Ariana Grande is officially saying goodbye to her Wicked-blonde era and embracing her natural brunette once again. In a new interview with Entertainment Tonight, the 32-year-old pop star revealed the reason behind her latest transformation ahead of the Wicked: For Good press tour.
“With the first [Wicked] press tour, I wanted to celebrate Glinda in a more on-the-nose way — through clothes, through the blonde and through everything,” Grande said. “Now I can show up as the actress who played her and play into the darker tones of the movie. It’s fun to play with hair and makeup and fashion,” per People.
After years of associating her blonde hair with her portrayal of Glinda, Grande explained that her new look marks a transition, not just in appearance but in mindset. “Now I can show up as the actress who played her,” she said, signaling her move from character back to self as she steps into a new chapter of her career.
Ariana’s Viral Hair Reveal
The Grammy winner debuted her brunette transformation in late October, sharing a mirror selfie on Instagram captioned with Glinda’s iconic line: “it’s good to see me, isn’t it?” The post quickly went viral, marking her official farewell to the blonde shade she’d worn for three years.
Grande reportedly worked with colorist Francesco De Chiara for the fresh chocolate-brown hue, signaling a symbolic return to her natural roots.
A Look Back at Ariana’s Hair Evolution
Grande’s hair journey has mirrored her artistic evolution from child actor to global pop icon. In her early years, she wore her natural dark curls before dyeing her hair bright red for her “Victorious” and “Sam & Cat” roles between 2010 and 2013, a process that left lasting damage. By late 2013, she began experimenting with her now-famous half-up ponytail and lighter brown tones.
From 2014 to 2017, Grande perfected her iconic high ponytail, alternating between light brown and ombré blonde styles before going full platinum in 2017. She later returned to brunette for her “Sweetener” and “Thank U, Next” eras, often pairing her ponytail with statement gowns and sky-high boots.
GettyIn 2022, Grande’s transformation into Glinda introduced fans to her radiant blonde look once again — one that defined her for nearly three years. But with “Wicked: For Good” now wrapping its global rollout and her 2026 “Eternal Sunshine” world tour on the horizon, her return to brunette feels like a fitting full-circle moment.
Grande’s evolution has never been just about fashion or color, it’s about reinvention. As she told Entertainment Tonight, “It’s fun to play with hair and makeup and fashion.”
