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Ariana Grande arrived at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards with her darkest hair color since she transformed her image with Glinda-inspired blonde hair
The star, nominated for Best Supporting Actress, stepped out with dark brunette hair and in an Alberta Ferretti gown styled by Law Roach
Grande, who changed her hair color to brown in October, previously said her hair was “refusing” to not be blonde
Ariana Grande’s new year is accompanied by a new look.
The actress, 32, stepped out for the 2026 Critics Choice Awards in her darkest hair color yet after returning to her roots for the first time in three years in October.
On Jan. 4, the actress turned heads with a noticeably brunette banged updo that looked dramatically different from her recent light brown hairstyle and even more so the platinum blonde hair fans got to know her for once she began filming Wicked.
Monica Schipper/Getty
Ariana Grande at 2026 Critics Choice Awards
Styled by Law Roach, it was Grande’s romantic baby pink look that made the beauty change that much more of a standout. Method dressing as Glinda the Good once more, the “we can’t be friends,” singer — who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of the iconic Oz witch — wore an Alberta Ferretti gown with an embellished overlay that also included cape sleeves. Her jewelry was Swarovski.
Grande’s hair was a hot topic last fall, when she first revealed the change back to her natural hair color.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she said that she was using her glam to channel the storyline of the Wicked sequel, which was released on Nov. 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.”
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Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
Ariana Grande is Glinda in Wicked For Good.
In a later interview with French journalist, Sally, she admitted that shedding her blonde hair wasn’t easy — literally.
“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 said in reference to the term method acting.
“I’m telling you, I wash my hair one time and I woke up with highlights. I did wake up blonde again,” she explained. “My hair doesn’t want it, it’s not ready yet. My hair is rejecting the toner. I’m not kidding, it’s refusing.”
Although her locks might not be ready to move on from the magic of Wicked, Grande told E! at the Critics Choice Awards that saying goodbye to her role in the franchise is “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.”
See PEOPLE’s full coverage of the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards Sunday, Jan. 4 as they air live on E! and USA Network at 7 p.m. ET from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Calif.
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