The Stunning Hair Transformation Of Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift requires no introduction, but let us be clear: She's a multifaceted, global sensation known for chart-topping hits and incredible storytelling. Swift's been in the spotlight since the mid-2000s, and that certainly comes with the pressure to always be stylish and put-together. That can't always be easy — we all want to have lazy days now and then, and we all definitely deserve grace in times of stress or exhaustion. Somehow, though, Swift has consistently and seamlessly intertwined her musical eras with her style, and this has always included her hair.
From her early days as a curly-haired country sensation to the edgy bob she rocked as she stepped onto the pop scene, the star's hair has always been a canvas that reflected even the slightest change in her sound. While she hasn't delved too deeply into experimenting with colors at the time of writing, suffice it to say that the "Anti-Hero" singer has certainly embraced a variety of haircuts and textures over the years.
Ultimately, when it comes to Swift, each strand tells a tale, and as the star continues to wow us with new music, her hair remains an essential part of her narrative, proving that her artistry extends far beyond the studio.
2006-2007: Taylor Swift's breakthrough as a blond, curly-haired country singer
Taylor Swift entered the country music scene in 2006 with her self-titled debut album, winning everyone over not just with her musical talent but also her distinctive curly hair. Just 16 years old at the time, the young artist embraced her natural curls, rocking the classic teen look of the time: side-swept bangs. In a 2009 interview with Glamour, Swift reminisced about her upbringing, including how her signature look often entailed messy, carefree locks. "I grew up on a Christmas tree farm with all this space to run around and the [freedom] to be a crazy kid with tangled hair," Swift told the outlet.
However, Swift, like many teenagers, often found herself yearning for something different. The grass was always greener, and for the young star, that meant envying the straight hair that seemed to define the image of popular girls at the time. In another 2009 interview, this one with Allure, she admitted that she often tried to achieve the style, saying, "All the cool girls had straight hair," before adding, "It looked so horrible — it completely frizzed out if it was humid outside, and it took me so long in the morning."
2008-2009: The singer has fun with different updos
As Taylor Swift continued to ascend in the music industry with her sophomore album "Fearless" in 2008, she also began to play with different hairstyles, adding a touch of versatility to her image. While her hair transitioned between straight and curly, the singer also started experimenting with playful updo trends, which were both youthful and classic.
In a 2008 interview with Glamour, Swift expressed her carefree attitude toward aging. "I'm going to let my hair go gray when I'm older — I don't need to be blond when I'm 60," she told the magazine. And something tells us that the Swift we know and love today still feels the same way about this. Despite her slight experimentation with styles, one constant remained throughout her Fearless era: her natural curls.
"My hair is naturally curly, so some days I just let it be," the star revealed to Allure. "But when I wake up and my hair looks like a mess, I curl my hair by wrapping the hair around the curling iron to create a spiral look. I don't use any hair products because I have this fear of putting too much mousse in it or something and my hair ending up feeling crunchy." Knowing that even a star like Swift occasionally wakes up with a bad hair day certainly makes the singer even more relatable — in case her lyrics weren't enough.
2010-2011: Taylor Swift begins parting ways with her signature curls
Taylor Swift's musical style slowly evolved toward pop as she released her third studio album, "Speak Now," in 2010. With this, her fashion and beauty choices also changed. Unfortunately for lovers of her natural hair (and that would be literally all of us), the star departed from her signature curly hair significantly. While she continued to flaunt her blond locks, a noticeable shift occurred, as straight hairstyles became her preferred look, particularly at industry events.
During a 2011 appearance on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Swift also revealed her hidden talent as an amateur hairstylist. "One day, my backup singer was like, 'I feel like I need to do something drastically different.' I said, 'Why don't you cut your hair?'" she said on the show (via Digital Spy). "She said, 'Let's do it now!' So we're kind of delirious from the road, and I get scissors, and I don't know what I'm doing! She wanted full bangs, and I was like, 'I have no training! I'm the last person you should suggest to cut your hair!'"
However, the country star went on to admit that she was pleased with the results, adding, "She looked awesome, so I started cutting all the people on the road's hair!" This brave and adventurous approach to hairstyling reflected Swift's willingness to step outside her comfort zone and try new things, even if that meant being an impromptu hairstylist.
