Katy Perry reveals the real reason she cut her hair
Katy Perry has revealed in an interview with Byrdie that facing the world without her long hair has meant "trying to redefine what beauty means to me."
She said: "Now I can’t hide behind it. I wanted to know that I could still feel beautiful and love myself without it. It’s fun, it’s freeing, it’s liberating, and I don’t think that 'sexiness' and 'femininity' is just one thing—long hair. I suppose the goal is to redefine what femininity means to me."
Recently Katy Perry live-streamed her life to promote her album Witness - and fans were left concerned after she took part in a therapy session with Siri Sat Nam Singh, a licensed therapist.
The singer discussed a number of things which left her in tears, including the fact she has had suicidal thoughts. She also discussed the reason why she cut her hair - and it was pretty devastating.
She said: “People talk about my hair, right? And they don’t like it, or they wish that it was longer. I so badly want to be Katheryn Hudson [Katy's real name] that I don’t even want to look like Katy Perry anymore sometimes, and that is a little bit of why I cut my hair."
Despite Katy's reservations about her cut, we have absolutely loved it from day one...
Back in March, the singer first debuted her new look on Instagram with the caption "fifth element flow" (interpret that how you like) and took inspiration from the model Agyness Deyn.
She previously spoke to People.com at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in March, about her decision to start going shorter:
"I feel like there’s a new wave, a new authentic vibe coming in and I think this matches," she explained.
Katy continued: "I want to redefine what it means to be feminine. Look at Scarlett Johansson, who’s one of the most beautiful women in the world. We have the same haircut and I saw her at an Oscars party and was like, ‘I’m doing it.’”
The man responsible for her new look is stylist to the stars Chris McMillan and we love it.
Now check out all of Katy's best ever hairstyles...
@katyperry / InstagramKaty is rocking long blonde hair now and we stan. "If you don’t love me at my pixie cut then you don't deserve me at my Goddess glow," Perry wrote in the caption, referring to the super-short hair she wore for much of 2018 and 2019.
Getty ImagesWhether she's rocking sleek, long locks or a jaunty bob, Katy can pull off literally any look.
Getty ImagesKaty pictured rocking those perfectly dishevelled beach waves we all dream of emulating.
Getty ImagesThought Ariana Grande was the only person who could pull off a ponytail with aplomb? Think again.
Getty ImagesThe beauty icon proved pink hair can look classy with this bubblegum pink 'do.
Rex FeaturesKaty Perry's ice blonde strands look lighter than ever. The actress was rocking her pixie cut with some hella cool sunnies, arriving at the 'Good Morning America' set in NY.
Getty ImagesWe love this slightly longer grown-out pixie cut on Katy. The soft fringe she showed off at the Chanel Haute Couture show is especially pretty.
Rex FeaturesKaty's penchant for bright and bold shades reached its highlight recently when she wore electric blue eyeshadow with a popping red lip shade. Her short hair is looking as brilliant as ever, too.
Getty ImagesWe're obsessed with Katy Perry's new short hair. Here she is at the incredible One Love Manchester benefit concert, looking awesome as always.
hungvanngo /InstagramOh em gee: how amazing does Katy look here?! She's totally coveting an ultra stylish mystic Meg. Makeup artist Hung Vanngo shared this amazing snap on his Instagram, saying the look was for a 'secret project' and that Ms Perry looked like a total 'disco queen'. We couldn't agree more!
hungvanngo/InstagramWe literally can't keep up with Katy's hair as of late! She chopped it all off recently to rock a pixie cut, and now she's posted a photo with long blonde hair - we wonder how long 'til the next change...
Katy Perry/InstagramA dramatic change but one we like. Katy Perry took inspiration from Agyness Deyn for her new buzz cut. Suits her, don't you think?
Getty ImagesKaty's really rocking that hair! She showed off her new style with exceptionally styled brows and a pretty epic ear cuff.
Getty ImagesKaty has recently gone for the chop. It's a very different look, especially the super short back, but we kinda love it. Plus let's face it, she can pull off just about anything!
Getty ImagesKaty Perry arrived at the Brit Awards 2017 with a show-stealing beauty look. But it was her intricate up-do that really had us speechless...
Getty ImagesThe mohawk-buns hybrid was a thing of beauty.
REX FeaturesWhen Katy goes blonde, it makes us all want to go blonde! She suits this new look so incredibly well. Love the eye makeup here, too.
RexKaty Perry accepted a special award from Hillary Clinton - and she wore her hair in a pushed-back style and sported super pretty makeup.
Getty ImagesHow jealous are we of those lashes? Katy balances her sensual eyes with fresh, glowing skin and a feminine pink lip in this ultimate day to night look.
We're rather intrigued by this structured hairstyle Katy recently rocked. Let's be honest, though, she can get away with just about everything!
Getty ImagesKaty wore her hair long while performing at the Democratic National Convention. We love these tousled waves - perfect for the beach!
REX FeaturesWe love that Katy matched her fiery red lipstick to her dress, this will definitely be our next date night look.
REX FeaturesKaty looked incredible at the MET Gala 016 and really took part in the Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology theme.
REX FeaturesA beautiful braid AND purple lipstick? Katy looked stunning with this bold beauty look.
REX FeaturesWe're obsessed with Katy's long braids and her golden makeup is just as stunning.
Getty ImagesKaty Perry is honoured at her hand print ceremony, and rocked volume-infused locks and a dash of bright eyeliner.
