7 albums, 7 ponytails: celebrate Ariana Grande's birthday with a look at how her signature hairstyle tells her story

Tatler Asia

26-06-2025

'My Everything' (2014): the high power-ponytail
Above 'My Everything' (2014) introduced the sky-high ponytail suited for a global pop star.
One year later, the tentativeness vanished, replaced by the sleek, impossibly high power pony that would define her image for years. Perched sky-high, this ponytail codified her global pop star persona alongside the sharp cat-eye that became her other signature. The hairstyle perfectly mirrored My Everything 's sonic evolution toward mainstream pop and EDM, creating what is considered her pop star uniform. 'Dangerous Woman' (2016): rebellion and sensuality behind the mask
Above 'Dangerous Woman' (2016) signalled Grande's pivot to maturity and empowerment.
The familiar high ponytail returned, but its meaning was entirely transformed by a provocative black latex bunny mask. For the first time, Ariana Grande gazed directly at the camera, projecting confidence and sensuality. The ponytail served as an anchor while the subversive mask signalled her pivot to maturity and empowerment. This visual also represented her Super Bunny alter-ego, the fearless persona that helped her navigate tougher decisions and embrace her power. 'Sweetener' (2018): a radical deconstruction
Above The lowered ponytail in 'Sweetener' (2018) symbolised vulnerability rather than pop perfection.
Everything changed with Sweetener . The high ponytail dropped to her nape, the brunette became platinum blonde, black and white gave way to full colour and the entire image flipped upside down. This visual change reflected Grande's world being turned upside-down following the trauma of the 2017 Manchester Arena attack. The switch to colour represented hope and healing, while the lowered ponytail symbolised vulnerability rather than constructed pop perfection. It marked the moment her signature look shifted from representing the brand to representing the person. 'Thank U, Next' (2019): resilience and self-love through simplicity
Above Her long ponytail in 'thank u, next' (2019) symbolises continuity amid vulnerability.
Created during intense public grief and personal upheaval, this album cover retained the upside-down orientation introduced with Sweetener while returning to darker, more grounding brunette tones. Grande's self-embrace pose conveys a sense of self-comfort, while her long ponytail, a consistent element of her identity, symbolises continuity amid vulnerability. In this image, the ponytail serves as a visual anchor of resilience during a challenging time. 'Positions' (2020): a retro twist to signal transformation
Above 'Positions' (2020) showed Grande in a voluminous '60s-inspired flip with curled ends.
After seven years of ponytail supremacy, Ariana Grande shocked fans by abandoning it entirely for a voluminous '60s-inspired flip with curled ends. The retro styling, complete with graphic Twiggy-inspired liner, reflected the album's playful confidence and duality themes. This departure wasn't abandonment but graduation—proof that her brand was so established she could confidently play outside its boundaries. The ponytail's foundational work was complete. 'Eternal Sunshine' (2024): the ponytail as personal healing and closure
Above The matching ponytails of 'eternal sunshine' (2024) represent a closed loop of self-reliance.
For her seventh album, the ponytail returns in its most metaphorical form yet. The painterly cover shows two versions of Grande: one leaning on the other's shoulder, both sporting matching blonde ponytails in a closed loop of self-reliance. Inspired by the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind , this imagery embodies the album's themes of healing and being your own best friend. The iconic ponytail, once her public armour, has become a source of comfort for her private self—the ultimate synthesis of person and persona.
Credits
This article was created with the assistance of AI tools