Rihanna's Changing Looks

By Instyle
Updated Feb 20, 2018 @ 9:30 am
Michael Tran/FilmMagic

0115

Start Slideshow

1 of 29

2005

Credit: David Livingston/Zuma Press

"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."

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 29

2006

Credit: Tina Paul/Retna

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

Credit: Paul Smith/Retna

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

Advertisement

4 of 29

2007

Credit: Sara De Boer/Retna

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

5 of 29

2007

Credit: Jackie Butler/Retna

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

Credit: Dara Kushner/INF

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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 29

2009

Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

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

Credit: Debra L. Rothenberg/Startraks

"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

Credit: Hussein Samir/Sipa

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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 29

2009

Credit: Bauer-Griffin

"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

Credit: Retna

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

12 of 29

2010

Credit: Abaca

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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 29

2010

Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

Rihanna attended the Grammys with a blond pompadour.

14 of 29

2010

Credit: John Phillips/Abaca

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

15 of 29

2010

Credit: WENN.com

"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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 29

2011

Credit: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic

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

17 of 29

2011

Credit: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

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

Credit: Apega/WENN.com

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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 29

2012

Credit: James Higgins / Splash News

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

Credit: Jun Sato/WireImage

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

21 of 29

2012

Credit: Torem Craig/ WENN

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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 29

2012

Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

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

Credit: Adriana M. Barraza/WENN

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

Credit: D. DaSilva/Rex/REX USA

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."

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 29

2014

Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

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

26 of 29

2015

Credit: Barry King/Getty

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

27 of 29

2016

Credit: Allen Berezovsky/Getty

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

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

28 of 29

2017

Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

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

29 of 29

2017

Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage

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

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

By Instyle