Rihanna Makes A Convincing Case For Long Blonde Balayage Hair

Picture the scene: it’s the early 2000s. J-Lo just stopped traffic and reinvented ‘red carpet dressing’ with her plunging Versace gown; no one bats an eyelid when you wear dresses over skirts, and Jennifer Aniston debuted decolletage-grazing blonde lengths courtesy of cleverly-concealed extensions by Chris Macmillan. Aaliyah, Beyonce and Britney Spears were all part of the long hair brigade, too, complete with choppy ends and a mirror-like shine.

Fast forward to 2023 and the hair vibe is short, shorter, and shortest (or in the case of Harry Styles, a barely-there buzzcut). Hailey Bieber got the chop back in January, and a slew of celebrities followed suit, from Zendaya and Lucy Boynton to model Cara Delevingne.

But just when we thought every celebrity and their publicist has taken to the shears, Rihanna just made a rare appearance over the weekend with a nostalgic hairstyle reminiscent of our teenage years; choppy, long lengths Jen An would be proud of. It’s a departure from the auburn mermaid waves she sported back in October.

Rihanna in October 2023

This rule-breaking, take no prisoners approach to beauty is what makes RiRi an icon in her own right. And it’s not just the hair that’s reminiscent of the 00s; the rest of Rihanna’s glam leans into the decade with overlined lips, warm eyeshadow (is that you, Tarte Tartlette Toasted Palette?), kohl under-eye liner and neon green manicure.

Bone-straight, long hair has been slowly permeating back into the scene in recent months with both Anya-Taylor Joy and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley embracing the look, however, neither quite captures RiRi’s rebellious mood as effectively. Hairstylist Tom Smith dubs the style as ‘The Veil’.

Anya Taylor-Joy

‘It’s perfect for a minimal aesthetic but can also be utilised to balance a stronger outfit by keeping the hairstyle clean and simple,’ says Smith who recommends ‘a more irregular, mid-ish parting and a little more texture in the lengths’ for those who prefer a softer take.

As for Rihanna’s fresh honey blonde hue, it’s clear that the balayage – a freehand colouring technique that gives a ‘blended’ effect - is here to stay, despite a handful of style stars such as Riley Keough and Dua Lipa opting for an even, all-over tone.

Emilia Clarke

There is, of course, a chance that RiRi’s look is all thanks to an impressive wig, but it’s still a great way of transitioning into blonde as a balayage method means regrowth appears more subtle and you can gradually go lighter with less damage. Sydney Sweeney adopted a similar route when going back to her blonde roots, while Emilia Clarke lifted her deeper tones with brighter strands added in.

If anyone can convince us to not give up our balayage appointments anytime soon, it's Rihanna.

Medina Azaldin

Beauty Editor, ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK

Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too.