35 of Zendaya's Best Hair Looks of All Time

Zendaya 25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards - Arrivals — GETTY

After spending most of her life in the public eye, Zendaya has shown the world that she has serious style in the fashion and hair department. And unlike other stars her age, Zendaya isn’t afraid to experiment. In fact, the starlet has been known to switch her hair up three times in 48 hours.

From a range of curls and waves to sleek ponytails and textured bobs, Zendaya can do it all. Here is a ode to the star’s 30 best hairstyles of all time.

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Rapunzel Length

Before Zendaya became the style icon we know and love today, she dabbled in more simpler (but classic) hairstyles. During her appearance at the 2013 American Music Awards, she caught everyone’s attention with her sleek Rapunzel-length locks and striking middle part.

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High Bun with Bangs

Four months later, Zendaya sported a stunning bun that was half top knot and half ballerina at the Nickelodeon 27th Annual Kids' Choice Awards. Her full, blunt bangs added a beautifully contrasted touch to her overall style’s round shape.

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Snapback Double Braids

In the summer of 2014, Zendaya was really feeling the sporty street-style look and brought it out at the BET Awards. She paired her two long braids with a black snapback and large gold hoops for an edgy do with a dose of cute.

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Loose Pinup Curls

By November of 2014, Zendaya was donning some of her best rock star chic looks. At the Nickelodeon HALO Awards, she wore a sleek and glossy side-swept pinup curl style that gave a retro flair.

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Voluminous Curls

A few days later, Zendaya made her return to the American Music Awards with a rocking, larger than life Diana Ross-inspired curls. The volume just gives us life.

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Red Carpet Cornrows

Zendaya hasn’t been afraid to wear protective styles on the red carpet and it’s a big reason why so many women of color are inspired by the young star. At the Essence 6th Annual Black Women In Music Event, the actress and singer wore simple, elegant cornrows.

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Oscar Fauxlocks

Zendaya made headlines for a number of reasons at the 87th Annual Academy Awards, and her gorgeous choice of a protective style was certainly one that broke the mold from the event’s sea of pressed hair. Her side-parted, half-up-half-down fauxlocks were nothing short of stunning that night.

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Barbie Curls

Seven months after Zendaya’s big moment at the Academy Awards, she was a total Barbie girl with her side-parted voluminous loose curls. It’s only fitting that she wore this over-the-top glam style at the Barbie Rock 'N Royals Concert Experience.

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Simple Chignon

A month later, Zendaya went back to basics with a simple sweptback chignon. She expertly paired the look with a dramatic smokey eye and statement earrings when she walked the carpet at the amfAR Inspiration Gala Los Angeles.

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Sleek Topknot

One of Zendaya’s best looks toward the end of 2015 had to have been at the 12th Annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards. The starlet wore a beautiful top knot with smoothed down baby hairs.

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Golden Globe Waves

Zendaya kicked off 2017 with glossy waterfall waves at the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards. We love this look because her smoothed down middle part served as the perfect frame for her face and earrings.

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Choppy Blonde Bob

Zendaya doesn’t deviate from her natural hair color often, but when she does, it always looks fantastic. Her appearance at the Something New Fan Event at Black Tap is a perfect example with her choppy blonde bob. The loose waves take it up a notch as well.

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Romantic Waves

When Zendaya stopped by the Louis Vuitton fashion show at Fall/Winter Paris Fashion Week, she appeared with a glossy side-parted style that was romantically fit for the City of Love. What can we say? The girl likes her waves.

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Finger Waves

When she’s not sporting long, luscious waves, Zendaya hasn’t been afraid to sport some short ones. At the 27th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, she wore Betty Boop-esque finger waves.

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Dramatic Ponytail

Zendaya certainly knows how to slay a modern take on the classic ponytail. Just check out the dramatic ponytail she wore at the Marie Claire Fresh Faces Party in 2016 if you need proof.

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Bombshell Curls

When Zendaya attended the 2016 Miss America Competition, she completely channeled the theme of the night with side-swept pageant-esque curls. It paired perfectly with her silver statement earrings.

