(Celebrity)

Taylor Swift Changes Her Hair Every ‘Era’ — But These Looks Will Always Reign Supreme

One classic after another.

by Amanda Ross
Variety/Penske Media/Getty Images

How many artists could pull off a greatest-hits stadium tour at 33 years old? So distinct and recognizable are Taylor Swift’s “eras” that you can practically pinpoint exact dates based on her hairstyles alone. Here, look back at Taylor Swift’s eras beauty evolution, from her debut to Midnights.

@taylorswift

You can practically hear the sounds of an overly-enthusiastic fiddle playing in the background as a teenaged Taylor Swift poses with one of her first major country awards back in 2007. In her “debut era”, Swift made tight corkscrew curls and smoky eye makeup aesthetic her signatures.Evan Agostini/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Taylor Swift’s Fearless album (both versions) is rife with fairytale-inspired imagery, so it tracks that she’d lean into more whimsical, romantic hairstyles throughout the era. At the 2010 Grammy Awards, her looser curls were arranged in a soft updo, complemented by lighter makeup.Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Taylor Swift’s career can be divided into two halves: pre-bangs and post-bangs. By 2010, a newly-fringed Swift was a full-fledged global star and decided to go all-in on the accompanying glamour. Her Speak Now era hair was streaked with lighter, brighter highlights, often straightened for events.Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic/Getty Images
As Taylor Swift took a turn toward a more classic sound in the original Red era, her hair and makeup naturally followed suit. Her tight, natural spiral were replaced by looser, vintage-inspired curls in a darker blonde color, while her trademark red lipstick would start to get serious play. Chelsea Lauren/WireImage/Getty Images
When Taylor Swift chopped her hair to a shoulder-skimming lob backstage after a 2014 concert, it felt more than a little symbolic. Though the New York Times immediately dubbed it “haircut of the year”, the chop wasn’t fully appreciated until she rolled out pivot-to-pop album 1989.Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images
Ah, the “Bleachella” micro-era. If you ever want to splinter a friendship, just ask two Taylor Swift fans how they felt about it. Ushered in at the very tail-end of her 1989 album cycle, the platinum, bleached-blonde color might be her edgiest — and most controversial — look ever.Taylor Hill/FilmMagic/Getty Images
After a two-year break, the Old Taylor popped back up in time for Reputation’s rollout with a return to dark blonde hair and defined curls. On stage, she often opted for moodier makeup — like a deeper, oxblood-toned red lipstick — but kept things considerably softer on the red carpet.Gareth Cattermole/TAS18/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
The Lover era saw Taylor Swift switch up her hair color once again to suit her new album’s energy and aesthetic. Inspired by Lover’s ‘60s-meets-synth-pop sound, she went for bright, retro-feeling blonde highlights cut into voluminous layers, occasionally punctured by streaks of pink and blue.Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images
It makes sense that a return-to-your-roots album like Folklore would pull Taylor Swift toward a cottagecore aesthetic. Throughout the Folklore and Evermore eras, Swift consistently wore her mushroom blonde hair in curly buns, braids, and pigtails, all framed by barely-there makeup and cozy clothes.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Technically, Taylor Swift is still in her Midnights era — though, interestingly, it might be her most aesthetically disjointed album cycle yet. Swift’s hair has been in every conceivable style, from fluffy Farrah Fawcett curls to swept up into sleek updos and straight-and-sleek moments. Sarah Morris/FilmMagic/Getty Images

More from TZR

Sandra Bullock Might Be Hollywood’s Most Low-Key Hair Chameleon
By Amanda Ross
Angelina Jolie’s Distinct Brand Of Sultry, Bombshell Beauty Is Still Unparalleled
By Amanda Ross