Photos Of Kristi Noem's Hair That Turned Heads For All The Wrong Reasons

Kristi Noem has become one of the most publicized names in Washington, D.C. The former secretary of Homeland Security is seen as a controversial figure, and it's not only her politics that have been subject to criticism. Her appearance has been a long-standing topic of interest, as she has maintained a signature beauty routine consisting of heavy makeup and coiffed hair. 

While she rarely strays from this look, it turns out that Noem has tried a variety of different hairstyles before doubling down on the oversized wavy tresses she's become synonymous with. Her hair has certainly always been unique, but many of Noem's hair choices from the past were bizarre, outdated, or downright unflattering, making waves for the wrong reasons.

Since her time as a representative of South Dakota, Noem has gone through myriad changes to her hair. She has gone back and forth between different colors, lengths, and textures for her locks. Her use of hair extensions seems to be a fairly recent habit, as she maintained several styles in her younger years that just barely reached beyond her shoulders. Even as Noem regularly relies on extensions, she still can't keep her locks from looking dull and inconsistent. Take a look at how many disastrous hair looks Noem has rocked over the years, and the countless ways she's gotten basic hair care incorrect.  

Kristi Noem was a blushing blond when she was named South Dakota Snow Queen in 1990. Unwilling to move on from the larger-than-life hair lengths of the 1980s, her mane consisted of dark roots which contrasted her blond hair and messy curls that desperately needed taming. Even Noem herself looked back on the styling with regret, posting a Facebook picture with the caption, "What was I thinking with all that hair???" She kept the blond curls when she got married in 1992, making Kristi Noem look like a totally different person in her wedding photos. 

After Kristi Noem became a mom, she went in the complete opposite direction of her previous blond curls. She darkened the color to a jet black and cut her hair into a long bob, otherwise known as a lob. There seemed to be a bit of hair teasing for some height, but the hairstyle looked unsensational. In this photo, it nearly blended in with the boring background. And we've got more than a few questions about the one random strand of bang on Noem's forehead.  

During her time in the South Dakota House of Representatives in 2010, Kristi Noem used her hairstyle to make it clear she was a mom who meant business. It was similar to "The Rachel" which hit its peak popularity in the mid-1990s. So, by the time Noem proudly wore the 'do at the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2011, it had long since gone out of style. Not to mention her side-swept bangs made it look like she had freshly rolled out of bed without fixing her mane. A textured bob may be the right haircut for you, but the lob version of this look was a poor choice on Noem. 

Once Kristi Noem had been elected governor of South Dakota in 2019, she began growing her hair out to a longer length. At the RNC in 2020, she embraced long waves in what would be the beginning of her signature style. This felt like an attempt from Noem to look younger and more feminine, especially as she increased the amount of makeup that she wore. A few years before she was really leaning into volume and extensions, this look was marked by stringy tresses and waves that lacked definition. 

With her frequent trips to horse ranches, it's no secret that Kristi Noem loves Westerncore: the trendy reimagination of cowgirl-inspired fashion you won't be able to ignore. This hairstyle of hers from 2023, which she wore to promote renovations at the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center, included a middle part and two matching braids that sat on each of Noem's shoulders. The messy side braids weren't the worst way to add some style and texture to her hair, but they made her look extremely juvenile. 

After Kristi Noem was considered a potential V.P. pick for Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential election, she seemed to be looking to a previous vice presidential candidate for hair inspiration. Noem began to style her tresses in a pulled-back updo with a height similar to Sarah Palin's 2008 hairstyle from the campaign trail. The updo was meant to show Palin as motivated and work-oriented — an image Noem likely wanted to project as well. However, without the refinement that Palin had, the updo that Noem wore in one June 2025 Instagram snap just came across as messy and careless.

As Kristi Noem started to receive more attention nationwide, she seemed to be letting popular hair trends from TikTok influence her own appearance. She was often seen donning long waves that were primarily dark brown at the base, but softened to blond at the ends. Her attempt at ombré hair at the 2024 Republican National Convention looked improperly blended, making the blond part appear chunky and uneven. Even "South Park" picked on the fact that Noem couldn't find a balanced middle ground between brown and blond hair color. 

During a night out on the town in March 2024, Kristi Noem let her hair down ... figuratively speaking. She styled her hair in a low maintenance bun with most of her long mane seated on top. This incorrect take on a high ponytail made Noem look disheveled while her hair flopped around like a matted mess. It's as if she tied her hair in a big knot and planted it right on top of her head. "Are you 2 having a messy hair contest???" one fan quipped on Instagram. The height alone made her look like a citizen of Whoville from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

On a summer day in 2025, Kristi Noem decided to go casual in a simple ponytail and cap. Instead of putting any thought into styling her hair, Noem covered her head with a hat that looked dingy. The contrast between a wispy ponytail and dirty cap felt overly unbalanced, especially while she met with members of the public. A French braid would've been more fitting on Noem to dress up her tresses, or even a couple extra minutes with a curling iron would have made her pony more pronounced. "As a governor, very much inappropriately dressed for a public appearance, errand or not," one critic noted on Instagram, likely referencing her entire laidback look.