Miley Cyrus' Hair Evolution In 23 Photos
Well, with Miley: The Movement coming to screens in two days (#YAAAS), we figured we should take a look back Miley Cyrus' changes throughout her career and, what better way than through her hair? It's hard to imagine there was ever a time when she didn't have her iconic short 'do, but there was. Oh, how there was. She may only be 20, but she's had a lot of hairstyles. We rounded up the 23 (weird, what a coincidence!) biggest hair changes she's undergone in the past seven years. This Miley Cyrus hair journey will perfectly prepare you for Wednesday: you'll be the resident Miley hair expert wherever you watch, whether with friends, or by yourself in your bedroom (preferable, TBH).
Miley Cyrus in 2006.
Photo: Getty Images
Aww, lil' bb Miley at TRL in 2006. Her hair is long, brown, and curly. What a difference seven years makes, amirite?
Miley Cyrus in 2007.
Photo: Getty Images
Miley got a taste of life as a blonde through her TV alter-ego, Hannah Montana. Maybe it was all those years in that banged-out, blonde wig that convinced Miles to make the jump to the light side later on?
Miley Cyrus in 2007.
Photo: Getty Images
By 2007, Miley's 'do was darker and longer. She is all hair with a tiny face and body.
Miley Cyrus in 2007.
Photo: Getty Images
A few months later, Miley showed up to the American Music Awards with a lighter, sleeker look. It was long and pin-straight, just like everyone in your 8th grade homeroom longed for.
Miley Cyrus in 2008.
Photo: Getty Images
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Miley kicked off 2008 with the darkest hair of them all. There is obviously photographic evidence of this hair, but it exists nowhere in my memory and, henceforth, must not have existed IRL. JK, it def did.
Miley Cyrus in 2008.
Photo: Getty Images
See? Here it is again, only there's MORE of it and it's just straight-up black. It's very Christina Aguilera 2008, so, the question is: which came first, the Miley or the Xtina?
Miley Cyrus in 2008.
Photo: Getty Images
By April, Miley had switched to a lighter, reddish hue. She also took out some of the bulk, so it looks like, y'know, an appropriate weight for hair you'd find on a human being's head.
Miley Cyrus in 2008.
Photo: Getty Images
Oh hey, bangs. These bad boys, which debuted in September of 2008, were v. short lived. RIP, bangs.
Miley Cyrus in 2010.
Photo: Getty Images
She had long light brown hair throughout 2009, but in January of 2010 she debuted this wavy look and hit her stride, wave-wise. After this look, it's an upward trajectory: no more half-straight, half-curled hair. It changes color frequently, but it's always sleek. Not many people can say that about their hair when they were 17. Sure, she had a glam squad before most of the girls her age even learned how to use a curling iron. But still, it looks good.
Miley Cyrus in 2010.
Photo: Getty Images
By November of 2010 she had lightened it once again, but look at how glossy it is. #JEALZ
Miley Cyrus in 2011.
Photo: Getty Images
She showed off a piece-y, layered look in July of 2011. It was summer, and she was freeing her scalp from the pounds of extensions she had been/was into until 2012 (spoiler alert!).
Miley Cyrus in 2011.
Photo: Getty Images
Once summer was over, she went back to loooooong hair. This time, a dip-dyed ponytail. The bottom of her hair is very blonde (~foreshadowing~) and half-way down her back (~opposite of foreshadowing~).
Miley Cyrus in 2012.
Photo: Getty Images
A month later she was still rockin' the ombre, though in a much shorter length. Along with Lauren Conrad, Miley was one of the pioneers on the ombre front, paving the way for those of us who didn't know if half-light/half-dark hair would work for us.
Miley Cyrus in 2012.
Photo: Getty Images
Here come the scissors! Seemingly satisfied with the honey color, Miles began her journey to her short-cut (short haircut, BRB in the process of trademarking) in the beginning of 2012. By the end of 2012, it'd be all gone, buh-bye.
Miley Cyrus in 2012.
Photo: Getty Images
The bob could be styled in many ways, like the retro curls above, or like this '60s bombshell blowout, but the end was nigh for this 'do.
Miley Cyrus in 2012.
Photo: Getty Images
She debuted a slightly lighter, shorter, and blunter cut in June of 2012, but the subtle changes obv weren't doing it for her: she needed something may-jah.
Miley Cyrus in 2012.
Photo: Getty Images
And so, enter the platinum short-cut. She first wore the cut to the 2012 VMAs (#honored) and styled it sky-high on top, with closely cut sides.
Miley Cyrus in 2012.
Photo: Getty Images
By October it had grown out and darkened a little bit. She showed off its versatiity: the top part didn't need MAXXX volume at all times—it could hang loose, too.
Miley Cyrus in 2012.
Photo: Getty Images
She then cut it off again (who changes their hair more frequently: Beyonce, Rihanna, or Miley? TRICK QUESTION.), and wore it really short and spiky.
Miley Cyrus in 2013.
Photo: Getty Images
Then, entering into 2013, she let the sides grow darker and didn't hide her roots (we know what your hair looked like in 2006, it's cool, Miley). She also started styling in like a mohawk.
Miley Cyrus in 2013.
Photo: Getty Images
By June she had moved on from her #PUNK phase and introduced a more ~glam~ bouffant top. The volume is approaching 2012 VMA height, but it's not there yet: it needs nurturing to grow.
Miley Cyrus in 2013.
Photo: Getty Images
At the VMAs in August, she skipped any time-consuming styling and had her hair in two, tiny baby-buns at the front of her head. She could walk the red carpet and gyrate on stage with the same style: that's how you know it's a keeper.
Miley Cyrus in 2013.
Photo: Getty Images
And finally, most recently, Miley seems to be letting the top grow, while keeping the sides reallllly short. From this angle it looks as though she's joined the half-shaved head club but we know the truth: we know it's shaved on the other side for #symmetry.
So, there you have it: 23 hair changes from Ms. Miley Cyrus, all within 7 years. Miley: The Movement is undoubtedly going to give us some insight into Miley's stylistic and beauty choices—we'll also get to see how that short 'do is styled when she's in private, which, LBR, is pretty exciting. Maybe it's curly and big like a lion's mane, or maybe that's just my hair in private? Guess we'll have to watch on Wednesday at 10 p.m. EST to find out!
