Carrie Bradshaw's Iconic Hair Transformation On Sex And The City

When most people think about Carrie Bradshaw, they think of her fearless take on fashion, and the way she put everyone else to shame whenever she walked into a room. But that's not the only place where the character experimented with her sense of style. For the six seasons that "Sex and the City" was on HBO, we all saw Carrie get really creative with how she wore her hair too,. But even when she didn't have it up in an elaborate look, the transformation of those gorgeous curls from season one to season six was fun to watch.

"There's always something about Carrie — she's not like Charlotte, she's not like Samantha. I would definitely say that she's always a little undone," hairstylist Mandy Lyons, who worked on seasons five and six of SATC, told Vogue in June 2023. "It was never really brushed and looking slick. It always has a messy look to it; there's always flyaways. She gets out of bed, and she shakes her hair out — she doesn't brush her hair."

Whether you're thinking about adding volume to your bob with curls, giving some lowlights or highlights a try, or simply need some inspo to embrace your naturally curly hair, Carrie Bradshaw is the woman to turn to for these things — and so much more. Her iconic hair transformation is exactly what everyone needs to get truly inspired to spice up their own look.

Rocking a tame light brown curly bob

When we were first introduced to Carrie Bradshaw in season one, episode one of "Sex and the City," her hair was fairly tame, especially in regards to what was to come. At the time, she had a very flattering long bob haircut that was much darker than the blond she would embrace for the rest of the series. It was a cute cut, but it didn't really reflect the Carrie that we'd get to know. This was also the pilot, so it makes sense that Sarah Jessica Parker had yet to give Carrie the life and style we'd all learn to love — and sometimes hate. After all, no one should be wearing a belt around their waist, against their skin, as an accessory. 

Carrie hits her Carrie moment with blonde layered curls

Just a few episodes into season one, Carrie begins to look like the Carrie who would become a cultural icon and a character whose name needs no explanation. In season one, episode three, her hair is just past her shoulders, with light curls dangling around the face. Her cut also included a lot of layers, something that's essential in combating common curly hair problems, including strands that lose their shape or, even worse, curls that are so bulky that they look like you have a shrub on your head. As much as Carrie's curls always hit the mark perfectly, there was undeniably quite a bit of effort and product required to keep them looking effortless.

Wearing it long and straight

In season two, episode three, Carrie decides to give therapy a try, or rather, her friends tell her it's time to find a therapist because she can't stop talking about — to no surprise whatsoever — Mr. Big. Although this long, straight look wouldn't last long, after all, fighting with a flatiron every morning to get curls to be this straight and this smooth is a feat, it is a great example of Carrie's hair evolution and just how versatile her looks could be.

Big bouncy curls while severely misunderstanding bisexuality

Once season three rolled around, it was 2000 and Carrie's hair was really big, which was very fitting for the Y2K fashion trends of the time. While this is one of a handful of episodes that didn't age well because Carrie, who was a sex and relationships columnist mind you, couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that the guy she was dating was bisexual and the episode is rife with BS myths about bisexuality, her hair is ridiculously fantastic. Not just because she's not afraid to go so darn big with it, but the various tones add dimensions that just makes this particular cut and color one of the best of the series.

Chopped again, but this time with an edgier look

Season four is when Carrie finally went short for the first time since season one. In episode 18 of this season, she has a choppy lob with uneven ends to create a hairstyle that's very Carrie: whimsical with a dash of chaos. It's also more of a golden-caramel color, which is a bit darker than her light blonde hair and it really works for her. She's also sitting next to Big here, adding to her overall radiance and glow. 

Nailing the classic curly bob

If you ever needed an image to inspire you to go for the curly bob, this is it. Carrie debuted this look during season five, episode one when she and the girls were headed out for a night of Fleet Week fun. Although Carrie had become — and still is — synonymous with big, curls in her long hair, this bob is everything. It's more on the platinum side than other cuts she'd had in the past, adding to the carefree and free-wheeling look. As season five progressed, Carrie, or rather her hairstylist, clearly had a lot of fun when it came to styling it in unique and different ways, something else to take from season five if you go for a curly bob.

Straightened lob for the wedding of Bobby Fine and Bitsy von Muffling

For the last episode of season five, Carrie's bob has grown out into lob that is a darker blonde than what she had with her bob in episode one of the same season. For the wedding of Bobby Fine and Bitsy von Muffling in the Hamptons, Carrie straightened her hair and pulled the top pieces back, keeping it sophisticated and wedding-appropriate — especially for the Hamptons.

Jumping on the money piece trend

As we got close to saying goodbye to Carrie with the final season — although many of us would rewatch the series multiple times — Carrie went through a brief period where she rocked the chic money piece trend. Although there are varying shades from light brown to very light blonde in this look, it's the strands around her face that enhance her features and give her just enough pop of color. Had Carrie gone curly with this coloring, the money pieces wouldn't have been as visible, blending into all the other shades. While not one of her most exciting looks, the money pieces are, to use Carrie's word, fabulous. 

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