Celeb Wig Moments That Turned Heads For The Wrong Reasons

The world of show business moves far too quickly for the usual laws of hair physics to apply. For us regular folk, switching up hair color is something that can take months to ensure it doesn't damage our strands. If we want to go for a chop, we think long and hard about it because we know we can't have it long again the next day. And while we might turn to extensions, hairpieces, or weaves to supplement our looks, very few of us have the privilege of sporting a drastically different hairstyle every day. But it's a different story for celebrities, who are under pressure to look their best. As Nicki Minaj told ABC News back in 2012, "Every female in this game wears wigs."

Most of the time, wigs protect real hair from damage — especially for A-listers like Kim Kardashian who love brief brushes with platinum blond — and they also make up for what nature lacks. Those with thin or fine hair (which are not the same!) can add density and volume, while those without length can transform into Rapunzel overnight. But occasionally, those wigs don't do their stars justice. Even with entire glam squads trying to seamlessly incorporate a wig into an outfit, it doesn't always turn out the way it should, which is further proof that celebrities are just people who make mistakes. 

Sometimes, their most notorious faux-hair moments come down to the wig appearing low-quality, while other times, a hairpiece doesn't suit the star's features. Then, there are those occasions where the wig carries a deeper meaning or is even problematic. Whatever the reason, the following celebrity wig moments attracted lots of attention, but it wasn't the good kind.

Making Gigi Hadid look less than perfect is almost an achievement in itself. At the 2016 MTV Movie Awards, the supermodel turned up in a pinstripe black-and-gold suit with strappy sandals and a full set of bangs. Other photos of Hadid throughout the year show no signs of bangs or choppy layers around the face, so we know this was a wig. While her seemingly newfound bangs made some positive headlines, Lainey from Lainey Gossip didn't hold back on the criticism of this wig, commenting that she had discussed it with another critic, and they'd deemed the wig "unacceptable" because it looked like it "hadn't been brushed" and thusly left Hadid looking "like a Real Housewife."

Miley Cyrus is no stranger to criticism when it comes to her image, and around 2015, she went through a phase where it nearly seemed like she was seeking out backlash on purpose. As part of her Dead Petz Tour, she performed in a gilded two-piece complete with a multi-colored braided wig. The bold and wearable oil-slick hair color suited Cyrus' aesthetic, but aside from color, the 'do itself was considered cultural appropriation by many. "How bizarre a Disney chick would appropriate something oppositional to what she represents," one critic commented on a Daily Mail article about the controversial look.

Katy Perry isn't afraid to shock her fans with her style choices; she's rocked everything from a platinum pixie to blue bangs. But in April 2024, she took to Instagram to show off what appeared to be a chic bob — hardly daring compared to her past looks. Still, fans were not having it. Those who had an issue didn't object to the short hair itself, but rather what an unexpected cut means for Perry's creative direction. "We don't need another witness era," one commented, referencing an album from the "Fireworks" singer that was met with ample disdain, while another added, "DONT YOU REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME YOU CUT YOUR HAIR." Perry later confirmed that the look was just a wig — and the energy was uncalled for.

Kylie Jenner has built a brand around her signature look, which includes her luscious hair, and she has no problem rocking vibrant and neon wigs if they match her outfit, especially to big events. In 2017, she turned up to the Met Gala, the fashion event of the year, with a sleek, blond side-parted bob, and for fans, this was a little too faux-looking. "[Love the look but] hate the wig," one Redditor admitted, while another commented that it looked "like low quality plastic." A hairstylist weighed in on the Reddit thread, explaining why the wig might not be working for the star: "Kylie would look better with a C-curved side part instead of constantly doing this off centered side part. It just always looks like her wig been shifted."

Lady Gaga has worn a lot of outlandish wigs in her time, but even if they're complemented by a beret of raw meat or are interwoven with cans, fans love that they're thoughtful and well-done. However, that wasn't the case with Gaga's Morticia Addams-style wig at the 2013 Video Music Awards, which was stark black and had a clear frontage unnaturally cutting over her ear. "She looks sooooo good w black hair but honestly this is probably one of the worst wigs she's ever worn," one Redditor observed, adding that the "lace front still haunts my dreams." Another Redditor agreed, "We don't talk about the wig sis." Fans generally love it when Gaga returns to her darker roots — literally — but stark black with an obvious lace front is taking it a step too far.

Yes, it feels blasphemous to call the queen out for a wig that didn't land, especially when Beyoncé's everyday hair is stunning. But the world did not take kindly to her dance with micro-bangs in London back in 2014. Local salon owner Anthony Nader even told the Sydney Morning Herald, "It looks like Blue Ivy has got to her with the nail scissors and cut it [and] the right side is shorter than the left. It's a wig, most definitely, and it looks like Blue has placed it too far back."

Most bad wig moments attract backlash from the public only, but sometimes, they're bad enough to provoke criticism from the stars themselves. In 2013, Kaley Cuoco wore a red-carpet hairstyle that she deeply regrets, wearing faux bangs to the Screen Actors Guild Awards. She later told People that it was the "worst thing I've ever done." She went on, "It just did not work. It looked so fake." Fans seemed to agree with the longtime "The Big Bang Theory" actor, with one quipping on BuzzFeed, "Hannah Montana is that you?"

Nicole Kidman's natural hair is very different from the wigs she wears: strawberry blond and curly. Most of the time, she nails the execution of her usually platinum-blond wigs, but at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025, the "Moulin Rouge" star made headlines with her hair. Several outlets reported on Kidman's wig, which had elements of yellow blond and some cooler highlights. The big issue? The hairline was sitting unevenly. While this isn't the best wig moment that the Australian actor has had, she's also worn some gorgeous wigs on both the red carpet and the screen. If anything, a less-than-perfect wig is refreshing evidence that she doesn't take herself too seriously. 

At the 2025 American Music Awards, reality TV star Heidi Montag made waves in a wig that social media users ripped to shreds. "I'm choosing to believe Heidi Montag wore the world's worst wig on purpose for attention," tweeted one X user. But this time, Montag didn't agree with the criticism, telling Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet that she wanted to "switch it up a little bit and keep it fresh." Good on Montag for having the courage to try something new, especially given how ruthless online critics can be.

Kim Kardashian typically opts for fashion-forward hairstyles, and whether they're wigs or her real hair, they usually reinforce her position as a trendsetter. But back in 2012, she opted for platinum, sea-salt waves at the Midori Green Halloween Party as part of her mermaid costume, which reportedly cost $2,000. "It doesn't even look good on her!" commented one Daily Mail reader. "Ugh hate the wig and the makeup, looks terrible," shared another, while a third compared her to Donatella Versace. In the years since, Kardashian has experimented more with blond, eventually bleaching her hair to evoke Marilyn Monroe at the 2022 Met Gala.