Ariana Grande's signature ponytail appears to be taking a hiatus of its own. After more than a decade of making the high pony her signature hairstyle, Grande has debuted a shorter look with some vintage flair in its tips.
The 33-year-old singer donned a sleek, retro-inspired bob in a series of Instagram selfies shared Thursday, 22 October. Grande wore her brunette hair in a deep side part, with the ends flipped outward for a distinctly retro finish.
After 14 years of albums, tours, and red carpets, Grande's ponytail has arguably worked almost as hard as she has. If any hairstyle deserves a hiatus, some PTO, and perhaps its own Grammy, it is probably this one. The bob can take it from here.
Ariana Grande Enters Her 'Bobiana' Era
The 'Burning Bridges' singer kept the caption as minimal as her new haircut is short, posting only a heart. Her friends and fans, on the other hand, had plenty more to say about the transformation. Soon enough, the comment section birthed a new nickname for the singer and her bob.
'OMG BOBIANA !!!! SO BEAUTIFUL,' one commenter declared, while another simply celebrated, 'Bob!!!' Gigi Hadid also gave Grande's new look her approval, commenting, 'rlly cute !!!!!!!!'
Elsewhere in the star-studded comment section, Alyx Liu and Tayasha both reacted with heart-eyed emojis. The enthusiasm continued with compliments ranging from 'Natural cutie' and 'ridiculously gorgeous' to 'gorgeous girl with a gorgeous bob.'
Grande's Farewell to Her Iconic High Ponytail
Grande's flipped bob marks a notable departure from a hairstyle that has followed her through much of her career and become a pop culture icon on its own. Her high ponytail emerged as a signature look around 2012, becoming so closely associated with the singer that even her experiments with different colours, lengths, and styles over the years never quite dethroned it. Fourteen years later, the ponytail may finally be getting some time off.
Grande's new cut comes with some serious retro credentials. Flipped ends were everywhere in the 1960s, popping up on everyone from Mary Tyler Moore to Jackie Kennedy. The trick was simple: keep the bob neat, then send the ends in the opposite direction. Grande's version might be about 60 years younger, but it certainly kept up with the playbook.
Grande Is Also Taking a Break From the Spotlight
Ariana herself is also preparing to take an extensive break from public appearances after wrapping up a busy period in her career. Her representative said in August that the singer planned to take 'a step back from visibility' following the conclusion of her Eternal Sunshine tour on 1 September and her promotional commitments for Focker-in-Law, which is scheduled to hit cinemas on 25 November.
The representative said Grande wanted to end the tour "healthily and happily" before taking a 'much-deserved break' from public-facing work and appearances after facing ongoing scrutiny.
A new chapter does not necessarily mean Grande's famous ponytail has been permanently retired. Until further notice though, Grande's comment section has already christened its replacement. Welcome to the 'Bobiana' era.