2012-2013: Bangs become her go-to look
In 2012, Taylor Swift released the hit album "Red," and she decided to make a bold statement by embracing straight-across bangs as her go-to look. The decision to adopt this new hairstyle was made during a photoshoot for the cover of Vogue when the team suggested using clip-in bangs and straightening her hair. However, the singer proposed an alternative: "Oh, just cut it. It's Vogue" (via E! News). And just like that, her signature bangs were born.
The decision to add bangs to her look was not only a style choice but a playful and fun way for Swift to switch things up while keeping her hair length and color. In a 2011 interview with HuffPost, the "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" singer mentioned, "I wanted to change my look a little bit, and I've loved the way that bangs look on other people. I always seem to want to straighten my hair in the winter. And I think I just decided to go a step further this time."
The star was also asked about styling the bangs with her curly hair — a look we've seen her embrace a decade later — to which she said, "I think I can figure out a way to incorporate them — I was playing around with it in my hotel room, and I think that it might work both ways, but we'll see."
2014-2015: Taylor Swift goes for a chic lob
Taylor Swift's musical evolution toward pop became official with the release of "1989" in 2014, and as a part of this transformative period, she made a bold statement with her hairstyle: a sleek stretched lob. This change marked not only a departure from her signature long locks but also served as a symbolic step away from her country roots.
The decision to go for the chic lob was captured in a since-deleted video posted to Instagram (via E! News), where Swift playfully commented on the number of people witnessing her haircut, saying, "This is how many people are watching me get a haircut right now... We don't do anything without an audience, do we?"
Stars like Cara Delevingne and Ellie Goulding were there to witness the big moment, celebrating this style transformation alongside Swift. The shorter haircut suited the singer perfectly, adding the perfect touch of sophistication and boldness to her image. Swift's willingness to embrace change, both musically and aesthetically, showcased her artistic versatility and her remarkable ability to reinvent herself with each new era, all while still staying true to herself. This was the true theme of "1989" through and through. Welcome to New York, indeed.
2016: Tay-Tay goes even shorter (and, for a bit, lighter)
In 2016, Taylor Swift made an even bolder change to her look by going slightly shorter — and quite a bit lighter with her hair. At the time, it was clear that the singer was bored of her long, curly locks, and she simply wanted the complete opposite. The transformation to ultra-bleached hair was first showcased at Coachella in April 2016. The new hairstyle became synonymous with the era and was playfully dubbed "Bleachella" by fans.
Not only did she flaunt this daring look at Coachella but Swift also brought it to the prestigious Met Gala later that year. Reflecting on her bob era, Swift engaged in a candid conversation with Anna Wintour, Vogue's iconic editor-in-chief, in a video posted to Vogue's YouTube channel in 2019. Swift asked Wintour about her thoughts on the hairstyle, playfully inquiring, "You have to be really honest about this: How did you really feel when I copied your hairstyle?" To this, Wintour responded, "Taylor, I am being very, very honest, and I would like to tell you that I was honored."
2017-2018: Taylor Swift embraces her natural color and a messy, textured haircut
As Taylor Swift entered her "Reputation" era in 2017, she not only once again transformed her musical style but also returned to embracing her natural hair color and texture. The release of her sixth studio album marked another shift in her image, and her hairstyle was a big part of that.
During most of the "Reputation" era, Swift decided to let go of the sleek and straight looks, opting for a more wavy and textured haircut. While she maintained her signature bangs, her focus shifted to showcasing the beauty of her natural hair color and texture. This decision ultimately reflected a sense of authenticity and a departure from the carefully crafted image associated with her previous era. The messy and textured haircut became a symbol of her evolution as an artist and a woman who was unapologetically true to herself. As her lead single from this era so aptly said, "Look what you made me do."
2019: The Lover era sees her go a bit lighter
Once Taylor Swift ventured into the "Lover" era in 2019, she infused playfulness and color into her look, leaving behind the black-and-white ensembles of the "Reputation" era. She lightened her hair during this period, showcasing a softer look that resonated with the joyful and romantic themes of her "Lover" album. One notable experiment was the star's playful embrace of fun and colorful hair ends. While the pink hue wasn't a permanent addition to her signature blond locks, it marked a colorful phase for the star. And the fun didn't stop there: The "You Need to Calm Down" singer even rocked blue hair tips on the cover of this album — a vibrant choice that certainly added a whimsical touch to her aesthetic.
