Have you ever looked at Anne Hathaway's curly hair and thought, "I want that"? I have. More than once.
Anne Hathaway curly hair moments have given us some of the most talked-about red carpet looks in the last two decades.
From her early days as a frizzy-haired princess to her polished Hollywood waves, her hair has changed a lot over the years. Each phase brought something worth paying attention to.
In this blog, I'll walk you through 19 of her best curly hair looks, her full hair evolution, and exactly how you can recreate these styles at home.
I've spent time studying her looks carefully so you get the right information and clear styling steps without the guesswork.
Let's get started.
Does Anne Hathaway Have Naturally Curly Hair?
Yes, she does.
Anne Hathaway has naturally wavy to curly hair. You can see it clearly in candid shots and early interviews. Her natural texture sits somewhere between loose curls and soft waves.
Her hair type is approximately 2B to 2C. That means she has wavy curls that form an S-shape and pick up more definition with the right products.
Over the years, she has styled it straighter or curled it tighter depending on the role or event. But the natural wave is always there.
Anne Hathaway Hair Evolution Through the Years
Her hair has been through more eras than most people realize, and each one told a different story.
Early Princess Diaries Era
In The Princess Diaries (2001), her big, frizzy curls on Mia Thermopolis were literally the point of the character's before-and-after arc.
Becoming a Hollywood Star
As she moved into bigger roles, her natural curls became more polished. Films like The Devil Wears Prada showed her full range.
Her character Andy Sachs went from frizzy waves to glossy sleek straight hair and bangs across the film. She started showing up to premieres with defined curls, glossy waves, and better styling.
Her hair got more attention and care.
The Pixie Haircut Years
In 2012, she cut her hair short for Les Misérables, and the scene was filmed in real time for her role as Fantine.
The pixie phase lasted a couple of years. During this time, there were no curls. Just clean, short cuts.
Growing Out Her Hair
From 2014 onwards, her hair slowly grew back.
The growing-out phase gave us some straight brown long hair which actually looked great. Her natural texture came back fast.
Modern Soft Waves and Glam Curls
Today, Anne mostly wears soft waves and loose curls. Hairstylist Eduardo Mendez, who worked on The Idea of You, helped shape her current signature look.
She keeps it polished but not overdone.
19 Best Anne Hathaway Curly Hair Looks
These are real, documented looks tied to specific appearances, so you can actually find photos of each one.
1. Princess Diaries Frizzy Curls (2001)
This is where most people first noticed her hair. Big, unruly curls at the premiere of The Princess Diaries.
The look mirrored her on-screen character Mia Thermopolis before the makeover.
It suits people who embrace natural texture and don't want to fight their frizz. Air dry and use a curl-defining cream.
2. Ella Enchanted Long Layered Curls (2004)
Long, flowing curls with visible layers. She wore this during her movie for Ella Enchanted.
It suits people with long hair who want movement and shape. Long-barrel curling wands work best here.
3. Devil Wears Prada Waves (2006)
This is a classic Hollywood Hairstyle. Voluminous waves with Bangs and strong structure.
It suits oval and heart-shaped faces.
4. Rachel Getting Married Romantic Curls (2008)
For the press tour, she wore loosely defined romantic curls. Very natural-looking. Suits people who want red carpet curls without the high-maintenance finish.
It suits oval and heart-shaped faces. Use a 1.5-inch barrel, curl away from the face, and finish with a smoothing serum for that camera-ready gloss.
5. Love & Other Drugs Premiere Waves (2010)
At the premiere alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, she wore her hair in soft, bouncy waves. Full of movement.
This suits people with medium to long hair. Wrap sections loosely around a large barrel iron.
6. 2011 Oscars Red Carpet Waves
One of her most photographed hair moments. She did her hair in an updo with a middle partition and left a few curls from the front part. This suits almost every face shape.
Set the curls with a medium iron, then brush through gently and spray.
7. Bride Wars Curls (2009)
Defined curls with strong hold and shine. Very polished. Suits people with thicker hair who want a sculpted look.
Use a medium-barrel iron and a finishing serum.
8. 2014 Met Gala Curly Bob
After growing out her pixie, she showed up at the Met Gala with a curly bob. Natural texture, shoulder length.
It suits people with fine to medium hair who want shape without too much weight.
9. The Intern Premiere Soft Waves (2015)
Relaxed, everyday waves at the premiere of The Intern. Not structured, not stiff. This is the version you wear to brunch or a casual work event, not a red carpet.
Use a large barrel and keep the hold very light.
10. 2022 Cannes Film Festival Waves
At Cannes, Anne showed up with full, voluminous waves. Very polished and high-impact. Suits people who want a formal evening look.
Always finish with a light-hold spray to keep the shape.
11. Deep Side-Part Red Carpet Waves (2012 Press Season)
During her Oscar campaign for Les Misérables, she wore deep side-part waves at several events. The deep side part gives the curls a classic, structured frame.
It suits square and round face shapes well. Works on medium to long hair.
12. Vintage-Influenced Curly Updo (2019 Award Events)
Curls pinned into an updo with loose pieces around the face. She wore versions of this at formal events in 2019. Great for weddings or evening occasions.
It looks high-effort but comes together quickly.
13. 2023 Versace Campaign Glossy Waves
The Versace campaign featured Anne with long, glossy waves. Very intentional, very editorial.
Suits people with straight or lightly wavy hair who want to curl it up for a specific occasion.
14. 2024 The Idea of You Press Tour Soft Waves
During press for The Idea of You, she wore soft, relaxed waves that felt very current. Hairstylist Eduardo Mendez shaped the same low-key look throughout the film.
