The Stunning Hair Transformation Of Keke Palmer

The stunning hair transformation of Keke Palmer has almost as many page-turning chapters as her career as an actor, singer, author, talk-show host, and podcaster. Palmer, who was born in 1993 and had her breakout lead role in 2006 at age 12 in "Akeelah and the Bee," kept her hair in a conservative, predictable style for years. It wasn't until 2011 that she started to experiment with hair colors and different cuts, and this initial detour wouldn't be the last time that Palmer dabbled in dye. She has sampled a Crayola-box of colors throughout the years, returning back to ginger that she first rocked in 2011, in 2025. When it comes to length, the "Password" host has tried it all, from shaved to super-long, usually with the assistance of a wig. 

She told People in 2019 that faux hair is often her go-to. "It's not your hair and it's easy to fix," she revealed to the outlet. She also said that her stunning hair transformation is an extension of her personality: "Changing my hairstyle helps me represent that bold attitude in an extroverted fashion. I love not being afraid to be me." With that in mind, let's take a look at the evolution of her tresses, from her long waves and curls of the noughties to pops of color in the 2020s.

Keke Palmer is one of the child stars that turned out to be gorgeous. Even as a teenager, with her vibrant smile and long hair, she strongly hinted at the stunner she would evolve into. Those early years were also when she leaned into her tried-and-true hairstyles for red-carpet events. They included a low side ponytail often pulled over one shoulder, an elegant updo, or hair worn down and straight. She wore her go-to long, layered hairstyle for years, which she couldn't imagine changing.

She told Mane Addicts in 2016 (via SingersRoom), "When I was younger, I was like, 'Why do people cut their hair?! It's so ridiculous! I would never cut my hair, I love long hair!'" From the time she hit one of her first red carpets at the 2005 SAG Awards, she would keep her long locks. It wasn't until she was 17 that she would finally cut it, having realized that hair grows back and short styles can be fun to play around with. But she regretted that specific cut, which was a short weave bob: "It was the most hideous thing I've ever done in my life. It was so ugly, the bob looked like a helmet, it was very square-shaped but oval at the same time. It was terrible!"

As Keke Palmer neared adulthood, she began playing with her hair with increasing regularity. In 2011 she cut bangs and sampled a coppery-ginger shade. The following year, she debuted a strawberry-blond color, but was back to rich black before too long. Then in 2013 she embraced more natural waves, as well as a faux bob.

But it was a pixie cut in 2014, while she promoted "Cinderella" on Broadway, that was her most dramatic shift from the signature hairstyle of her early career. The pixie, which is a hairstyle that accidentally makes the face look rounder, is a style that the "Hustlers" actor has revisited through the years. However, she has seamlessly jumped back to longer locks thanks to wigs. She told Mane Addicts, per SingersRoom, that she "can't live without wigs," adding that she loves "short, long, colored, not colored."

In 2015, Keke Palmer rocked honey-blond locks, but by 2016, it was back to black — with the occasional foray into pink or blue. One of the more creative looks of the year was a hairstyle she debuted at Comic-Con while promoting "Scream Queens." Palmer shaved the sides of her head and pulled the remaining hair on top of her head into a face-framing twisted ponytail. Multiple outlets praised the actor's ability to keep her look fresh and cool with evolving hairstyles.

Throughout 2016, Palmer's stunning hair transformation continued to evolve with an array of colors that included a short red look, a long blue-gray style, and a raspberry braid. But one of her most powerful pops of color came in the form of a lilac shaved style, which she flaunted at the 2017 iHeartRadio MuchMusic Video Awards with coordinating lip gloss.

Though colorful hair and avant-garde styles have become part of her public persona, Keke Palmer's hair journey has included developing a respect for her natural hair. In 2021, she wrote on Instagram: "I think it's fun jumping in and out of trends, but it's much better when it feels like a choice and not a duty." In 2022, she sampled braided styles before jumping to blond-bombshell locks for the red carpet in 2023. By 2024, she was back to black hair, rocking mostly voluminous, long looks. That was after a stint at the beginning of the year, though, when she jumped back to copper.

Palmer debuted a gorgeous curly crop on an episode of "The Jennifer Hudson Show" in January 2025, demonstrating the power of hairstyles straight from the '70s that are making a comeback. Jamika Wilson, who did the color, posted an image of it to her Instagram. Fans, including actor Viola Davis, loved the look, with the Oscar winner commenting: "Beautiful!" In May 2025, Palmer was still rocking the vibrant copper shade at the NBCUniversal Upfronts, as she promoted "The Burbs," and at the Met Gala. How long she'll stick with the hue is anyone's guess, however. We expect it's just one more stop on the journey that is Keke Palmer's ever-evolving hair transformation.