Miley Cyrus’ 38 Best Hair Styles, From Shags To Blonde

miley cyrus with two-toned blonde and brunette wavy hair — Getty Images

However you've come to know Miley Cyrus—as an actress, a singer, a model, or all three—there's no denying her outstanding talent. Cyrus first starred in Tim Burton's Big Fish at eight-years-old and was once synonymous with her role as Hannah Montana on the Disney channel in her early teens. Now the singer is in her thirties, finally a Grammy winner, and still has a career that's going strong.

Being in the limelight for most of her life thus far, we've watched Cyrus change in many ways, and her hair transformations have been some of our favorites. Over the years, Cyrus has experimented with many hairstyles, including color and different lengths. Below find some of our favorite Miley Cyrus hair moments to date.

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Mega Volume

Miley Cyrus with voluminous wavy hair — Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

As of late, Cyrus' go-to style has been mega volume and then some. Going back to her natural brunette roots, her wavy strands flaunt mega volume at the top, and it fits her so well.

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Party Waves

Miley Cyrus with wet-looking waves — @mileycyrus

Fittingly, the Party In The U.S.A. singer hosted NBC's 2022-23 New Year's Eve Special. She wore piece-y tendrils with a wet-looking shine while sharing the stage with musical icons such as David Byrne and Dolly Parton.

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Dolly Parton-Inspired

Miley Cyrus at 10th Annual LACMA ART+FILM GALA — Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

When your godmother is Dolly Parton, you're either living in a musical fantasy or the life of Cyrus. The singer has been rumored to play Parton in a biopic, but that is unconfirmed. Still, she channeled Parton's looks for a LACMA Art + Film event with icy blonde bangs and waves.

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Beachy Beauty

Miley Cyrus with cascading beach waves — Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage

Cyrus loves a chill wave and this cascading beachy version of the look is so good. The side part frames her face extremely well while flaunting her impressive stack of earrings.

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Modern Mullet

miley cyrus with a blonde mullet and red lipstick — @mileycyrus/Instagram

The mullet haircut is back in a tasteful, modern way; leave it to Cyrus to wear and look incredible while doing it.

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Skunk Hair

We've seen a significant resurgence of skunk hair among stars like Dua Lipa and Rihanna, and we love Cyrus' take on the trend with black strands tucked underneath beach blonde. She recently "marbled" the look all the way up to her roots.

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The Shag

Miley Cyrus at Tom Ford AW20 Show — Mike Coppola/FilmMagic

The shag haircut was popular in 2020, and we love Cyrus in her shaggy era. With shoulder-length strands blended with layers around the face, it's the perfect cut to try if you want something low-maintenance.

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Subtle Exaggeration

Miley Cyrus at 2019 Met Gala — Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Cyrus left her wardrobe for the 2019 Met Gala to make the exaggerated statement while opting for a simple micro bang style to balance the look.

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Rocker Waves

Miley Cyrus at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards — Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Maybe it's the ensemble of thick chains, heavy metal jewelry, and a hard-edged grimace, but these oil-infused waves add to Cyrus' rock-and-roll chic look.

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Wet-Look Waves

Miley Cyrus in New York City, 2019 — Gilbert Carrasquillo/GC Images

Here, Cyrus makes a strong case for the wet-hair look with her fringe and length styled in gelled-up waves.

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Diffused Waves

Miley Cyrus at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party — Jon Kopaloff/Wire Image

The diffused curls Cyrus wore to the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party is one of our all-time favorite beauty looks on her to date. To achieve similar waves, the key isn't loading up on too much product and using your diffuser to thoroughly dry (not disrupt) your curls.

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Old Hollywood Elegance

Miley Cyrus with blonde waves at 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards — Dan MacMedan/WireImage

These brushed-out waves Cyrus wore on the Grammy's red carpet epitomize elegance. A reliable mixed bristle brush is key to creating a similar hairstyle.

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Faux Bob

Miley Cyrus at 26th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Event — Amanda Edwards/WireImage

Perfectly sculpted waves are enough on their own, but a faux bob is a perfect trick if you have longer strands and want to bring the hair up to the neckline. Tie a loose ponytail once the curls have been brushed out and set, gently tuck the ends up inside the ponytail, and pin them into place at the scalp.

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Body Movement

Miley Cyrus at 2018 Met Gala — George Pimentel/Getty Images

For the Met Gala theme of Heavenly Bodies, Cyrus didn't skimp on showing off some skin, but she also let her hair down with effortless body and movement.

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Party Pony

Miley Cyrus with high ponytail — Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images

Here, Cyrus' signature blonde ombre strands are pulled back into a high, party ponytail. She doesn't wear her hair up often, but we love the playful, casual style on her.

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Flower Accents

Miley Cryus attends the Thor premiere — Barry King / Getty Images

Cyrus wore a French twist on the red carpet but kept the style fun by decorating it with flower pins and clips to complement her dress.

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Beach-Blonde Pony

Miley Cyrus performs with Billy Idol at the 2016 iHeartRadio Festival — Kevin Mazur/WireImage

At the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Festival, Cyrus wore her bleach-blonde strands in a high ponytail for her performance alongside Billy Idol.

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Top Knot

Miley Cyrus with a top know — Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Cyrus rocked a chic top knot at the 2019 Grammy Awards. Like we mentioned, she doesn't wear her hair up to often, but she knows when to do it because it pairs perfectly with the sheer detailing on her dress.

