Hair Damage History

The reason behind the relentless use of extensions and the signature high ponytail is a story of severe hair damage. This damage originated from her time as Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon shows Victorious and Sam & Cat.

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The Cat Valentine Red Hair Trauma

For the role of Cat Valentine, Grande was required to bleach and dye her hair a bright, vibrant red every other week for nearly four years.

This aggressive and frequent chemical processing caused significant hair breakage, hair loss, and destroyed her natural curly texture, leaving her with a severely damaged mane.

She eventually had to dye her hair back to brown and began wearing a red wig for filming, but the underlying damage to her real hair remained a major issue.

The Birth of the Iconic High Ponytail

The famous high ponytail, which became her staple look throughout the *Yours Truly*, *My Everything*, and *Dangerous Woman* eras, was not a style choice born purely of fashion. It was a necessity.

Grande openly stated that she wore the ponytail to cover the extent of the damage and the broken patches of her hair. The extensions provided the length and volume she needed to create a polished look while her natural hair was in recovery. Entities like the half-up hair style and the double-braided fringe were variations that still relied heavily on extensions to protect her fragile hair.

The Glinda Blonde and The Return to Brunette in Late 2025

Ariana Grande's hair journey took another dramatic turn for her major film role as Glinda in the upcoming movie adaptation of the musical *Wicked*.

The Glinda Blonde Transformation

To embody the good witch Glinda, Grande dyed her hair a bright, platinum blonde.

This transformation was another challenging step for her hair, requiring the expertise of London-based hair colourist Francesco De Chiara to manage the delicate process. While the blonde was a stunning look for the role, it marked a temporary departure from her natural dark shade.

The Late 2025 Brunette Comeback

In a move that thrilled fans who prefer her natural colour, Ariana Grande returned to her signature brunette hair colour in late 2025, following the completion of filming for *Wicked*.

She shared a mirror selfie on Instagram, showing off her dark brown 'do styled with loose curls, confirming her return to a shade much closer to her natural deep brown.

This latest change signifies a new era of embracing a more authentic, less-processed look, a testament to her commitment to hair health after years of chemical stress. Her current style often features the dark colour with a softer texture, occasionally incorporating her natural curls or gentle waves, moving away from the rigid, straight ponytail of the past. Entities like Coconut Oil and Lavender Essential Oil are rumoured to be part of her routine to maintain the health of her hair.

Ariana Grande’s Hair Entity Map (LSI Keywords)

To fully understand the complexity of Ariana Grande’s hair journey, it is essential to consider the key entities and LSI keywords that define her look and history:

• Natural Colour: Deep Brown, Brunette, Almost Black
• Natural Texture: Curly, Ringlets, Corkscrew Curls, Wavy
• Iconic Styles: High Ponytail, Half-Up Hair, Soft Waves, Double-Braided Fringe, Elegant Updos
• Damage & Recovery: Red Dye, Bleach, Hair Breakage, Hair Loss, Extensions, Wigs, Cat Valentine, Victorious, Sam & Cat
• Recent Looks: Glinda Blonde, *Wicked*, Dark Brown, Loose Curls, Natural Curls
• Care & Personnel: Josh Liu (Hair Stylist), Coconut Oil, Lavender Essential Oil, r.e.m. beauty (her beauty line)

Ariana Grande's hair is more than just a style; it's a visual timeline of her career, from the damaging demands of a Nickelodeon contract to her current status as a global icon who is finally embracing her natural, beautiful self.