Britney Spears has long been recognized for her iconic blonde hair. While the pop star has experimented with different looks over the years — including jet-black strands during her Blackout era — she always seems to return to the golden hue that became her signature. But despite the familiar image, Spears is not naturally blonde.
In her 2023 memoir The Woman in Me, Spears revealed that her true hair color is much darker. “I’m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb. And I also know that I’m not blond,” she wrote. “My real hair color is black.”
While Spears described her hair as black, childhood photos suggest a more accurate description is a rich, dark chestnut brown. In a photo she posted to Instagram in 2023, a young Spears is seen with glossy brown hair, far from the platinum shade fans are used to.
When she first rose to fame in the late 1990s, Spears still wore her natural color. At the 1998 American Music Awards, her hair appeared in a mix of dark and caramel brunette tones. It wasn’t until 1999 that she began sporting the much lighter, blonde hair that would become a staple of her image.
Since then, the singer has tried nearly every shade — from deep black and chestnut brown to even red. Each look has offered a different side of her, and Spears has openly discussed how hair color affects her mindset.
In a 2024 Instagram video, she danced to “Gimme More” and reflected on the first time she went platinum blonde. “Honestly it was a huge difference!!! I became this cool character right when the camera came on!!!!” she wrote.
In 2021, Spears made another bold change, showing off pastel pink locks on social media. Her hairstylist, Dimitris Giannetos, told Page Six that the shade suited her well. “I suggested to try the pink color because I believe it fits perfect with her skin tone and personality,” he said. “It’s always so much fun doing her hair, it’s like a spring break.”
While Britney Spears may not be a natural blonde, she continues to use her hair color as a form of self-expression. Whether brunette, platinum, or pink, her ever-changing style reflects her evolving identity and creativity.
