Celebs Who Drastically Changed Their Hair After A Breakup

Going through a breakup is devastating, but sometimes it can also be liberating. One of the first things we often do when cutting ties with an ex is change up our looks — and the easiest way is through a fresh new 'do. Why do so many women (and men as well) feel the need to chop off their tresses or go platinum? "Hair is something that is within our direct control; something we have direct access to, something that results in a relatively immediate outcome," psychologist Dr. Jaime Zuckerman told Harper's Bazaar. "Sometimes a change to our appearance during a difficult or transitional time in our lives can give us a much-needed boost in mood, energy, and confidence," the mental health expert continued.

Celebrities are no different and many take advantage of their newfound freedom to rock a completely different style. And we're not talking about a star simply debuting bangs as Reese Witherspoon did at the 2007 Golden Globes after her split with Ryan Phillippe. We've rounded up stars who have gone full-out unrecognizable with their post-breakup hair and looked gorgeous while leaving their former relationships in the rearview mirror.

Demi Lovato's whirlwind relationship with Max Ehrich was just a few months but a lot happened in that short time. Not being able to stop gushing about each other on social media, the two got engaged in 2020 after just four months of dating. Ehrich once publicly wished for Lovato as a Christmas present before he even met her, which the "Heart Attack" singer found cute while they were together. However, Ehrich's old tweets about Selena Gomez and other celebs resurfaced, making him look like he was thirsting after other stars from afar. In September 2020, Lovato broke off her engagement with Ehrich, and a source shared with People, "It was very hurtful to Demi when she realized that Max's intentions weren't genuine."

Two months later, Lovato cut off all her long, dark locks and debuted a punk pixie cut with a striking platinum blond dye job, which she showed off on the cover of Vogue Mexico. Her longtime hairstylist told Us Weekly, "Demi's new look is inspired by her own personal growth. We're moving into a new decade/era and so is her hair." It looks like the "Let It Go" singer took her own advice and got rid of anything not serving her.

Gwen Stefani has rocked her platinum blond hair since rising to stardom with her band "No Doubt," minus the time she showed up at the 1998 VMAs with cotton candy blue hair. However, after her split with now-ex-husband Gavin Rossdale in August 2015, she was seen looking edgier than ever with purple and black dip-dyed hair on the ends of her fresh bob the following month. In October of that year, the "Tragic Kingdom" singer traded the purple color for electric blue.

As reported by Entertainment Weekly, Stefani was the one who filed for divorce and the former couple announced in a joint statement, "While the two of us have come to the mutual decision that we will no longer be partners in marriage, we remain partners in parenthood and are committed to jointly raising our three sons in a happy and healthy environment." News of their divorce came after rumors circulated that the "Bush" frontman had cheated on Stefani with the nanny. If that isn't cause enough to leave her old hair — and life — behind, we don't know what is.

Kristen Stewart has always played around with her hair, so it wasn't quite shocking when she changed up her 'do after breaking up with Alicia Cargile — but it was a huge departure from her normal look. The "Twilight" star and Cargile were first linked around 2014 but it wasn't until 2016 that she opened up about their relationship. "I'm just really in love with my girlfriend. We've broken up a couple of times and gotten back together, and this time I was like, 'Finally, I can feel again,'" Stewart told Elle.

Unfortunately, the two broke up sometime in the fall of 2016, and the actor traded in her ashy blond bob for a much lighter, shorter style shortly thereafter. The following year, Stewart went even more daring with a platinum buzz cut that had her looking like a modern-day G.I. Jane. "I've wanted to do this for a long time for novelty's sake, just because at some point in your life you want to be able to do that," she revealed on "The Today Show" (via Harper's Bazaar). The "Spencer" star added, "It feels amazing — I just want to headbang all day!"

Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom's relationship seemed like a teenage dream until they broke up in February 2017 after dating for 10 months. "Katy pulled the plug. It was a few events that happened over the past few months. They both still love each other very much, though, and getting back together could happen once they have some space," a source told E! News. In March, Perry shocked fans by debuting a super short style with long bangs that grazed her cheekbones. "I WASNT READY TILL NOW," she posted on Instagram.

The "California Gurls" singer explained the reason for her new 'do at the iHeartRadio Music Awards (via Hello!). "Honestly, I tried to take my full head of hair platinum and I had a lot of breakage. I've always wanted to look like Miley Cyrus. I've always wanted to have that pixie haircut, so I said, 'Let's just go for it,'" she stated. Just like her breakup with Bloom, Perry's pixie wasn't forever and after she went even shorter with her bangs, she eventually grew her hair back out.

Selena Gomez has had varying lengths of hair over the years but her fresh bob post-split with Justin Bieber in 2018 was her shortest yet. After her breakup with The Weeknd, Gomez rekindled her on-again-off-again relationship with the "Baby" singer. As reported by the Daily Mail, the two were spotted locking lips in November 2017 while Bieber played ice hockey in Los Angeles. Sadly, their romance lasted only a few months before they broke up the following March. "She respects him as a person but has decided she is much happier doing her own thing. Selena rarely even talks about Justin anymore and is fully open to dating," a source revealed to E! News. The insider added, "Selena is going in a different direction with her life."

Gomez also went in a different direction with her hair and chopped off several inches. The "Lose You To Love Me" singer was seen with a wavy chin-length blunt bob while hanging out with a pal in California the same month of her breakup. While the "Only Murders in the Building" star looks gorgeous with long tresses, we think she's definitely a celebrity who looks so much better with short hair.