It's hard to imagine a time when she wasn't a household name, but she wasn't always the Katy Perry we know and love today. From her early start as a gospel singer to her massive fame today, Katy Perry is the queen of transformation.

And she's no stranger to hair transformations either. Perry's made some incredibly daring, bold, and adventurous hair choices over the years. She's rocked pretty much every style and colour known to mankind, switching up her hair not just every year, but sometimes in a matter of days.

Join us on this tour of Katy Perry's best haircuts, styles, and colours.

One Of The Biggest Names In Pop

Katy Perry has been one of the biggest names in pop music for the last decade, with hits like "I Kissed a Girl", "Firework", and "Roar" dominating the charts during their respective releases. Perry has numerous awards, including four Guinness World Records, 13 Grammy nominations, five MTV Video Music Awards, five Billboard Music Awards, and three Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.

Perry's career has had its ups and downs. Her first album was a major breakthrough for the pop singer, but it was the runaway success of Teenage Dream that cemented her as one of the decade's defining artists.

Her most recent album Witness debuted at number one on the charts but didn't produce the same level of catchy earworms that Perry got famous for. Still, the future is brighter than ever for Katy Perry, thanks to the recent release of her newest single "Never Really Over", which many critics praise as a return to form for the international star.

Pre-fame

Even though Perry would later rock her iconic jet black hair, her natural hair colour is actually a light blonde/brown, as seen in this adorable yearbook photo.

January 2004

The early naughts was a weird time for hair. Here's Katy Perry sporting one of the trendy styles at the time, a choppy black fringe that she would keep for many, many years.

Katy Perry in January 2004

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December 2008

Around the time that her hit single "I Kissed a Girl" turned her from singer to pop star pretty much overnight, Perry started settling into her iconic black tresses in vintage curls. This pin-up girl style would become her signature look.

Katy Perry in December 2004

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March 2010

Katy Perry is a huge fan of wigs. One of her absolute faves is this bright blue one with blunt bangs. She wore this wif (or a version of it) many times over the years, including in her "California Girls" music video. The Bettie Page bangs would become a classic Katy Perry 'do.

Katy Perry in March 2010 at the Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kid's Choice Awards

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September 2010

The singer spiced up her usual black curls with pink, purple, and blue streaks at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2010.

Katy Perry September 2010 at the MTV Video Music Awards

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February 2011

Perry showed up at the Grammys with then-husband actor Russell Brand. Dramatic textured curls and a centre part framed her face perfectly.

Katie Perry & Russel Brand at the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards

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June 2011

Katy shocked fans across the globe when she sported vibrant red hair during the Canadian launch of her Purr fragrance line. According to Perry's hair colourist Rita Hazan, it was an "accidental" dye job to help Perry transition from black to blonde.

Katy Perry Fragrance Launch 'Purr'

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July 2011

During the New York premiere of "The Smurfs", the pop singer debuted blonde locks – just like the character she voiced, Smurfette.

August 2011

But the blonde wouldn't last very long. Just a month later, Perry was seen with a bubble gum pink bob at the MTV Music Video Awards, where she bagged one for "Firework" and two for "E.T.". She kept this hair colour for a few months and styled it into a retro-inspired pin-up style for the American Music Awards later in the year.

Katy Perry at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards

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Katy Perry at the 2011 American Music Awards

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December 2011

As the hair colour faded away, Perry returned to a deep blonde with chunky pink highlights. In late December, she was all blonde, except for a single grey streak down the front.

Katy Perry at the Change Begins Within Benefit Celebration

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Katy Perry's MEOW

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February 2012

Is blue Katy Perry's favourite colour? We don't know, but she keeps coming back to the shade. Here she is with a rich teal pompadour.

Katy Perry at the Echo Award 2012

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June 2012

Dark, gothic, and elegant, Perry channels old Hollywood glamour with a twist. Her unique black and purple hair was called "purple velvet" by hair stylist Rita Hazan.

Katy Perry on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

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November 2014

Katy Perry rocking two-tone black and white hair at the 28th Annual ARIA Awards in Sydney.

Katy Perry at the 28th Annual ARIA Awards 2014

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February 2015

In what was perhaps her most stunning look to date, Perry struck the right balance between laidback and glamorous with these gently-tousled lavender waves.

Katy Perry at The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards

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May 2015

She might be known for her platinum blonde pixie cut today, but that wasn't the first time Katy Perry's short hair wowed fans. Her shaggy chic cut graced the pink carpet at the 2015 Met Gala.

Katy Perry at the China Through The Looking Glass Costume Institute Benefit Gala

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January 2016

For the Golden Globes, Perry went back to black for this retro bouffant-and-bangs combo.

Katy Perry at the NBC's 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards

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August 2017

At the MTV Video Music Awards, Perry unveiled her new hair: a platinum-blonde close-cropped cut. But why did Katy Perry cut her hair? She joked on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that it was a "chemical haircut" – basically, some of her hair fall out due to damage from bleaching.

But in a now-famous tearful interview on Viceland's The Therapist , the singer revealed that her short hair in 2017 was a way of her reconnecting to her true authentic self as she struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts.

September 2018

Perry experimented with neon green hair at The Theatre at Ace Hotel.

Katy Perry at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards

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April 2019

With the help of celebrity stylist Chris Appleton, Katy Perry proved that blondes really do have more fun. Perry is almost unrecognisable in these fun blonde beach waves! Seeing as she was spotted with cropped hair at Coachella less than a week before this photo was posted, it's safe to say that it's probably extensions or a wig.

Conclusion

Whether you love her for her music or her crazy style, Katy Perry is a cultural icon and national treasure. And girl really knows how to rock a 'do – from gorgeous long lobs to edgy pixie cuts.