If you thought you had been through a lot this year (no, bc same), just try being Ariana Grande's scalp for a minute. I mean, not that I've had the honour(?) but just thinking about the many bleach baths and upscale ponytails she's undergone in 2022 alone is enough to make anyone's roots feel a little strained.
Having said that, it seems the star has opted for a little tension release (quite literally) in the form of wearing her locks in a low-styled half-up half-down hairdo. Yep, she's brought her trademark look down a few pegs... again, quite literally.
In a recent Instagram video reel, the singer-songwriter wore her locks the style, created by celebrity hairstylist Carl Bembridge. Peep the levelled up (or is it levelled down?) version of her signature look below:
Now, as much as we love Ariana's cute-sy reveal of the hairdo, Carl had other ideas, taking to his very own IG feed to name the hairstyle. In a post shared just a few weeks back where Ari is wearing the very same look (but in a different outfit), he wrote in the caption: "Swooped Half Up Half Down". Original, right?!
Oh, and 'what makes this a winter trend?' I hear you ask. Well, seeing as this isn't the first time Ari has rocked the look, we think she's well underway to making it her new signature look. In which case, I'd place 99 bets on her fans, aka you Arianators, recreating the hairstyle in due course.
After all, it requires minimal effort and little to no heat damage, so, it's a win-win if you ask me!
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
