Demi Lovato's Hair Isn't Just About Looks: "It's Reflective of Who I Am"

In the 16 years that Demi Lovato has simultaneously dominated airwaves and television screens, they have showcased their versatility in sound, artistry, and iconic hairstyles. From the blunt bangs of her "Camp Rock" breakthrough to the dip-dyed high ponytails she rocked during her stint judging "X Factor" to the effortless chop they wore to stay "Cool for the Summer" — Lovato has accompanied each of her eras in life with a new and noteworthy hairstyle.

"I think everything I do inspires my hair changes, you know, my mood and sometimes my relationships," Lovato tells PS. "If I were to go through a breakup, sometimes I'd change up my hair. Or when I was going through a lot of spiritual growth, I buzzed my head and I felt like it shed some of the past. [My hair] isn't just reflective of my music, it's reflective of who I am."

Through all of the ups and downs, cuts, and colors, one thing has remained the same for Lovato, and that's a commitment to healthy hair. This commitment inspired their recent collaboration with OGX Beauty, complete with an original song for TikTok that speaks to expressing your individuality through changing hairstyles and feeling like your best self along the way. "I was so excited to be involved with OGX because OGX is the OG shampoo and conditioner," Lovato says. "There was really a nostalgic element for me because I used it growing up and I still do. And this was a really fun project for me because I love the song, I loved getting to make the song, and I love that it's a brand anthem."

From an early age, Lovato began expressing themselves through their hair, starting off with highlights and going from there. Changing up their hair became a process that allowed Lovato to keep fans on their toes, leading up to perhaps their biggest transformation yet, when they shaved their head at the tail end of 2021. This change opened up a new world of hair possibilities for the "Sorry Not Sorry" singer, allowing them to start fresh and express themselves in a whole new way.

"I'm a multidimensional person and my hair is an extension of that," Lovato says. "I loved after I buzzed my head how my hair grew out into this pixie cut. I think that was one of my favorite hairstyles because it was so easy and cute. I've changed my hair up a ton and I've had a great hair journey."

Whether you're a multi-platinum recording artist or working a nine-to-five, there's nothing in this world that feels like a good hair day. Expressing yourself through hair, be that a dramatic color shift, a drastic cut, or a simple trim, gives you an instant boost of confidence, and to quote Lovato, "What's wrong with being confident?"

"I would say [changing my hair] made me more confident because it's an extension of my personality," Lovato shares. "And whenever I get to express that, I feel like I'm more authentic to myself, therefore, I feel more confident."

Although Lovato loves a good hair confidence boost as much as the rest of us, she also recognizes that true confidence comes from within. We've been able to see the changes Lovato has undergone through her music over the last decade and a half, transcending the genres of pop, electronic, blues, and rock, especially with her latest albums "Holy Fxck" (2022) and "Revamped" (2023). But alongside the music, Lovato has gone through a lot of personal changes — which has led them to be her most confident self yet.

"I would say, to find your inner confidence, you have to learn a lot about yourself and who you are," Lovato says. "I feel like I'm confident today because of the person I am. At times in my life when I have not been confident, it's because I wasn't sure of who I was. And I think taking a deeper look at myself has really helped with that."

Looking within and discovering their true self is a lifelong process, but it's one that we, as fans, are privileged to see unfold as Lovato prepares to step into their next artistic era. Over the course of their career, Lovato has shown equal parts vulnerability and strength through their lyrics, which has led to Lovatics becoming one of the most diehard fan bases in the music industry. And no matter what direction Lovato decides to go in with her music or her hair, her fans will be ready to eat it up.

"I'm in a place right now where I'm in the studio and making new music, but I'm trying on different hats per se and different genres of music, trying to decide which lane I want to go in," Lovato says. "And I feel like once I walk into that, then I'll have a clearer vision of how I want to present myself through my wardrobe, through my makeup, and through my hair."

Devon Preston is a social media administrator and PS Beauty contributor. She writes about beauty as it intersects with gender identity, sexual identity, disability, and race, as well as cultural phenomena from vampires to scene queens to drag artists. Devon was the executive editor of Inked and has written for Bust, Rebel Circus, Everyday Feminism, and more.