A wide-barrel iron and light serum are all you need.
15. Half-Up Curly Style (Various 2015-2017 Events)
She wore half-up, half-down curls at several semi-formal appearances in this period. It suits people who want curls to show but prefer hair off their face.
16. Brushed-Out Glamour Waves (2018 Press Events)
At a string of 2018 press events, her curls were brushed through for a softer, airier finish. The result looks almost like a blowout but with more movement and less structure.
A paddle brush and light spray give you this look at home.
17. Textured Beach Waves (2016 Casual Appearances)
She appeared at several casual events with tousled, salt-spray texture.
Easy to get with a sea salt spray and some scrunching. Suits almost everyone.
18. Full Hollywood Barrel Curls (2009 Award Season)
Tight, defined barrel curls during the 2009 award season. Very polished and structured.
It suits people with thick hair who want a classic red carpet look. A medium-barrel iron works best.
19. Shoulder-Length Waves with Volume (2020-2021)
During this quieter public period, she appeared in a few interviews with shoulder-length waves full of volume.
Looks great on people with naturally wavy hair who just want to define what is already there.
Anne Hathaway Curly Hair in Movies
Her movie roles have given us some of the best curly hair moments of her career.
The Princess Diaries (2001): The frizzy curls were a character choice. They made Mia Thermopolis look out of place on purpose. This is one of the most iconic "before" hair looks in any movie. Fans still talk about it.
Ella Enchanted (2004):Long, natural-looking curls throughout the film. This is closer to her actual natural texture. Loose, defined, and full of movement.
Rachel Getting Married (2008):Her character Kym has loosely curled, slightly undone hair. It matches the indie, grounded tone of the film. Very natural and low-fuss.
Bride Wars (2009): More polished curls here. Her character Emma has styled waves that look very much like classic Anne Hathaway red carpet hair.
Love & Other Drugs (2010): Soft, romantic waves throughout. This is one of her best on-screen hair moments. The texture and movement look very natural. Her slightly bohemian look worked perfectly alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the film.
Ocean's 8 (2018): Her role here brought retro glamour back. She wore bombshell blowouts and deep side parts that showed how well her hair works with old Hollywood styling.
The Idea of You (2024): Her character Solene has soft, modern waves throughout the film. Hairstylist Eduardo Mendez designed each look to reflect where Solene was emotionally in the story, alongside co-star Nicholas Galitzine's character Hayes Campbell. It matches the relaxed, adult-romance tone of the story. Very wearable and current.
Which Anne Hathaway Curly Hairstyle Is Most Iconic?
I'd say the 2011 Oscars waves are her most iconic. They showed up at one of the biggest moments of her career and have been referenced more than any other look she has done.
The Princess Diaries frizzy curls also have a special place in people's memory.
But in terms of pure style, the Oscars waves win.
How to Get Anne Hathaway Curly Hair
These are the tools and steps that actually matter. Skip any one of these and the result won't hold.
The right setup makes a big difference before you even pick up the curling iron.
- Start with shoulder to mid-back length hair. Too short and the curls lose their shape. Too long and they get weighed down.
- Use a 1-inch barrel for tighter curls. Use a 1.5 to 2-inch barrel for her signature soft waves. Her most common red carpet looks use the larger size.
- Apply a volumizing mousse to damp hair before blow-drying. This builds the base. Don't skip it if your hair falls flat easily.
- Always use a heat protectant. Spray on damp hair before drying or on dry hair before curling. It also helps the curl last longer.
- Use a diffuser when blow-drying if you want to keep her natural wave texture instead of stretching it out. It cuts frizz and holds the curl shape better than a regular nozzle.
- Finish with a light-hold spray to set the curls without stiffening them. For extra shine, press a tiny amount of shine serum through the ends only.
- If you want her Idea of You beach wave look without heat, a heatless overnight method works well. Sleep with damp hair in a dutch braid and finish with a light-hold spray in the morning.
Best Haircuts If You Love Anne Hathaway's Curly Hairstyles
A layered lob or a shoulder-length cut with layers gives you the most flexibility. It suits curly hair well and keeps the shape without too much bulk.
A curly bob is also a solid option for people with thicker hair.
Anne Hathaway Curly Hair Color Over the Years
Anne has stayed mostly brunette. Her hair color has ranged from deep espresso brown to warmer chestnut tones.
She went lighter briefly but always came back to brown.
At the 2013 Met Gala, she debuted a platinum blonde pixie that got a lot of attention, but it was short-lived.
Her color suits her warm skin tone and makes her curls pop with more depth and dimension.
Tips for Recreating Her Red Carpet Curly Hairstyles
Small habits make the difference between curls that last all night and curls that drop in an hour.
- Start with clean, completely dry hair before you curl.
- Section your hair before you start. Work in small pieces for better definition.
- Curl away from your face on all sections. It opens up the look.
- Let each curl cool completely before touching it. Rushing this step collapses the curl.
- Run your fingers through lightly or use a wide-tooth comb for a softer finish.
- Finish with a light-hold spray and don't touch again.
Conclusion
Anne Hathaway's curly hair has given us so many looks worth trying.
From her Princess Diaries days to modern red carpet waves, her hair has always had real personality.
The great thing is none of these looks are too hard to recreate at home once you have the right tools and products in place.
Start with a solid heat protectant, pick the right barrel size, and build from there. Small steps make a big difference.
Which Anne Hathaway curly hair look are you planning to try first?
Let us know in the comment section below.
