7 Celebs You Probably Didn't Know Have Naturally Curly Hair

There are plenty of celebrities who look gorgeous rocking their natural hair texture, but not every Hollywood figure is quick to embrace their au naturale look. You might be surprised to learn just how many stars actually have naturally curly hair. Hollywood's tendency to turn away from the curly look can be especially frustrating for fans with coily hair, but there are lots of reasons why celebs may opt for beachy blowouts or sleek hairstyling.

It's likely that some stars find it easier to opt for straightening treatments for roles and red carpet appearances, as they have to combat common curly hair problems just like the rest of us. Additionally, hormonal shifts as you age can cause curl loss and texture change over time, so stars who sported curly hair in their younger years may not have the same natural hair appearance now. 

There's also a racialized stigma surrounding curly and naturally textured hair, a pressure that women of color often face in the workplace. And of course, aesthetic preferences can be another motivating factor for celebs with natural curls, as they may want to experiment with different looks or simply express themselves in a new way. While we respect and understand why celebs might move away from their au naturale looks, we still love how all of these stars look with their unexpectedly natural curly hair.

Popstar and actor Ariana Grande has undergone a magical hair transformation, sporting everything from bright red tresses to a blonde ballerina bun. Casual fans might not realize that this extensive hair journey began with brunette ringlets, since the Florida native doesn't often showcase her natural curls.

Grande opened up about her choice on the "Zach Sang Show" in 2020, referring to her natural hair as "humongous." "The hair for me is such a guard, character, facade type thing and it's had its own evolution, but it has always been, like, this kind of costume piece," she said. "So few people get to see [my natural hair] and it's cute and it reminds me of me as a kid ... it's who I am privately."

Taylor Swift is another celeb who has undergone a major hair transformation, so newer fans might not know about the superstar's curly roots. The singer's ringlets were a staple of her first three albums, with Swift transitioning into different styles for her "Red" era and even cutting her voluminous mane into a bob for "1989." While fans can catch glimpses of Swift's waves and curls during humid concert performances or laid-back football games, the super-defined ringlets of her country days seem to be long gone, something Swift addressed back in 2019.

"I learned that your hair can completely change texture," Swift wrote in a personal essay for Elle. "From birth, I had the curliest hair and now it is STRAIGHT. It's the straight hair I wished for every day in junior high. But just as I was coming to terms with loving my curls, they've left me."

Selena Gomez is another celebrity you might not have known has naturally curly hair, with the singer and actor being more associated with luxurious waves. The "Only Murders in the Building" star isn't afraid to share curly-headed snapshots, posting childhood photos and casual selfies online, but her curly mane isn't often featured on the red carpet or on TV. 

This seems to be more of an aesthetic choice than anything else, based on what she shared with Into The Gloss back in 2014. "You obviously always want what you don't have, which is why I wear it straight so often," Gomez said. "Recently though, I've been trying to wear it beachy because that's a little more natural to who I am."

Actor Sarah Hyland looks stunning when rocking her natural mane, but the "Modern Family" star has had a complicated hair journey. The NYC native opened up to Refinery29 about the hair loss she experienced from medications associated with endometriosis and kidney dysplasia. 

"With medications and stuff, it can make your hair fall out," she told the outlet in 2019. "So I had extensions put in for [my "Modern Family" character] Haley to hide any of that loss." Hyland revealed her hair grew back curlier than ever after the loss, giving her an opportunity to let her natural ringlets shine. "I wear it curly because I don't know how to do my hair," Hyland says. "I try to blow it out, and it's just a frizzy mess."

If you haven't seen Nicole Kidman's head-turning curls, then you're missing out. The Australian actor often wore her naturally red hair in defined ringlets when she was first rising to prominence in Hollywood, with some of her early modeling photos showcasing the look. Kidman has had quite the hair transformation since then, with the "Moulin Rouge!" star opening up about the damage she's done to her hair over the years. 

"I wish I had my curls back," she told Who Magazine in 2017. "I tortured them to death. I always say, 'Don't ruin the ringlets!'" (per Today). Still, it seems that the Aussie's curls aren't completely dead, as she's shared snapshots of coily looks since then. She even opened up about embracing her au naturale appearance for her daughter, so we'd love to see more of her red ringlets on the red carpet.

Jennifer Lopez is often seen rocking voluminous, wavy layers, so you probably didn't realize that the "Maid in Manhattan" actor actually has naturally curly hair. While she occasionally sported her au naturale look early in her career, the singer also broke out her mane of ringlets for her titular role in the 2024 movie "Atlas," discussing the decision with Remezcla. 

"I love my natural curly hair," Lopez said. "I like [Atlas] having this disheveled, very thick head of hair that she doesn't really worry about at all. Kind of like, this is who I am." Though she let things get a little wild for this sci-fi role, we'd love to see the star bring back a more polished version of her curls for her red carpet appearances.

As a red carpet icon and versatile fashionista, Zendaya has worn her hair in styles ranging from chic braids to bouncy blowouts. So casual fans may be surprised to learn that the "Challengers" star actually has naturally curly hair, though she's had a complicated journey when it comes to embracing her coily texture. "When I was younger, I went through a phase when I didn't like my hair," she told The Cut in 2016. "Because the school I went to was primarily Caucasian, there wasn't anyone who had my hair texture."

Zendaya went on to add that she came to love her natural look over time, explaining that being surrounded by similar hair textures helped change her perspective. "Everyone wants what they don't have, and it takes learning and experience to realize that what you have is exactly what you want," she said.