Ariana Grande Shows Off Her Bold New Dark Hair at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards After Years of Glinda Blonde
Ariana Grande at 2026 Critics Choice Awards.
Credit :
Monica Schipper/Getty
Need to Know
- Ariana Grande arrived at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards with her darkest hair color since her transformation with Glinda-inspired blonde hair.
- The star, nominated for Best Supporting Actress, showcased dark brunette hair and wore an Alberta Ferretti gown styled by Law Roach.
- Grande, who changed her hair color to brown in October, previously remarked that her hair was "refusing" to not be blonde.
Ariana Grande ushered in the new year with a striking new look as she attended the 2026 Critics Choice Awards. The actress, aged 32, turned heads with her dark brunette hair, marking her return to a natural hair color for the first time in three years.
On January 4, Grande made a fashionable statement with a banged updo that contrasted sharply with her recent light brown and signature platinum blonde styles, particularly notable since her role in Wicked.
Ariana Grande at 2026 Critics Choice Awards.
Monica Schipper/Getty
Styled by Law Roach, Grande donned an Alberta Ferretti gown adorned with an embellished overlay and cape sleeves. Her elegant ensemble was complemented by sparkling Swarovski jewelry.
The actress’s hair transformation was a hot topic last fall when she announced her return to her natural brown color. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she spoke about channeling the storyline of the Wicked sequel, which premiered on November 21, 2025.
"With the first Wicked press tour, I wanted to celebrate Glinda in a more on-the-nose way, and be an extension of her and extend the time with her through clothes, through the blonde and through everything,” Grande explained.
“Now I can show up as the actress who played her and play into the darker tones of the movie. It’s fun to play with hair and makeup and fashion,” she added.
Ariana Grande is Glinda in Wicked For Good.
Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
In a subsequent discussion with French journalist Sally, Grande expressed the challenges of shedding her blonde hair. "I’m still adjusting, and so is my hair. It’s spitting out the toner. Every time I wash it, my hair doesn’t want to be brunette. I’m not method, but my hair is method," she humorously remarked.
Despite her hair’s reluctance to adapt, Grande reflected on her time in the Wicked franchise with E! at the Critics Choice Awards, describing the farewell as "really beautiful."
“I think we’re really proud of what we have done, and it was an amazing chapter, and now we’ve given it to the world to let them have it and enjoy it. It feels peaceful, it feels good,” Grande concluded.
