Sunday night at the MTV Video Music Awards, Ariana Grande was all over the place: walking the red carpet in a sassy leather ensemble, performing her hit "Bang Bang" with Jessie J and Nicki Minaj (despite a minor wardrobe malfunction), and just being generally adorable by bringing her grandmother as her date. And through all this, as per usual, Ariana Grande's hair was flawless, in that one half-up high ponytail style she's rocking perpetually.
But wait! Before you go calling Grande a one hair-hit wonder, let me do away with that popular misconception. Yes, clearly, this pony 'do is the "Break Free" singer's favorite. But sometimes she does other stuff! Like wears it in a full ponytail! Or down for approximately .2 seconds for an Instagram! In January of this year, Ariana Grande had a hair breakthrough, posting a photo with the caption "ciao ponytail, it's been real... new year new music new projects new chapters new weave," followed immediately by a rare selfie with her hair down...which she deleted by the morning. Since then, there have been a few times she's experimented with other looks — here they are, in no order whatsoever.
1. In That Deleted New Year's Instagram
Thanks, Apple, for letting me screenshot on my phone so I could have this forever.
2. At The Jingle Ball
New Year, new you.
3. And In This Explanatory Instagram
"I never wear my hair like this & when I do it doesn't last long. don't get used to it..," she captioned the pretty black-and-white photo.
4. At The Jingle Ball Again
It's kinda different! You know, because two ponytails instead of one.
5. When She Was Blonde
It's a wig, but I'm counting it.
6. When She Did Full Pony Plus Headband
The same, but different.
7. When She Did Full Pony Plus Mouse Ears
Plus Scooter Braun.
8. When She Added Braids
So boho.
9. When She Was On Cosmo
Making PJs look chic.
10. When She Tried To Make A Scary Movie
Getting into character, I suppose.
11. At The Kid's Choice Awards
And looking lovely in yellow.
12. When She Was On Teen Vogue
Yeah, yeah, okay. It's still half-up, but that big old bow thing definitely makes this different.
13. When She Did The Miley-With-A-Twist
Gwen Stefani meets Princess Leia meets Ariana Grande.
14, 15, & 16. When She Was Cat Valentine
Oh, right, this half-up do is a relatively new trend for Grande. While on Victorious, she had red hair that she wore in all kinds of different styles, which is probably how she came to land on the one she loves the most.
Images: Ariana Grande/Instagram (6), Getty Images (6), Teen Vogue
