Paris Jackson's Stunning Hair Transformation Over The Years

When it comes to fashion and beauty, Paris Jackson is undeniably one of the most stylish celebs of her generation. Michael Jackson's daughter has not only been authentically herself throughout her career but also used fashion and beauty to fight for what she believes in. In 2025, Paris rocked a sheer dress designed by Stella McCartney to Paris Fashion Week, and when she received backlash, she used the opportunity to talk about body positivity. "I don't really understand why the human body is a driving force for so much discomfort in so many people," she said in a since-expired Instagram story (via WWD). "Like, it's just a body. Don't get uncomfortable with our bodies. It's your body, you've got one, I've got one, we've all got one. It's OK. There's nothing wrong with it."

Jackson's confidence has also been evident through her hairstyles over the years, as the star has proudly rocked short cuts as well as long, luscious curls. In fact, while some celeb hair transformations have been more dramatic, Paris' is uniquely hers because the star has experimented with cuts and colors she was specifically drawn to, not ones that are ultra-trendy. Today, she has platinum-blond strands, but we expect to see plenty more hair changes from the musician in the years to come.

While Paris Jackson has been in the spotlight since the day she was born, her life completely changed when her father, hitmaker Michael Jackson, passed away in 2009 at age 50. At the time, Paris was 11 years old, and the public sadly witnessed a young girl mourning a loss she probably couldn't fully comprehend at the time.

As a tween, Paris already knew what she liked when it came to style, and even though her hair was long and layered, she'd already had a preference for what she was going to do with her hair in the future. "I've always been drawn to a dark, grunge look, even from a young age," she told Vogue in 2022. "I always had this image in my head, probably [from] when I was seven years old, I remember going to the Middle East and being like, 'When I get older, I'm gonna have black hair with red streaks.'" Having a strong vision for yourself at a young age is a beautiful thing if you ask us.

In her early teen years, Paris Jackson kept her hair long and layered; however, she slowly foreshadowed that she wasn't one for a dramatic hair change. In fact, in 2012, she rocked a hot-pink streak at the nape of her neck, and while it was most likely a clip-in, it showcased her love for switching up her aesthetic according to her whims.

Further foreshadowing her hair changes to come, Jackson commented on Disney star Miley Cyrus' stunning hair transformation that same year. At the time, the "Party in the U.S.A." singer had cut her hair much shorter than anyone had seen her with, and while many didn't like Cyrus' new look, Jackson was 100% supportive. "I don't know why people keep hating on Miley's new cut," the star shared on X, then Twitter (via E News!). "I love it !! She's being herself & she's being different & I love her for that." Little did we know that Jackson was also going to part with her long locks soon.

By 2015, the bold streak definitely wasn't a clip-in anymore, as Paris Jackson had dyed a good chunk of her hair a vibrant red shade. The color showed off her fun personality, and it cemented once and for all that Jackson was all about exploring what she liked.

Reflecting on her high-school days for Allure in 2023, the musician admitted that she was never afraid of being creative with her hair. "I used a lot of hairspray in high school because I had the Nikki Sixx haircut," Jackson revealed. "I had all the layers and everything. My hair was jet black." By 2016, she ended up chopping her hair off, going for a pixie haircut with volume on top — one similar to Miley Cyrus' from a few years prior. To make the change even more dramatic, Jackson dyed the top layers of her hair platinum blond — a hair color that is more expensive to maintain than you think. Being in a famous family, this likely wasn't a problem, though.

Paris Jackson turned 19 in 2017, and by then, it was clear that she was going to follow her own path, both in beauty and life. "I've always wanted to kind of break off and do my own thing, just 'cause I feel I enjoy independence very much," the "Let Down" singer told Harper's Bazaar that year.