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Blue Glitter Bob

Miley Cyrus at 2015 Met Gala — George Pimentel / WireImage

At the 2015 Met Gala, Cyrus wore a sleek blue bob with a reflective sheen to play off the evening's theme Through The Looking Glass.

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A Side of Sparkle

Miley Cyrus wears pink glitter to a (RED) Event — Jim Spellman / WireImage

Where most people would use makeup to play off this theme of glitter, we love the gelled detail Cyrus wore with her side part, proving that you can never have too much sparkle.

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Clean and Combed

Miley Cyrus at 23rd Annual Elton John AIDS Event — Carwai Tang / WireImage

Cyrus knows how to pack a punch without going overboard. Case in point: This poppy orange lip, all-black attire, a dash of bling, and a clean combed bob that ties it all together.

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Butter Blonde

Miley Cyrus with blonde pixie at 2014 MTV Video Music Awards — Steve Granitz/WireImage

At the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards, Cyrus dyed her wispy pixie cut in a multidimensional shade of buttery blonde, the perfect hue to consider for summer.

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Edgy Spikes

Miley Cyrus with spikey hair at the 2013 Met Gala — Larry Busacca / Getty Images

When the Met Gala theme is Punk: Chaos to Couture, leave it to Cyrus to show up with the perfect pairing of both—these punk rock spikes and netted couture gown made for an unforgettable red carpet moment.

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Buzz-Worthy Pixie

Miley Cyrus at 2013 iHeartRadio Music Festival — Vallery Jean/FilmMagic

With this style, Cyrus proved you don't have to pick between a buzz cut and a pixie cut. Instead, merge both with shaved sides and style your lengths up top in a pompadour for an easy, confident look.

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Baby Buns

Miley Cyrus at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards — C Flanigan / Film Magic

Cyrus' mini space buns will—hands down—always be one of her more iconic looks. It was a simple yet playful statement during a massive moment in the singer's music career.

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Platinum Pixie

Here, Cyrus's platinum pixie, bright orange-red lip, and bold brow serve us an edgier interpretation of Marilyn-inspired Hollywood glam.

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Deep Side Part

Miley Cyrus at 2013 Teen Choice Awards — Steve Granitz / WireImage

Even with the shortest strands, over-directing the hair from your regular parting can offer height, volume, and ease. The heat of your blow dryer will be your best friend when moving that hair up and over, making sure your strands stay put.

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Geometric Crop

Miley Cyrus at 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Event — Stefanie Keenan / Getty Images

Cyrus debuted her short punk-rock haircut with her Bangerz album in 2013, which created much buzz. This moment in her hair journey is hard to forget and marked the beginning of her most transformative and experimental hair times ahead.

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The Butterfly Cut

Miley Cyrus at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards — Jon Kopaloff / Film Magic

Before there was Tiktok and its viral butterfly cut trend, Cyrus sported a voluminous layered style on the red carpet at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards that we're still loving over a decade later.

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Hollywood Glam

Miley Cyrus at the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar Party — Mark Sullivan / Wire Image

When you've made appearances on the red carpet for most of your life, it's almost inevitable that a classic portrayal of old Hollywood glam will find its way into your beauty repertoire. Always favoring a side part, Cyrus wears one section of hair pinned back, but it has no impact on the body and fullness in her hairstyle.

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Bouffant Undercut

Miley Cyrus with an undercut at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards — Gregg DeGuire / Wire Image

Bouffants may be a '50s-inspired hairdo, but Cyrus makes it look edgier with her double-processed undercut.

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Dip-Dye Ponytail

Dip dye hair always reinvents itself in new, fun, and exciting ways. These extra-long ponytail extensions Cyrus wore in 2011 are a damage-free option for trying the color trend with zero risks or regrets.

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Layered Fishtail Braid

Miley Cyrus wearing a fishtail side braid in 2011 — Jason Merritt/WireImage

Layers didn't deter Cyrus from wearing the side-swept fishtail braid we saw everywhere in the 2010s. It perfectly captures the hair trends of the time from color, cut, and style, making it one of Cyrus's most memorable hair moments.

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Tousled Bun

Miley Cyrus at 82nd Annual Academy Awards — Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Romantic updos were all the rage in the early 2000s, and this tousled mid-height bun she wore to the 82nd Annual Academy Awards in 2009 perfectly represented the times.

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Thick Tendrils

Miley Cyrus in 2009 at VH1's Divas Red Carpet — Kevin Mazur / WireImage

Before we all started wearing long, stick-straight tendrils around the face, we saw a thicker, bolder version of the hair trend on Cyrus back in 2009.

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Dark Extensions

Miley Cyrus attends 50th Annual GRAMMY Awards — Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Pencil-thin eyebrows, rich chocolate brown hair, and voluminous extensions, all seen on Cyrus here, were largely popular in 2009. Although a far cry from her blonde hair down the line, this is a fun Cyrus era to look back on.

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Crown Braid Baby

Miley Cyrus with crown braid and long waves — Photo by Amy Graves/WireImage

A crown braid and long beachy waves is peak Miley Stewart core. This look from 2010 was iconic at the time, and it will forever a hit for Cyrus.

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Messy Waves

During her Hannah Montana era, (circa 2009) Cyrus is seen wearing her signature messy waves styled with stacks of silver chain jewelry. From there, her rocker-chic style was born!