Ariana Grande moves on from the Glinda look and shows off new auburn hair in behind-the-scenes photos

Pop star Ariana Grande recently surprised fans with a fresh hairstyle, showing off a new auburn hair color in some behind-the-scenes photos from her short film Brighter Days Ahead. The pictures, which she posted on Instagram on April 8, mark a clear departure from her previous look as Glinda in the upcoming Wicked movie.
Instead of the bright platinum blonde shade she had during the Wicked press tour, Ariana now has a much warmer and richer tone—an auburn brown that gives her a more natural, earthy vibe. While the color has changed, she kept her iconic high ponytail. This time, it’s styled with soft waves and a subtle side part, giving a relaxed and elegant appearance.
Hair colorist Rachel Bodt, who worked with Ariana on this look, previously shared with InStyle that they chose a warm auburn base and added chunky highlights to create depth and contrast. She explained that the goal was to make the hair color stand out while still looking natural and soft.
This new hairstyle has been in progress for a while. Fans first noticed the shift toward a darker shade at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, where Ariana’s hair appeared noticeably less blonde.
Long-time fans may remember Ariana’s bright red hair from her days playing Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon show Victorious. Back then, she dyed her hair red frequently for the role, but the process caused damage over time. Ariana has said in past interviews that the damage led her to start wearing her hair in a high ponytail to keep it protected—a style that eventually became her trademark.
In a 2020 interview on The Zach Sang Show, Ariana mentioned that the red hair symbolized her TV character, not who she truly was. Although she looks back on that era with fondness, she believes it represents a different time in her life.
Now, with Brighter Days Ahead and a new chapter in both her music and film career, Ariana’s updated look reflects a fresh start.