Taylor Swift's Hair Transformation From Country Star Curls To Bleached Bob
When Taylor Swift first launched her career as a country singer back in 2006, the then-16-year-old musician quickly became known for her autobiographical songwriting, sweetheart personality, and voluminous mane of curls. "They don't cut my hair," the young artist said about hairstylists during a 2009 behind-the-scenes interview. "That's like the one thing that they're not allowed to do, because the hair is the power source. I have nothing without it."
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Swift has since transformed from country starlet to billionaire popstar and football WAG, with her once curly, long hair undergoing major changes along the way. Throughout her distinct musical and fashion eras, the "Fortnight" singer has experimented with different lengths, textures, and styles, ranging from stick-straight locks to a bleached bob. While these style experiments have resulted in both fashion hits and misses, it's undeniable that Swift has undergone a major hair transformation.
Taylor's curly hair was a staple of her early career
The look that Taylor Swift sported during the 2007 CMT Music Awards is emblematic of her early career hairstyles, with the teen songwriter wearing her long hair down in defined ringlets alongside the green-and-blue gown worn in her "Teardrops on My Guitar" music video. Her curly hair continued to be a mainstay throughout her first three albums, but looser curls and a variety of styles were more common throughout the Fearless and Speak Now album cycles.
Taylor's Red era saw the star in straight-across bangs
The release of "Red," Taylor Swift's fourth studio album, saw the Pennsylvania native shifting away from her country sweetheart aesthetic and towards a more classic and vintage fashion style. As seen at the Z100's Jingle Ball in 2012, where Swift performed hits like "I Knew You Were Trouble," this meant shedding her iconic curls for straight-across bangs paired with a slight wave or loose curl. She had briefly rocked a blunt bang during a 2010 red carpet appearance, but they were a defining style element of her Red era.
The singer made headlines when she cut her hair short
Taylor Swift's 1989 era marked many major changes for the musician, as she released her first fully pop album, relocated to New York City, and chopped off all her hair. The above-shoulder cut and side-swept bangs were paired with skater skirts or crop tops in paparazzi shots and rocked on the red carpet with chic, designer pieces. An example of the latter comes from the 2014 American Music Awards, where Swift accepted the Dick Clark Award for Excellence from Diana Ross in a minty green Michael Kors dress.
Her bleach blond bob of 2016 marks a bold, but short-lived look
One of Taylor Swift's boldest hair looks of all time is the chin-length, bleach blonde bob that the "Cruel Summer" singer debuted on the May cover of Vogue in 2016. Known as bleachella, as Swift sported the eye-catching hairstyle at Coachella following its magazine launch, the chopped look also made an appearance at the 2016 Met Gala. The Pennsylvania native paired her bob with a snakeskin-print dress from Louis Vuitton and a dark, berry-colored lipstick for an unforgettable, but divisive look.
The release of Lover saw Taylor in a shaggy lob
For her seventh studio album "Lover," Taylor Swift's fashion consisted of bold patterns and florals, pastel and vibrant colors, and whimsical pieces and style elements. She paired these flirty and feminine outfits with a shaggy, shoulder-length lob and tapered bangs. Swift sported the style at the 2019 VMAs shortly after the release of her album, performing "You Need to Calm Down" and "Lover" for the show's opening ceremony. On the red carpet, the music star paired her short hairstyle with a beaded-patterned, dress-length blazer from Versace and thigh-high boots.
Taylor channeled natural, cottagecore hairstyles for Folklore and Evermore
While "1989" marked Taylor Swift's full pivot towards pop music, sister albums "Folklore" and "Evermore" saw the Hollywood figure adopting an indie folk-inspired sound. The style around these albums was very English countryside and cottagecore with a dash of academia. In this way, Swift embraced a more au naturale approach to her hair, with some of her natural curls and waves often shining through. The singer also sported lots of braids and low updos during this period, as seen at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. For the event, she wore choppy bangs and twisted her hair into two low buns for a whimsical look that paired perfectly with her flower-adorned dress.
The singer kept it casual with the release of Midnights
Taylor Swift maintained a more relaxed approach to her hair styling with the release of her album "Midnights" in 2022, with her long-haired looks often revealing a natural wave. The singer shifted towards more retro, often '70s-inspired pieces for the record's roll-out and donned dark-colored, sparkly ensembles for her red carpet appearances. The latter of which was on full-display during her arrival at the VMAs afterparty, with Swift sporting a dark blue Moschino romper decorated with stars. She had let her hair down for the post-show celebration, having announced the upcoming release of "Midnights" during the award ceremony, and brushed her full bangs to the side for a wind-swept look.
Taylor's game day looks include voluminous waves
Beyond her album-centered eras, Taylor Swift has had a major style evolution since she began dating football star Travis Kelce. Her game day looks range from sporty chic to casual americana, with the popstar often rocking a cute ponytail, natural waves, or a voluminous blowout with her outfits. The double denim ensemble that Swift wore in September 2024 is a great example of how she likes to feature some casual volume in her game day styling, with the songwriter wearing some brushed-through curls with side-swept bangs for a classic-feeling vibe.