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hair stories
August 24, 2017

Your Guide to Rihanna’s Best Hairstyles

By Ashley Weatherford@sincerelyash

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In 2005, the world was introduced to a video site called YouTube, Crash won the Oscar for Best Picture, and Robyn Fenty released an urgent appeal to a DJ. In the twelve years since, the juggernaut known as Rihanna has evolved musically and stylistically. More to the point: her hair has changed a lot.

Rihanna’s hair journey is full of twists and turns. She’s been a redhead, a blonde, and the owner of rainbow hair. Her hair has been very long, very short, and everywhere in between. Here is a chronology of all of her hairstyles over the past dozen years.

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1 / 38 Photos
2005, on the set of TRL On a Pon de Replay high, Rihanna experimented with a little bit of everything: cornrows, bangs, and curled extensions. P... 2005, on the set of TRL On a Pon de Replay high, Rihanna experimented with a little bit of everything: cornrows, bangs, and curled extensions. Photo: Theo Wargo/WireImage
2005, at Z100's Jingle Ball A little less busy, but not boring. This is Rihanna, after all. Photo: Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic
2006, at a press call in New York Spotted: the rare Rihanna chignon. Photo: Jason Kempin/FilmMagic
2006, at the Billboard Music Awards With hair darkened and longer, Rihanna starts to sharpen her edge. Photo: John Sciulli/WireImage
2007, at the Grammys Good girl gone bronde. Photo: Jesse Grant/WireImage
2007, at the MTV Movie Awards Yes, Rihanna is wearing Lego hair. Any questions? Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
2007, at the American Music Awards Curls! Photo: Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images
2008, at a press call in New York She's your maroon pixie dream girl. Photo: James Devaney/WireImage
2008, at the MTV Video Music Awards A splash of blonde, for flavor. Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
2009, at the Inglorious Basterds premiere Gravity? This hair has never heard of it. Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
2010, at the Grammys A pixie-meets-side-shave-meets-Rihanna. Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
2010, at the Grammys Like a mullet, only the party in the back is actually cool. Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
2010, at Rock in Rio Madrid Fiery-red Rihanna emerges. Photo: Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images
2010, at the American Music Awards An abundance of curls. Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
2011, at a pre-Grammys party Disney hasn’t said whether they used this image as inspiration for Brave, but their silence is suspicious. Photo: J... 2011, at a pre-Grammys party Disney hasn’t said whether they used this image as inspiration for Brave, but their silence is suspicious. Photo: Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic
2011, at her fragrance launch A red updo? Why not? Photo: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images
2011, at the Met Gala A fiery braid to pair with the carpet. Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
2012, at the Grammys Rihanna does the Tina Turner. Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
2012, at a press junket Blonde, but not political blonde. Photo: Jon Furniss/WireImage
2012, at the Battleship premiere Just kidding. Back to black. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
2012, at the MTV Video Music Awards Five years later, Katy Perry would get the same haircut. Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images
2013, at the Grammys The bronde is back. Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
2013, at the "Rihanna for River Island" store launch Rihanna knows a thing or two about being (side) faded. Photo: Stuart Wilson/Getty... 2013, at the "Rihanna for River Island" store launch Rihanna knows a thing or two about being (side) faded. Photo: Stuart Wilson/Getty Images
2013, at the American Music Awards Remember when Rihanna made half of America Google “doobie”? Photo: Christopher Polk/AMA2013/Getty Images for DCP
2014, at Paris Fashion Week A classic look for a Chanel show. Photo: Dominique Charriau/WireImage
2014, at the iHeart Radio Music Awards Rihanna paired Bantu knots with green lipstick, naturally. Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Clear Ch... 2014, at the iHeart Radio Music Awards Rihanna paired Bantu knots with green lipstick, naturally. Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Clear Channel
2014, at the Christian Dior cruise show A look just isn’t a look without expertly laid baby hairs. Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Christia... 2014, at the Christian Dior cruise show A look just isn’t a look without expertly laid baby hairs. Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Christian Dior
2014, at a Clippers game What do you mean you don’t match your hair to your handbag? Photo: Noel Vasquez/GC Images
2014, backstage at Edun Beach hair for a woman who is always on vacation. Photo: Gary Gershoff/WireImage
2015, at the Met Gala Primary-colored hair to match a primary-colored gown. Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images
2015, out and about in New York What kind of curl cream do you think Rihanna uses? Photo: James Devaney/GC Images
2015, at Paris Fashion Week Kind of curly, kind of straight, but mostly brilliant. Photo: Dominique Charriau/WireImage
2016, at the Brit Awards Can’t be a coincidence that Rihanna is in London looking like a Bond heroine. Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images
2016, at Black Girls Rock Of course Rihanna wears jewelry in her hair. Doesn’t everyone? Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic
2016, at the Billboard Music Awards Piecey, with a side of bangs. Photo: David Becker/Getty Images
2017, at the Grammys We’ve come full circle with the long brown hair. Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage
2017, at the annual Parsons benefit The trick to Rihanna’s wet hair look? A combination of water and hair serum, her hairstylist told the Cut in ... 2017, at the annual Parsons benefit The trick to Rihanna’s wet hair look? A combination of water and hair serum, her hairstylist told the Cut in June. Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for The New School
2017, at the Valerian premiere Boring hair has never been Rihanna’s style. Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage
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