Celebs Who Completely Changed Their Hair After A Breakup

Style icon Coco Chanel once famously said, "A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life." Or, maybe she just did. Post breakup hair is a real thing (as anyone who has ever cut their own bangs while crying in the bathroom will tell you), and even celebrities are not immune to it. When a public heartbreak makes headlines, you can almost bet there will be a sassy new style to follow. It's right up there with the revenge dress (or a Taylor Swift song) when it comes to ways of moving on after a messy split. After all, a new 'do can make you feel empowered, confident, sexy and strong, even if you're falling apart on the inside. In the words of Miss Swift, it shows the world, "I can do it with a broken heart." 

More than just a way to help you fake it 'til you make it, there are deeper, psychological reasons that changing up your look can be a productive way to put the past behind you. Psychologist Dr. Jaime Zuckerman told Harper's Bazaar that it can represent a "rebirth of sorts." "Our hair is very personal," Dr. Zuckerman explained. "It is one of only a few aspects of our body that we can outwardly convey our style, personality, and identity." Beyond that, when you look good, you feel good, and sometimes a fresh cut or color can do wonders for the self-esteem. Especially when it ignites a flurry of ego-boosting compliments. 

The term "trauma bangs" was coined as a way to describe the trend of cutting bangs when everything else in your world is going wrong, and that includes a breakup. However, as Nicole Kidman demonstrated when she strolled into Paris Fashion Week in the wake of her breakup from husband Keith Urban, not all bangs are traumatic. Her soft fringe was stylish, sexy, and right on point with the latest Birkin bang trend that is sweeping salons. Although it wasn't as drastic as, say, sporting a pixie cut, Nicole Kidmans' bold breakup hairstyle totally transformed her look into something that was, dare we say it, "urban" chic? 

Kidman and Urban share two teen daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret, both of whom accompanied their mom to the Chanel Womenswear Spring/Summer show where she debuted her new look. The couple split after nearly two decades of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences, but the most salacious details about the Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's split we've learned so far have included rumors of his infidelity.  Sources close to Kidman told People that the breakup was not her idea. "She didn't want this," the source confirmed. "She has been fighting to save the marriage." Having your marriage fall apart in the public eye would be tough for anyone, but Kidman seemed calm, cool, and collected while posing with her girls on the red Parisian carpet.  Her baggy jeans, white tuxedo shirt, and bangin' hair, all seemed to scream, "Keith who?" 

Reese Witherspoon covered up her heartbreak, and her forehead, with a fringe after her split from her first husband, Ryan Phillippe. In a case of "less is more" Witherspoon straightened her locks and added side sweeping bangs for a red carpet appearance that drew rave reviews. "It really was kind of a game-changer," celebrity hairstylist Mark Townsend told The Glow Memo. "No one ever told her, 'You've got a heart-shaped face, you'd look great with a fringe.' She's been able to incorporate it into every one of her looks. As an actress, she has to change her look all the time, but she keeps that nice long fringe going because it works so well for her."

Witherspoon's hair isn't the only upgrade she experienced since her very public split from Phillippe with whom she shares two of her three children. The situation seemed to usher in a stronger, more grown-up version of the actor who eventually transformed into a billion-dollar businesswoman. When her second marriage to Jim Toth ended, Witherspoon once again cut her bangs, as seen on Instagram, and cut off any speculation about her relationship by addressing the breakup head on. "When I was divorced before, the tabloid media got to tell people how I was feeling or how I was processing, and it felt very out of control," she told Harper's Bazaar. This time, the "Legally Blonde" star took charge and, while she admitted it was a "vulnerable time," she said, "I don't feel isolated at all." 

Do blonds really have more fun? That's what Selena Gomez seemed to be trying to figure out after a not-so-fun split with The Weekend. In one of Selena Gomez's most unforgettable red carpet moments, the "Wolves" singer debuted a new, edgy platinum bob and rocker chick vibe at the AMAs. Gomez, who was performing for the first time since her well-publicized kidney transplant, didn't seem too broken up over the recent breakup, but maybe that's because she was rumored to be back in the arms of former flame, Justin Bieber. Those rumors proved to be true, but the reunion didn't last long, and neither did the blond. Gomez was back to brown following a "break" from the Biebs and sporting an even shorter, chin-grazing bob. 

