Ariana Grande has made a striking return to her natural brunette color, and fans are already speculating that this could signal the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
Three years after she went platinum blonde for her role as Glinda in Wicked, the 32-year-old singer and actress shared a mirror selfie on Wednesday morning, showcasing her new chocolate-brown hair to her 372 million Instagram followers. The post included a playful caption: “It’s good to see me, isn’t it?”—a cheeky nod to her character’s iconic line from the film.
Grande took to social media to credit her glam team, tagging London-based colorist Francesco De Chiara, hairstylist Alyx Liu, and makeup artist Michael Anthony. The transformation has sparked a wave of reactions from fans, with many wondering what this change might mean for the singer’s personal life.
The timing of her new look comes amid rumors that Ariana and her boyfriend, Wicked co-star Ethan Slater, may be experiencing some difficulties. Reports earlier this month suggested that the couple has been “on and off for most of this year.” One source told The Daily Mail that Slater, 33, skipped the MTV VMAs after a disagreement with Grande, though the pair reportedly reconciled soon after.
Fans were quick to speculate about the significance of her new hair. On Reddit, user @excel_pager_420 wrote: “Maybe it’s break-up haircut.” Another user, @chillaf, added: “It’s definitely a ‘hide your man because I’m back’ haircut.”
Grande and Slater first met on the set of the Oscar-winning Wicked movie in 2022, when both were still in other relationships. News of their romance broke in July 2023, just months after Grande’s divorce from ex-husband Dalton Gomez and while Slater was in the process of separating from his wife, Lilly Jay, with whom he shares a young son.
The singer originally went blonde in late 2022 to transform into Glinda for Jon M. Chu’s Wicked film adaptation, which became a massive success. The movie earned $747 million worldwide and won two Oscars earlier this year. In an interview with Vogue in 2024, Ariana explained why she dyed her eyebrows for the role: “Even though I was wearing wigs, I needed to be blonde, too. It didn’t make any sense when I had my dark brows.” She added that the lighter brows gave her the “softness” that Glinda required.
Now, as the highly anticipated sequel Wicked: For Good approaches its November 21 release, Grande’s darker locks could symbolize a return to her roots and a fresh start in her personal life. Whether this new look is a sign of closure after filming, an emotional reset, or simply a shift in style, one thing is clear: Ariana’s era as blonde Glinda is over, and the brunette version of herself is back.
