Madonna as an Iconic Blonde, But Let’s Celebrate Her Brunette Moments Too

When thinking of Madonna, one of the first images that often comes to mind is her iconic blonde hair. The pop queen has sported a powerful and sexy blonde look since the ’80s, even dubbing her controversial 1990 world tour “Blond Ambition.”

Interestingly, like many notable blondes, Madonna is a natural brunette. Renowned for her ability to reinvent herself, she has transitioned from artsy punk to glamorous Old Hollywood diva, from bold provocateur to a spiritually-inclined yoga enthusiast, and much more throughout her career.

Over the years, Madonna has occasionally revisited her natural dark hair. Even though it’s not her go-to look, she certainly knows how to make it work. In fact, there’s an Instagram fan account dedicated to her brunette days, proudly proclaiming, “There is only one Queen and She was born BRUNETTE.”

Let’s take a nostalgic look back at some of Madonna’s most memorable brunette moments.

A fresh-faced, smiling young Madonna flaunted her natural dark hair in her 1976 yearbook photo. Less than a decade later, she would rise to become one of the biggest stars on the planet!

Initially trained as a dancer, Madonna exuded grace in this photo taken in 1977. Her short dark hair added a charming gamine quality to her appearance.

This early headshot shows a young Madonna with crimped hair and bangs. Crimped hair would become hugely popular in the ’80s, demonstrating that Madonna was always ahead of her time.

During the early part of her career, Madonna performed at the star-studded Live Aid benefit concert in 1985. On stage, she rocked dark hair, her signature array of accessories, and a very ’80s New Romantic pastel outfit.

Perhaps her most famous brunette moment came with the release of the controversial 1989 “Like a Prayer” music video. Addressing heavy themes of race, religion, and sexuality, the video featured Madonna in a stripped-down look with dark wavy hair, a slip dress, and a crucifix necklace, adding a dramatic undertone to the intense visuals.

Throughout much of the ’90s, Madonna kept her hair blonde. However, during the 1998 “Ray of Light” era, she returned to her brunette roots. This look perfectly complemented her more grounded, yet still glamorous, image after the birth of her daughter, Lourdes.

For a brief period, Madonna adopted a goth look, complete with jet-black hair, purple eye makeup, and dark lipstick, exuding a Morticia Addams vibe.

At the 1998 VH1 Fashion Awards, Madonna stunned in a yellow ball gown. The striking contrast of her dark hair against the vibrant outfit earned her the title of “Most Fashionable Artist” — an accolade that she clearly deserved.

At the 1999 Grammy Awards, Madonna performed wearing a voluminous red kimono dress. The vivid garment, paired with her dark hair, created a powerful and visually impactful look.

During the early 2000s, Madonna sported dark hair again for the release of her “American Life” album. In this photo from an MTV performance, she looked effortlessly cool in a striped top and newsboy cap.

Madonna complemented her “American Life” album cover with a stylish black beret and sleek brunette hairstyle, staying true to her penchant for reinventing herself.