Going from blond to dark, or long to short isn't something that should be done on a whim. As Gomez's stylist Marissa Marino told W Magazine, there are several things to consider before making a big change. She recommended thinking it over for at least a month before making your move. If you're still determined, that's a good sign. "Then the chance of loving it is pretty high because you were really ready for it," explained Marino. Go to the salon armed with photos of what you like, and discuss realistic expectations, especially if you are doing something dramatic. "It might be something that needs to be done in phases and won't be where you want it to be in the first appointment," cautioned Marino. "Be patient and trust your stylist!" 

Taylor swift is no stranger to heartbreak or haircuts. In fact, the "Life Of A Showgirl" singer's hair has had almost as many eras as her career. From her long, curly country days, to her sleek, swingy bob, she's rocked several styles throughout her career. None have been too drastic until her breakup with Tom Hiddleston. Then the singer turned to trusted Irish stylist Gareth Bromell to help her enter her shag era. Bromell gave the "Shake It Off" singer lots of layers across her newly lightened locks for a look that was less ladylike and more livin' life large. 

"Taylor wanted a bit of a change with her fringe and her bangs and the style of it. What's really modern at the moment is the shag hairstyle, which is a really heavy fringe chopped into at the ends with a bit of layering through it," Bromell explained to the Irish Examiner, and added that he traveled to Swift's home to do her new 'do. "The shag is even more playful because you don't have to blow dry the hair that much because it's meant to be soft and flicky." Perhaps it was that playfulness that inspired Swift to step out on the town to show off her new look at a birthday party for the English model and actor Liberty Ross. While there, she danced and took photos with Bromell, who had nothing but praise for the megastar. "She is a beautiful, humble, amazing girl," he said. 

Demi Lovato was "Sorry Not Sorry" for making a bold hair statement when she lopped off her signature long, dark mane and started rocking a pink pixie cut. The look was strong and empowering, two things we'd imagine Lovato wanted to feel on the heels of the breakup of her engagement to Max Ehrich. In an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in 2021, the singer revealed to the host that cutting her hair made her feel "more like myself." "I feel more authentic to who I am, and I also feel like I used to hide behind my hair," the singer admitted. 

Lovato has always been open about her issues with drugs, alcohol, and an eating disorder, all of which the former Disney Channel star has worked hard to overcome. Her new look was a reflection of the strength it took to get her to where she was in her life. "Demi's new look is inspired by her own personal growth," stylist Amber Bolt, who created the new short look, told Us Weekly. "We're moving into a new decade/era and so is her hair." 

Creating the lighter look was a two-day process  that involved a lot of products, but the end result was worth it. "Her hair is a direct reflection of who she is," said Bolt. "I always say changing your hair drastically allows you to own yourself in a way you never thought. You get to reflect the new version of you and grow into something greater."

After her first split with Orlando Bloom in 2017, Katy Perry blossomed from a "Dark Horse" into a bright blond. Perry lopped her long locks into a sassy pixie style and then the platinum recording artist went platinum herself. Celebrity stylist Chris McMillan (of "The Rachel" fame) created the look for Perry, but her inspiration to do it came from another famous female. "I want to redefine what it means to be feminine," Perry told Hello! "Look at Scarlett Johansson, who's one of the most beautiful women in the world. You can be hot and look great with this kind of hair. Why not?"

This isn't the first time Perry has been inspired by Johansson. The actor was also the unwitting muse of Perry's hit "I Kissed A Girl." "'I Kissed a Girl' was inspired when I opened up a magazine and I saw a picture of Scarlett Johansson," Perry told Steppin' Out magazine (per NME). "I was with my boyfriend at the time, and I said to him, 'I'm not going to lie: If Scarlett Johansson walked into the room and wanted to make out with me, I would make out with her. I hope you're okay with that?'" For her part, Johansson was unaware she was the object of Perry's desire, but the actor told Allure (via People) she was flattered all the same."I had no idea [about the song]," she said. "I should get a cut!"

The princess of the power ponytail had a brief flirtation with shorter hair shortly after her engagement to Pete Davidson was called off. The singer posted the new look, a shoulder-grazing bob, in a since-deleted Instagram post (per Fashion Magazine) with what appeared to be a cat-face filter. It wasn't long, however, before the singer said "Thank You, Next," and returned to her pre-breakup pony. Not surprising considering she once shared with Byrdie (via Refinery29) that she'd been rocking the look since the fourth grade and that it makes her happy. "It brings me so much joy, honestly," she gushed. "Every time I put my hair up, it's like a surprise. Like, I forget how much I love it." 