In the same conversation, the star revealed that rock legends Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks heavily influenced her style. "I'm obsessed," Jackson admitted. "And it's an unhealthy obsession because there's never been anyone like them and there never will be. They're legendary and incredible," she added. At the time, Jackson loved playing around with the texture of her hair, from tiny waves to glamorous Hollywood curls. In fact, while many tend to fear getting a fringe, Jackson was effortlessly experimenting with rocking chic, French-girl-inspired bangs.

In her early 20s, Paris Jackson grew into her own skin even more, and her hair certainly provided a way for the "Eyelids" singer to express herself. Paris Jackson had undergone a stunning style transformation by then, and her hair and makeup had become a huge part of her look. We never knew what we'd get with Jackson's look — one day we'd see her rock a messy ponytail with a glamorous gown like she wore to the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, and the next, she would be all about pushed-back hair and a dramatic smoky eye. Either way, one thing was sure: Paris wasn't going to conform to anyone's beauty standards and would, instead, embrace the aesthetics she felt drawn to.

The star has always been open about who she is, and in 2018, she shared her frustration with people still being surprised that she's a member of the LGBTQ+ community. "I've referred to the community as 'my fellow LGBTQ+' on stage before," she said (via ABC News). "I've talked about having a crush on girls when I was 8 in my Rolling Stone article. There are pictures of me kissing girls online. Why are people just now saying this is news?"

By 2019, it was clear that Paris Jackson wasn't only authentic when it comes to fashion and beauty trends; she was also at the forefront of creating them. In fact, looking back, it's clear that the "Just You" singer was one of the first stars to embrace the revival of the shag haircut — one of the hairstyles from the '70s that has recently made a comeback. While many associate a shag with messy layers and textured hair, Jackson has shown us that the cut can as easily be worn in a glamorous way, whether by rocking it in stylish curls or a classic blowout. But, of course, the shag looks particularly good when styled in a messy and textured manner, which is how Jackson has been seen wearing it most of the time.

This was a hectic year for the star, who'd decided that she needed to step out of the spotlight for a while. "After a busy year of work engagements that took her all over the globe, Paris decided that she needed to take some time off to reboot, realign and prioritize her physical and emotional health," an insider told E! News. "She checked herself into a treatment facility to aid in her wellness plan and is looking forward to coming out of this revitalized and ready to tackle the exciting new projects that await her." Because of this, we didn't see her as much as we did in other years, but when we did see her, she was stunning.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we didn't get to see much of Paris Jackson in 2020. However, for the rare appearances she did — mostly at the beginning of the year — the star continued to switch things up. For example, Jackson showed up at the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party rocking a messy bun, the kind that most of us attempt and fail to recreate. The hairstyle gave her elegant outfit a touch of casualness, proving that Jackson is truly the queen of mixing different styles into one somehow-cohesive look.

For the Teen Vogue Celebrates Young Hollywood event in 2020, Jackson opted for a classic Gen-Z hairstyle: subtle waves with a middle part. She finished the hairstyle off with some locks decorated with hair embellishments. The messy hairstyle was the perfect choice for the occasion, especially as it complemented her bohemian outfit.

While Paris Jackson's natural hair color seems to be a lighter shade of brown, the "I Dare You" singer seemingly prefers to have blond tresses. However, one thing that became very noticeable in the early 2020s was Jackson's love for shadow roots. For those who don't know, shadow roots give hair dimension with minimal damage, which may be one reason Jackson remained loyal to the hair-coloring technique for so long. Because shadow roots allow for one to go longer between bleaching their hair, they also tend to be a more low-maintenance approach to having blond strands. 

In 2021, Jackson played around with red-carpet hairstyles, all while keeping the color and length of her hair the same. Whether she was ensuring that her statement earrings were visible by pushing her hair back or accessorizing her hair with fun hairbands, Michael Jackson's daughter was all about making her hair a crucial part of her look. Her childhood with her father may have helped foster her free spirit, with Paris telling supermodel Naomi Campbell in an episode of her "No Filter" series, "I feel like every part of my childhood will always influence how I am today, whether it's experiences or all of the music we listened to." 

