Ariana Grande is officially back to brunette. The Wicked star unveiled a fresh, deep-brown hue on Instagram on October 29, a glossy return to her natural roots that arrives just as press ramps up for the musical’s sequel with co-lead Cynthia Erivo.
Sharing a low-key mirror selfie, Grande captioned the shot, “It’s good to see me, isn’t it?”—a cheeky nod to one of Glinda’s signature lines. The glam switch instantly ignited fan buzz, with comments celebrating the classic look that defined much of Grande’s early pop era.
Her longtime colorist Francesco De Chiara was among the first to amplify the reveal, reposting the snap on his Instagram Story with the simple salute, “Here she is.” He followed up in the comments of Grande’s post with, “We’re back amore,” echoing what many fans framed as a full-circle moment. De Chiara even shared a fan reaction proclaiming, “A new chapter has begun!”—a sentiment that lines up with where Grande’s career is headed next.
Why Ariana Went Blonde For Glinda
Grande’s hair journey over the last two years has been closely tied to Glinda, the role she embodied in director Jon M. Chu’s two-part Wicked adaptation. While the star wore wigs on set, she previously explained that transforming off camera helped her lock into the character’s aesthetic and spirit. “Even though I was wearing wigs, I needed to be blonde, too,” she told Vogue in 2024.
She went further, noting she even lightened her eyebrows to enhance the character’s softness. “I needed that softness that Glinda has with the lighter brows,” Grande said. “It didn’t make any sense when I had my dark brows.” The brunette comeback, then, reads as both a personal reset and a visual sign that the performer is stepping back from the strict Glinda palette she maintained throughout production and the run-up to the first film’s release.
The timing also dovetails with the franchise’s ongoing rollout. With the sequel on the horizon, Grande’s new color arrives as she and Erivo prepare to spotlight the next chapter of Oz on the press circuit—this time with Grande’s signature brunette back in play.
The Voice Shift Debate—and Grande’s Response
Grande’s Wicked transformation wasn’t limited to hair. Throughout filming and promotion, the pop star faced scrutiny over perceived changes to her speaking and singing voice as she shifted into Glinda’s world. Addressing the chatter, Grande told Variety in 2024 that the work required a full immersion—and that the after-effects can linger.
“Maybe people underestimate how long we spent finding and disappearing into these women,” she said of herself and Erivo. “When certain inflections or mannerisms take time to melt away, sometimes people poke fun. But we had a job to do, and we had things to get lost in—because that’s what the piece required.” It’s an unusually candid acknowledgment of how deep character work intersects with public perception, especially for a star whose voice is one of the most recognizable—and scrutinized—in pop.
Grande suggested that some elements of Glinda may remain with her, even as she reenters her own lane. “Certain things maybe won’t melt away,” she added. “Some will, but I’m really grateful for the pieces that will stay with us forever.” The brunette switch underlines that balance: a return to Ariana-as-Ariana, without erasing what Glinda offered her as an artist.
What Her Brunette Era Signals For 2025
Beyond the aesthetics, the refreshed look arrives as Grande gears up for a busy stretch. The singer is preparing to hit the road this summer on her Eternal Sunshine tour, following the album’s strong critical and commercial run. The darker hair subtly nods to the sleek, modern visuals of that record, aligning her onstage persona with the clean lines and emotional clarity of her latest music.
Fans have long associated Grande’s brunette with some of her most defining pop eras. Bringing it back now sets a confident tone for the months ahead: she can carry the lessons of Glinda into the world of Eternal Sunshine while reclaiming the styling shorthand that feels quintessentially her. It’s a move that reads less like a pivot and more like a synthesis—merging character craft with chart-ready poise.
As Wicked’s second installment approaches, expect Grande to toggle seamlessly between two modes: the disciplined, Technicolor brightness of Glinda in interviews alongside Erivo, and the intimate, shimmering pop star headlining arenas. The hair may be the headline, but the message is bigger. Grande is closing one chapter with intention and opening another with momentum.
For now, the Instagram reveal has done what all good celebrity teases do: it’s sparked conversation, set the tone, and reminded fans why the details matter. With De Chiara back at the helm of her color and a calendar stacked with Wicked press and tour prep, Ariana Grande’s brunette era is officially underway—and judging by the early response, it’s exactly the right look at exactly the right time.
