Kelly Clarkson's Stunning Hair Transformation

Kelly Clarkson has had a stunning hair transformation since being crowned the original "American Idol" in 2002. She's gone from a fresh-faced vocal powerhouse, to "The Voice" coach, to talk show legend, and she's almost had a new hairstyle for every era of her impressive career. Much of those changes have been down to Clarkson's talented glam squad, who she's praised on multiple occasions. "I feel like it's like the mom makeover on the 'Today' show. I walk in and then I walk out and I'm like, 'Damn!'" she joked to People in 2018. "I would love to take any credit for anything that's happening with the glam squad, but my team is insane."

All that talent has made for some bold looks, including when Clarkson debuted a half-shaved head in 2015 with long, blonde tresses on the other side. "I went to my hair girl and I was like, 'I need something different, I need something to make me feel less like a mom.' Because I just felt like I was super locked up," she explained to PopCrush, admitting she copied the stylist's exact style for one of her edgiest 'dos ever. But that was far from the only time Clarkson tried something new with her hair.

Kelly Clarkson auditioned for "American Idol" with a mousy brown bob, but it wasn't long until she got a celebrity makeover. As she got further into the competition, Clarkson's signature look became a darker version of her original cut with chunky highlights (a style that returned in 2024). The singer experimented with up-dos and down-dos on the show and kept the stripes as her career took off, even adding red streaks for her debut album cover. "Chunky highlights I actually excelled in," Clarkson admitted in a 2019 "The Kelly Clarkson Show" digital extra. "At the time I thought I was so edgy and cool," she added, also confessing she was still a fan of all forms of highlights. How could we blame her when she looked so good with them?

As Kelly Clarkson's career progressed, she embraced a slightly grungier image. Around the time she released her second album, "Breakaway," her chunky highlighted bob was replaced by long, blonde tresses that felt more in keeping with her new popstar persona. The warm, golden shade was gorgeous with her skin tone, but Clarkson still wasn't afraid to experiment beyond color. She appeared at the ReAct Now: Music and Relief Hurricane Benefit Concert in September 2005 with a voluminous chest-length 'do, which may have had a little help from extensions. The month before that, she looked glamorous and sophisticated at the MTV Video Music Awards with a chic pompadour.

In 2007, Kelly Clarkson underwent a dramatic hair change. Amid the release of her experimental heavier album "My December," the "Since U Been Gone" hitmaker returned to the brunette bob. That February, she showed off a shaggy, choppy version with a deep side-part and side-swept bangs (which was a massive trend at the time) during a press conference. When she appeared at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards two months later though, she'd grown it out to be chicer and sleeker. Clarkson stunned with a classic middle part bob in glossy deep brunette with warm chestnut undertones.

By late 2016, after experimenting with her half-shaved head, Kelly Clarkson was a mom of two and seemingly ready for a softer hairstyle that fit with her new lifestyle. That October, Clarkson hit the red carpet with fully grown-out balayage light and dirty blonde locks. Balayage — which is more customizable than classic highlights or babylights — can be ideal for busy moms as root grow-out is part of the look, so it requires less frequent touch-ups. Clarkson was still changing up her styling though. Two months later, she appeared at SiriusXM Studio with a stunning straight mane that better showed the color difference between her roots and ends.

In November 2023, Kelly Clarkson was ready for a subtle yet effective change. The star had breezy wispy bangs cut into darker blonde locks, which framed her face in the most gorgeous, delicate way. The star had slightly longer pieces on either side of her face for a softening effect, allowing the bangs to easily fade into the rest of her hair. Clarkson debuted the flattering look on "The Kelly Clarkson Show"'s Instagram, where fans were full of praise. "I love the bangs," one person wrote. "Kelly, you look so awesome. I just love your bangs!" another commented. She still had the look in September 2024, but had modified it slightly via a fuller version of the flirty eyelash bangs trend.