So why the shorter cut? And was it even real? Grande's stylist, Josh Liu, told Refinery 29 that the cut was "just a project we're working on." Maybe the real truth is that the "Wicked" star's bob, like her relationship with Davidson, wasn't meant to be forever. Maybe her true love is her ponytail, as it does seem to be her longest and most steadfast relationship. "This is what makes me comfortable and I feel like there's a thousand different ways to do a ponytail," Grande said of her signature style and added, "A million!" 

But the "blink and you missed it bob" is long gone. While Grande still sports a ponytail from time to time, her "Wicked" campaign trail saw her embrace a lot more slick-back buns and long flowing waves.

There have been numerous post-divorce celebrity transformations that had heads turning, but few have been as jaw-dropping as Khloé Kardashian's. The reality television star was separated from her ex, former NBA star Lamar Odom, when she decided to separate herself from her trademark long hair in favor of a shorter, shoulder-length lob. It was an impulsive decision that Kardashian made while her soon-to-be-ex was in the hospital recovering from multiple strokes he suffered while at a Nevada brothel. "I was like, 'I need to get rid of this negativity,'" she said on "Live! With Kelly and Michael." "You shouldn't do haircuts when you're that emotionally confused but I did, and I love it, though! It's so much easier."

Kardashian admitted that her hairstylist, Jen Atkin, tried to talk her out of the drastic chop, but she wouldn't be swayed. "I said, 'If you don't, I am doing it myself," the reality TV star told People. Impulsivity isn't new to Kardashian who married Odom just a few weeks after meeting him. That decision didn't work out as well as her haircut, as the pair divorced after four years amid rumors of Odom's cheating, which he later confirmed. Cutting her hair may have been just the power boost Kardashian needed to finally cut Odom out of her life once and for all. "Now, I just feel free, and very 30," she said. "I also feel chic and not as cheesy — but I still love a cheesy moment sometimes."

Miranda Lambert's post divorce transformation can't go unnoticed. Following her split from fellow country crooner and "The Voice" coach Blake Shelton, Lambert pulled up her boots and walked on looking hotter than ever. The most obvious difference in her appearance was her shorter, lighter hair. She debuted her new look on Instagram with the caption, "What doesn't kill you only makes you blonder." The line was a song lyric from the first track on her album "Platinum," and Lambert's hair matched the vibe. "She had been going with a darker blond the last six months or so, closer to her natural color," stylist Lee Wright, who was responsible for the look, told People at the time. "She sat down in the chair yesterday and we both said, 'Let's go really blond again.' She loved it — I spun her around, like, 'You're back!'"

Lambert and Shelton looked like a match made in country music heaven, but we all known how sad a country song can be. After four years of marriage, the crooners called things off, blaming hectic work schedules, but rumors of cheatin' hearts on both sides swirled around them. No one knows for sure why it didn't work out except the two singers, and they didn't say much. In a statement released by their rep, per Us Weekly, they simply stated, "This is not the future we envisioned, and it is with heavy hearts that we move forward separately." The duo requested privacy as they moved on with their lives.

The new Mrs. Blake Shelton was once Mrs. Gavin Rossdale or, as she is more widely known, Gwen Stefani. Since her No Doubt days, Stefani has been known for her trademark platinum hair, bold red lips, and fashion-forward, funky style. So when her marriage to Rossdale went up in flames, it wasn't surprising that she marked the occasion by showing up to perform at the Riot Fest with a bold hair statement. Gwen Stefani's hair transformations have been hard to ignore in the past, but this "breakover" with it's dip-dyed black and purple tips, took the proverbial cake. The technique is called "limelight," and it was created by Stefani's stylist, Danilo, who told People it is a horizontal placement of color versus the traditional vertical method. "It's different, because the pattern actually adds up," Danilo explained. "I intentionally create the feathering of the black to make it look tie-dye."

As any "Hollaback Girl" fan worth her salt knows, Stefani is no stranger to shaking things up with her look, and the bolder the better. For this look, the divorce, plus the appearance at the punk rock festival offered the perfect opportunity to experiment. Before you go try this at home, it's important to note that not only is a good stylist a must, so is a good dose of attitude. "Fifty percent of accomplishing the beauty of the look is Gwen Stefani," warned Danilo. "Gwen always wears it. It doesn't wear her. And that's a big difference, too."