In 2022, Paris Jackson let her hair grow a bit longer, and her favorite hairstyle for industry events seemed to be long, wavy locks. The star, who was often a front-row guest at fashion shows, was an undeniable fan of beauty and fashion, but for her, being a part of that industry meant a lot more.

Self-expression and authenticity have been a crucial part of her career, and these subjects, alongside animal cruelty and inclusivity, remained important to her. "I've always spoken out about these subjects," she told Nylon in 2022. "Each time I've been involved in a fashion or film project, I showed my activism by talking about the themes that are important to me. ... That's why I adore posing for Stella McCartney, who is fighting for a more ethical and sustainable fashion business as well as for animal rights," she added. While Jackson clearly cared about her hair, makeup, and outfits, she knew that at the end of the day, some things simply mattered more.

Speaking about her signature look, Paris Jackson told Allure in 2023, "'Signature' seems like it would be relatively original, and that is not the case with my sound or my look. I just take [ideas] from a lot of the things that I like. Nothing's really mine; it's just a melting pot of my favorites, I guess." When she isn't attending industry events, Jackson admitted that '90s style is one she tends to gravitate toward for both beauty and style. "I dress for comfort when I'm not working and '90s is pretty comfortable for me," Jackson explained. "I like to stick with the darker colors, the earth tones."

That year, Jackson solidified her position as the queen of pushed-back hair, a hairstyle that can quickly look odd, even on celebs, but never does on her. Interestingly, the model revealed that she gets her hair done "every two to three months," explaining that she's still excited about subtle hair transformations. "I don't like a different color of the rainbow every week, but I usually ask for something different every time I go," Jackson added to Allure.

When asked about her haircare routine, the star revealed that hair-oiling is her favorite remedy against damage. "Argan oil," she simply said, adding, "But the clear kind because the yellow kind tints your hair if it's bleached, and you don't want that." In 2023, Jackson also experimented with hair tints, even temporarily dying her blond strands red and pink for her performance at the annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.

Paris Jackson turned 26 in 2024, and it was clear that even though she adored experimenting, she knew what styles she really liked. Her looks were often inspired by vintage elements, and that was no coincidence. "I live in a vintage home that was built in the 1940s," the "Hit Your Knees" singer explained to Fashionista that year. "My house, my animals, my clothing and everything else co-exist very beautifully where there's a lot of earth tones and a lot of natural elements. There's a lot of stone, brick, wood and lots of nature and trees. It's a very bohemian-style home and it all goes really well together."

Bohemian elements were a constant throughout Paris Jackson's fashion and beauty evolution, and no hairstyle epitomizes the trend more than messy beach waves with sun-kissed highlights. Jackson rocked the hairstyle for years — for instance, in 2023, she was particularly fond of it in combination with the voluminous side part. Gen Z was praising the middle part at the time, but Jackson wasn't hopping on a trend just for the sake of being trendy or cool. She was styling her hair in a way that fit the narrative and aesthetic she'd constructed over the years.

Today, Paris Jackson is not only a beauty and fashion icon whose hair has set trends over the years but also a role model for many who are dealing with addiction. In 2025, the "Lost" singer shared on Instagram that she had been sober for five years. "Gratitude hardly scratches the surface. It's because I'm sober that I get to smile today," she wrote in the caption. "I get to make music. I get to experience the joy of loving my dogs and cat. I get to feel heartbreak in all its glory." In a beautiful conclusion, she shared, "I feel the sun on my skin and it's warm. I've found that life keeps happening regardless of whether I'm sober or not, but today I get to show up for it."

While Jackson had stuck to shadow roots for years, she decided to explore what having platinum blond means in 2025 — roots included. The color undeniably suits the musician's features, and it feels like a culminating moment in Jackson's hair transformation — the next big step. We have to admit that we're curious to see what hair change she has in store for us next, but in the meantime, check out what Paris Jackson would look like without her tattoos.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).