Ariana Grande’s new bob: the cut, color and styling details

Ariana Grande introduced a shorter, outward-flicked hairstyle on Instagram on October 22. Hairstylist Brandon Pietsch is credited with the cut and color in the reporting by Us Weekly and The Zoe Report. For a singer whose ponytail is such a familiar visual signature, the interesting change is the outline: the ends now turn out around the face instead of extending far down the back. Her original post below shows the new look; the other photographs in this story are dated archive images.

What makes this bob different

Three details make this version recognizable: the side part, a smooth brown surface, and tips that curve outward. Vogue describes the shade as chocolate brown. Our reading of the photograph is that the styling feels deliberately composed, with the flipped ends providing movement against the smoother upper section. “Flippy bob” is a useful description of that finish, rather than a complete set of instructions for cutting someone else’s hair.

The dated archive pictures show several different ways Grande has worn long hair. In the 2013 cover photograph, a half-up section lifts the crown while lighter lengths fall over her shoulder. The 2014 performance image shows long hair framing her face; the 2015 Jakarta photograph brings the familiar high ponytail into view. At the 2018 VMAs, her hair hangs loose, while the 2024 interview picture shows blonde hair with a side part. Against these earlier outlines, the new turned-out ends become the focal point.

Separate the cut from the finish

Treat the cut, the color and the styling as three separate decisions. Someone who likes the turned-out ends may mainly want a different finish. Someone who likes the shorter outline is asking about length. Someone drawn to the deeper brown is making a color decision. Bringing all three together can produce a striking change, but you do not need to request the entire package to take something useful from the reference.

A styled photograph is not a cutting diagram. The curve of the ends and the camera angle make it difficult to judge where the same hair would fall without styling. Instead of specifying a number of centimeters from a celebrity picture, ask your stylist to show the proposed length on you, with the ends relaxed. Also say whether being able to tuck the sides behind your ears or tie the hair back is essential.

The parting and color conversation

The parting deserves its own conversation. Try moving it before deciding on a cut, and look at the result from the front and both sides. Ask how your usual part, any cowlicks and the way your hair naturally falls would affect the proposed shape. Take a second reference photograph if you like the length in one image but prefer the fringe or parting in another; explain which detail you mean in each.

For the brown, discuss the overall impression you like rather than asking for a dye formula inferred from a screen. A photograph cannot supply the salon’s exact mixture, and a different lighting setup can change how a shade appears. Bring a picture of your own hair in ordinary daylight, explain any recent coloring, and ask what result is realistic from that starting point. There is no verified product shopping list behind this article.

Turn the reference into a routine

Dyson’s tutorial by Amy Johnson recommends sectioning the hair, turning the ends outward, then drying and cooling before releasing. That is a separate styling reference, not evidence that Grande used a particular tool. At the salon, ask for a demonstration with equipment you already own and watch where the turn begins, rather than trying to bend the whole strand outward.

Before booking a dramatic change, make the practical questions explicit: What will this look like without a blow-dry? Which parts would I need to restyle? Can you show me how to do one section myself? How would the shape change as it grows? The useful answer is a routine you understand and want to repeat, rather than a promise that a short haircut is automatically effortless.

The most useful reference to save is the actual new-look post, alongside one or two pictures that explain what you want to keep from your current style. Add a short note: the length you are comfortable losing, the finish you like, and how much time you want to spend styling. Grande’s bob can be the starting image; the finished brief should describe your own priorities.