Whenever Ariana Grande is mentioned, alongside her hit songs and powerful vocals, many fans immediately think of her iconic ponytail hairstyle. Throughout the past decade, this hairstyle has become an integral part of Ariana’s image. In fact, it would be difficult to find an image of the singer during this time without her signature high ponytail. However, few people know that behind this hairstyle that defines Ariana’s brand, there is a story of significant damage to her hair.
Ariana Grande’s ponytail hairstyle
In 2014, Ariana Grande first opened up to her fans about the “struggle” she faced with her hair on her personal Facebook page. She wrote, “I had to bleach my hair and dye it red every other week for the first four years of playing Cat. And as one would assume, that completely destroyed my hair. I wear extensions, but I wear it in a ponytail because my actual hair is so broken that it looks absolutely ratchet and absurd when I let it down.”
Ariana’s confession shed light on the extensive damage her hair had endured due to frequent bleaching and dyeing for her role as Cat in the TV show Sam & Cat. This led to her reliance on hair extensions and the signature high ponytail to conceal the condition of her real hair, which had suffered from severe breakage and loss.
Ariana Grande’s red hair
Since her debut album “Yours Truly” up until her recent era with “Positions,” Ariana Grande has consistently chosen the high ponytail hairstyle, regardless of whether her hair is bleached or styled with volume. This hairstyle remains a frequent choice for the singer whenever she appears in public. Many beauty magazines have praised Ariana’s ponytail for its ability to give her a sophisticated, elegant, and captivating look.
At the same time, as Ariana has previously shared, this hairstyle has been a “lifesaver” for her damaged hair. However, according to beauty experts, regularly tying the ponytail at the same position can strain the hair where the elastic band is in contact with the hair, especially if the ponytail is tied too tightly. Continuous friction on the hair strands can lead to breakage and hair loss.
Hairstyles across Ariana Grande’s music eras
Perhaps that’s why, starting from the “Positions” era to the present, Ariana Grande has gradually abandoned her “timeless” hairstyle. Fans have seen the singer appearing with natural, flowing hair or lightly tied-up hair. However, recently, Ariana decided to bleach her hair to a platinum blonde color, which is her latest transformation for her role as Glinda in the movie adaptation of “Wicked.”
Physical transformations to suit a particular role are quite common in the entertainment industry. However, considering Ariana Grande’s hair’s already severe damage from chemicals and styling, many fans have expressed concern and sympathy for her on social media forums and fan groups.
