Bella Thorne Red Ringlet Curls Look Sparks Retro Hair Trend
Bella Thorne is in her redhead moment, and long-time Disney fans are already spiraling over the nostalgia. After a few years of trying out darker brown shades, Bella is back to the characteristic copper-red curls that helped establish her Disney Channel look in the early 2010s.
Highlights at a Glance
- Bella revealed stunning copper red ringlet curls on Instagram in May 2026
- She tinted her own hair at home
- She described her as “Brave, Disney’s curly-haired princess” in her post.
- The ensemble is reminiscent of her trademark outfit from the 2010–2013 Disney Channel series
- Her natural hair is a wavy, curly red locks that add to her unique style
- The image quickly went viral and ignited a passion for her Disney-era look
The Disney alum’s new hair transition is a true throwback to her Shake It Up days, as she went back from her dark brown locks to her signature red ringlets. The 28-year-old quickly connected her new look back to her past — and to the realm of Disney animation.
The “Merida” Moment
Thorne stood indoors in the now-viral images, showing off her newly dyed dark red locks. She kept her makeup simple, allowing the vivid hair colour to do all the work as she peered straight into the camera with a smoldering expression. In a post, Thorne wrote, “Merida down in this b-tchhhhhh” in what appeared to be a comparison to the legendary red-haired Disney heroine from Brave. Fans infatuated with the actress’s new metamorphosis went into meltdown in the comments section.
In a subsequent Instagram Story, Bella disclosed that she had a significant role in her own makeover, saying, “Did you know I actually dyed my own hair… who wants to see the video?”
View this post on Instagram
A Full-Circle Disney Moment
The hair instantly reminded us of her breakout phase on Shake It Up, when Bella portrayed aspiring dancer CeCe Jones from 2010 to 2013 with Zendaya. Those bouncing copper ringlets were almost a signature for a generation of Disney youngsters, as familiar as the show’s theme tune itself.
Bella Thorne’s curled, copper hair is joyful and lively – split down the center, the curls frame her face symmetrically on either side and soften the edges of her heart-shaped face. Beauty stylists have long been raving about the flexibility and visual effect of it.
Her Natural Hair & Beauty Philosophy
The stunning alterations are supported by a surprisingly low-key approach to hair maintenance. While Thorne admits to always experimenting with big hair and dramatic makeup for shoots and red carpet appearances, she really likes a simpler beauty regimen in her everyday life. “I’m always on set getting it burned off or cut or dyed or something else for a new look,” said Thorne. “Then really in my free time (which is never!) I like to do nothing with my hair at all.
“My natural hair texture is kind of like a wavy, frizzy curl,” says Thorne, who normally just wears it natural or pulls it into a ponytail while she’s chilling at home.
Source Links
- E! Online — Bella Thorne Returns to Red Hair
- Hola — Bella Thorne’s Fiery Red Hair Comeback
- The Blast — Bella Thorne Debuts Hair Color Change
- The Hair Styler — Bella Thorne Hairstyles
