Rihanna's Changing Looks

By Instyle
Updated Feb 20, 2018 @ 9:30 am
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1 of 29

2005

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"I'll never have my hair long and light brown again," the Music of the Sun chanteuse has said of this look. "It was too generic."

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2 of 29

2006

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Natural curls and a sun-free glow. "I always use bronzer because it makes you look like you have a tan before you actually get one," she told InStyle.

3 of 29

2006

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Rihanna released A Girl Like Me and played around with waist-length extensions: "I hate sticking with the same thing."

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4 of 29

2007

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Rihanna appeared at the Kids' Choice Awards with a sleek asymmetrical bob.

5 of 29

2007

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Just as her angled bob became the haircut to have, the Good Girl Gone Bad hottie switched it up with long blunt bangs.

6 of 29

2008

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Tattoos and Cartier gems? Rihanna looked pretty edgy in a jeweled headband and shimmery makeup.

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7 of 29

2009

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RiRi looked back to an '80s fave for her next style. "This crop is very similar to a bowl-cut," said hairstylist Ursula Stephens, who created the look.

8 of 29

2009

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"Rihanna did this look herself - it was her own take on the cut," said her hairstylist, Ursula Stephens. "She basically just used a flatiron and shaped it in different directions for that wild, spiky effect."

9 of 29

2009

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The experiments continued with a tidal-wave of a pompadour.

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10 of 29

2009

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"Why dye when you can just buy?" asked Ursula Stephens of the star's extension-aided highlights. "We kept saying we wanted to play around with color, but we didn't want to do anything too sweet."

11 of 29

2009

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Rihanna went for flaxen strands and a shimmery, '60s-inspired glow for her return to the red carpet.

12 of 29

2010

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The multi-talented star, who added girlie curls to her edgy crop, will spend the year on tour in support of her latest album, Rated R.

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13 of 29

2010

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Rihanna attended the Grammys with a blond pompadour.

14 of 29

2010

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While in Spain for her Last Girl On Earth tour, Rihanna made headlines once again with a crayon-red crop.

15 of 29

2010

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"While she was working on Loud, I brought a few color swatches; of course, she chose the loudest one," her hairstylist Ursula Stephen says, adding the color reflects the singer's inner strength.

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16 of 29

2011

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Rihanna channeled a pinup girl for her Today Show performance with '40s-inspired coral curls and matching lipstick.

17 of 29

2011

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A switch to a softer auburn shade and natural makeup hues. "Her golden skin tone works with browns and a beigey pink lip," makeup artist Mylah Morales told InStyle.

18 of 29

2012

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"Bleach + weave #WERQ," Tweeted Rihanna of her fresh blond shag. She wore it in loose waves for the Grammys.

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19 of 29

2012

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Rihanna debuted fresh fringe at the BRIT Awards. "I wanted to give her bangs minus the harsh line, so I layered them with a razor to create some softness," said her hairstylist Ursula Stephen.

20 of 29

2012

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Always full of surprises, Rihanna revealed a pitch-black undercut mane at a Battleship press conference in Japan.

21 of 29

2012

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For the Costume Institute Gala, Rihanna twisted her undercut style into a dramatic updo.

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22 of 29

2012

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Rihanna debuted a pixie at the MTV Video Music Awards. "We've been talking about going short for a little while now, and we actually planned to cut it the following week, but I just felt like - why wait... Let's do it for today!" her hairstylist Ursula Stephen told InStyle.com. "Rihanna was ready for her short hair again."

23 of 29

2013

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For the 2013 Grammy Awards, the nominated singer matched her crimson lip with her red Azzedine Alaia gown and kept her ombre hair simple with loose curls.

24 of 29

2013

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Never one to shy away from a hair risk, Rihanna revealed a new cut with layered fringe. "Rihanna wanted something different, edgy, and fun, but simple at the same time," Motions Celebrity Stylist Ursula Stephen told InStyle.com exclusively. "We don’t like neat or perfect hair — that balance of perfectly-imperfect has always been our thing."

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25 of 29

2014

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Rihanna sported long glossy raven waves and natural makeup for Roc-Nation's Pre-Grammy Brunch celebration.

26 of 29

2015

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RiRi paired a sleek straight blowout with her strapless gown for the 2nd Annual Diamond Ball in Santa Monica, Calif.

27 of 29

2016

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The singer sported a major change—a wavy bob and newly cut fringe—at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards.

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28 of 29

2017

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For the 59th annual Grammy Awards, Rihanna was back to red, matching her wavy locks with her sparkly crop top.

29 of 29

2017

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Rihanna was back to brunette in late 2017, rocking her waves in a half-up hairstyle.

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