In her "30 Things I Learned Before Turning 30" interview with Elle in 2019, Swift reflected on the evolution of her hair texture. "I learned that your hair can completely change texture. From birth, I had the curliest hair, and now it is straight. It's the straight hair I wished for every day in junior high," Swift told the outlet. "But just as I was coming to terms with loving my curls, they've left me. Please pray for their safe return." Luckily, the star's curls have slowly been making a comeback since.
2020-2021: Taylor Swift returns to her roots
With COVID-19 lockdowns in place across the globe and the usual access to hairstylists limited, Taylor Swift embraced a return to her natural hair color in 2020 and 2021, opting for a classic and timeless cut that reflected her shift toward simplicity. As the world navigated the uncertainties of the pandemic, Swift, who's known for her resilience and creativity, utilized this time to bless fans with not just one but two surprise albums: "Folklore" and "Evermore." Her simpler hair during this time mirrored the broader shift toward a more grounded and authentic approach to life — and for Swift, that included a shift toward stripped-back and folk-inspired music, too.
In a conversation with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, Swift disclosed that she'd taken on the role of her own hairstylist during the lockdowns. "I haven't had a haircut by anyone except for myself since lockdown started," the singer revealed. "I can't ask my hair and makeup people and my stylist to quarantine for two weeks away from their families. I'm not going to ask them to do that and ask them to fly and expose themselves to the virus." The star's casual approach to her hairstyle aligned with the collective need for simplicity and adaptability during a time of global upheaval. But we also can't deny that those natural curls and dark blond shade are always stunning on the star.
2022: She keeps her color but explores different hairstyles
Once the world began to recover from the pandemic, Taylor Swift maintained her natural hair color while embarking on a fun journey that featured various hairstyles. In fact, known for her subtle art of dropping hints, Swift even used her hair as an Easter egg — a playful hint for keen-eyed fans who adore decoding her hidden messages in everything from her music videos to her manicures.
At the 2022 American Music Awards, Swift sported curls reminiscent of her "Speak Now" era. Swifties instantly connected the dots and speculated that this hairstyle could be a teaser for her next re-recording release. Of course, they were absolutely right — Swift did, in fact, release "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" in 2023. This was just one example of how the star is no stranger to using her hair not only as an expression of her style but also as a means for storytelling.
2023: The star grows her hair out in time for the Eras Tour
As Taylor Swift took the stage for the iconic Eras Tour in 2023, one striking element stole the spotlight — the remarkable length of her hair. Swift fully embraced her long locks, and they even became an essential part of the visual narrative for each performance. Anyone who's been to any of the shows (or has seen clips from them on social media) definitely noticed that Swift's hair helped the star add an extra layer of dynamic expression to her on-stage storytelling. Throughout the tour, the singer let her hair flow freely, opting to wear it down and allowing its length to fall down gracefully with every movement she made. And in an occasional nostalgic twist, the humidity in the air would work its magic, allowing those charming curls of hers that we all fell in love with in 2006 to come back, even if for a short time.
At the 2023 world premiere of the "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" concert movie, the star showed up on the red carpet with a faux bob. The carefully crafted illusion echoed her iconic "1989"-era bob, sparking speculation among fans about a drastic haircut. Swift, being the maestro of surprises that she is, was undoubtedly giving us an Easter egg, as "1989 (Taylor's Version)" was released later that month.
2024-Present: Taylor Swift keeps it natural and classy
Now in her mid-30s, it's clear that Taylor Swift radiates an unparalleled confidence that captivates everyone's attention. As the artist continues to reclaim her music and tell her stories, her appearance mirrors her strength — and she has never looked more enchanting. In 2024, the singer's long and healthy hair remains a focal point of her look. In this era of her career — which is characterized by confidence, empowerment, and, yes, torture, if the album title "The Tortured Poets Department" is anything to go by — her hairstyle perfectly complements her music and public persona.
And as Swift continues her remarkable journey as a woman and as an artist, it's uncertain what the future holds for her hairstyle. Still, one thing is undeniable: Whether she decides to embrace a new era of hairstyles or maintain her current look, fans will follow along eagerly, celebrating each twist and turn in the story of Swift (and her hair).