For the latest cover of Perfect magazine, Sabrina Carpenter trades in her familiar blonde bombshell curls for something far more unexpected: a jet-black colour complete with sharp fringe. The result is a striking switch-up that's already doing the rounds online – but (and it's a big but), before you go and make like Sab with the at-home hair dye, yes, it is a wig, not a permanent pivot to the dark side. Still, cue the audible gasps...
As per the Instagram post below debuting Sabrina's shocking look, her usually soft, golden, glossy look has been replaced with a style much sleeker, darker and more graphic. Of course, the colour is the main talking point, but the fringe alone does a lot of the heavy lifting, too.
Snaps go out to the hairstylist and genius behind this transformation, Evanie Frausto. You did that!
Unsurprisingly, it's not only us who thought the look was shocking. Friends and fans of the star took to the comments section of the IG post to share their thoughts, including some uncanny fellow celebrity comparisons...
"Omg didn’t even recognize her!! ❤️"
"OUR SWEET PRINCESS!"
"SHE'S AN ICON"
"Full on shape shifting ❤️"
"ooo the black hair looks good"
"channeling jenny schecter i see !"
"why she billie eilish"
"Looks like Billie!!!"
"please shock the masses and switch it up by doing dark hair next era."
"OMFG"
Do you see the Billie Eilish similarities?
Hair aside, in her cover interview conversation with Marc Jacobs, the singer talks about image in a way that matches the shoot's flexibility. She describes fashion as an experimental form of art; it's a tool she uses to shift how she presents herself, depending on mood and moment, rather than a single defining statement.
Everyone's clicking on...
"...my initial relationship with fashion was sort of in distress. The day I realised what tailoring is changed my life. In terms of what made me feel the most confident, it was an altered outfit, making it feel like it works really well on my body," she says.
Continuing, she adds: "I see it truly as art, as something that can make you feel so self-conscious or it can make you feel so incredibly confident that you’re not even aware of what is on your body. I love to play dress up. This shoot was really fun for that reason. We got to really try some looks that I’ve never tried before. Lots of wigs, lots of different make-up for me, lots of shapes that maybe I wouldn’t normally wear. I can just play a little bit more with editorial. It was really fun."
Overall, you could say that this entire transformation is less about hair and more a reminder that signature style is never really fixed – it just comes with different wigs and outfits! Perhaps she'll step out with a blue pixie cut, next...
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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.