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Symmetrical Bob

Towards the end of 2016, Zendaya wore a sleek shoulder-grazing bob that had a symmetrical middle part. She made sure to sweep those tresses behind her ears to show off her dramatic statement earrings at the Star Wars: The Force Awakens premiere.

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Low Ponytail

Zendaya looked fabulous in her low ponytail at the 2017 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards. The style put her floral choker on display.

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Au Naturel

Zendaya got in touch with her natural roots at the 2017 “Art Of The In-Between” MET Gala. Her stretched out locks created a wispy and whimsical afro that stole the show.

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Bubble Flip

By May of 2017, Zendaya got a little groovy with a voluminous bubble flip haircut. Pairing the look with a cat-eye and green ensemble was a perfect way to complete the retro style.

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Touseled Hair

Of course, Zendaya has graced countless red carpets throughout her career. But, she looked absolutely stunning with her lowkey tousled waves at the Spider-Man: Homecoming premiere.

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Curly Shag

When she was done donning hairstyles from the 1960s, Zendaya moved up a decade that summer and wore a full curly shag cut to the 2017 Teen Choice Awards. Her textured bangs and peekaboo brown highlights added a dimension we just adore!

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Afro Chic

It’s not every day that you see an old school, spherical afro take over the red carpet. And Zendaya totally killed it at the 2017 InStyle Awards.

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Voluminous Waves

Zendaya continued to play around with texture when she attended Glamour's 2017 Women of The Year Awards. Her thick natural curls had the right amount of definition and volume without looking fussy.

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Blonde Pixie

When the winter of 2017 rolled around, Zendaya pulled up to the British Fashion Council Fashion Awards with an icy platinum do. It looked especially striking with her diamond studs.

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Long Braid

For a simple and sassy look, Zendaya made sure to whip her hair back and forth at the 2018 Beautycon Festival in New York City. It paired well with her statement hoops, of course.

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Auburn Bob

Zendaya turned up the heat with a warm cinnamon bob at the 2018 “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination” MET Gala. This wavy crop looked amazing with her micro fringe.

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Side-Swept Waves

At the 2019 Harper’s Bazaar ICONS event, Zendaya swept her hair to the side for a sultry style. Her loose beachy waves look phenomenal with the suit blaze and tie.

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Burgundy Body Wave

Zendaya made sure to smooth down her tresses when she attended the 2019 HBO Post Emmy Awards Reception. Her burgundy hue paired beautifully with this ultra-loose body wave.

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Box Braids

Zendaya kicked off 2020 with a killer box braid install when she attended the 25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards. Her lightly smoothed down baby hairs added a lovely touch.

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Chic Mullet

Zendaya toasted coconut mullet — Jason Merritt/TERM / Staff/Getty Images

Leave it to Zendaya to make a mullet look chic. The rounded bangs help to keep the look fresh while choppy ends keep it from looking too serious.

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Elegant Pageboy

Zendaya pageboy — Amanda Edwards / Getty Images

This elegant take on the classic pageboy sees longer sideburns, and wispy bangs. It's a really flattering look on fine hair, as it makes the hair appear to have more volume.

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Blonde Pixie With Bangs

Zendaya textured pixie — Allen Berezovsky / Getty Images

This blonde pixie is pure 1990s Halle Berry, in the best way. Air-drying and applying a texture spray can help achieve a similar look. Note that this style works especially well on bangs that graze the eyebrows.

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Rounded Bob

This rounded bob is a 1960s callback, but modernized. A round brush and a great blowout can help achieve a similar look but note that Zendaya's style is really all about the cut, which molds perfectly to her head shape.

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Wet Look

We love a wet look hairstyle and it couldn't be easier to replicate at home. Start on damp hair that's been freshly combed, then mix together a gel and a cream — we like Oribe Gel Sérum ($35) and Amika Supernova Moisture and Shine Cream ($26) – and distribute it to ends. Next, comb again with a wide-tooth comb, and lightly blow dry to set.

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