Getty ImagesStill rocking her short, wavy pixie crop (and looking fly), Katy Perry opts for classic heavily-lashed eyes and a matte nude lip for the Met Gala 2015. Also, can we just talk about that nail piercing for a second? OLD. SCHOOL.
Katy Perry/InstagramPerry debuted this shaggy pixie crop on April Fools' Day on her Instagram page with the caption: "I asked for a Kris Jenner." We're unsure whether this with a convincing joke or whether she has actually gone for a shorter do', but we like it all the same.
Getty ImagesFor the ARIA Awards in Sydney in late November, Katy Perry complemented her glitzy Jamie Lee beaded ensemble with a beautiful wintry berry pout and accentuated her updo with a matching headband. Chic but unique, as ever.
Getty ImagesKaty doesn't stick to one hairstyle (or colour) for long. The pop princess shocked us by dyeing her hair bright green earlier in 2014. She showed off the new hue on Instagram, writing, "SLIME GREEN FOR SPRING by my bb's @neeenaboo & @brantmayfield at the @mcmillansalon."
Dare we say it, but we kinda like it.
PA PhotosKaty Perry worked a 60s-style high bun complete with cropped choppy fringe for an appearance at The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute To The Beatles concert.
It's a style switch up for the Roar singer, but it perfectly complements her ornate earrings and dramatic Dolce & Gabbana gown.
Rex FeaturesKaty throws us another style curve ball with this high side braid.
Rex FeaturesHitting up Berlin for her Killer Queen fragrance launch, Katy looked gorgeous with tidy-Heidi braids and a classic red lip.
PA PhotosJust when we thought Katy's hair was going through a quiet phase, she goes and pulls off these most excellent Minnie Mouse buns. Full marks, Katy.
Ellen von UnwerthKaty looks absolutely stunning in her ghd campaign, shot by Ellen von Unwerth. The gorgeous singer is ghd’s Gloval Brand Ambassador and shows off her latest look in the series of three striking black and white photographs.
“It was fun to go a more natural route after playing characters in my last ghd campaign,” said Katy. “Ellen von Unwerth captured both the playful and chic looks amazingly well.”
Ellen von UnwerthWe love this fully-loaded glamorous look, teamed with statement smoky eye make-up. The voluminous hairstyle was held in place with a mist of ghd style final fix hairspray.
Ellen von UnwerthAttention please! We adore Katy’s megaphone shot. Extra volume was added to her raven locks using ghd style total foam before hair was dried. Keep clicking to see our exclusive behind-the-scenes shots of Katy’s shoot.
Ellen von UnwerthThought these shots marked the end of Katy’s rainbow hair era? Think again! The American beauty is still working a playful blue streak on each side of her locks.
Ellen von UnwerthReady for action? Katy relaxes in between camera flashes.
Ellen von UnwerthThe final touch-up: Katy gets the finishing touches applied to her fully-loaded hairstyle before shooting begins.
Shot by fashion photographer Ellen von Unwerth, Katy Perry’s latest ad campaign for ghd is a series of show-stopping black and white images. Taken just before the end of her world tour, the California Gurls hitmaker can be seen playing chess and even swinging from a chandelier – all whilst showcasing the glossiest of raven locks. Hair DO, if ever we saw one!
Not one to underestimate the power of a good blow-dry, these shots see Katy sport a number of fashion-forward yet utterly wearable styles. Hair love!
Rex FeaturesKaty Perry shows off a vamp-tastic look, teaming glossy purple waves with super-smoky eyes and a deep, berry-red lip. We love!
PA PhotosDo we think Katy is making her way back to her signature raven hairstyle? We love this deep purple hair hue, teamed with a glossy plum pout.
Getty ImagesStepping out at Coachella 2012, Katy shows off yet another colour swap, this time plumping for long, bouncy purple curls. Our survey says? We love it!
PA PhotosWe adore Katy's fashion-forward attitude to her hair, and this super-long rainbow ponytail is one of our favourite looks to date.
PA PhotosKaty sure loves a statement hairstyle! This larger-than-life quiff is fabulous, don't you think?
Rex FeaturesAt the Echo Awards in Berlin, Katy makes a splash with a super-long high ponytail...
Rex Features...The Spice Girls would approve of this look, we think!
Rex FeaturesKaty's rocking a fringe: although we suspect this style might have been created with a hairpiece rather than a pair of scissors...
FlynetWe're still not bored of this smurf-tastic hair hue, and we're loving the singer's on-trend ponytail.
PA PhotosWhat a brilliant blue ballerina bun! Bravo Katy.
PA PhotosWhy not step out of your comfort zone once in a while with a spacey, high-rise quiff like Katy’s. We’re actually really starting to love that cobalt-blue hair hue: would you dare to try it?
Katy Perry's latest ghd shoot, to launch their first hair dryer ghd Air, is her best to date (in our opinion...). She said of the mermaid-style shoot: “It was fun – I got to have purple hair which foreshadowed the real purple hair I had last fall”.
Photograph by David LaChapelle
Getty ImagesJust when we thought Katy had tried every hair colour under the sun, she stepped out with this cool blue hair hue.
Katy Perry finally made the transition to a blonde bombshell after months of pink in 2011. The American beauty looked better than ever with this sharp honey-hued bob.
PA Photos/Rex FeaturesKaty was almost back to blonde in December 2011 after months as a pink-haired beauty. Add some baby pink highlights to your sharp blonde bob to perfect Katy’s look.
PA PhotosAnother day, another gorgeous hairstyle for GLAMOUR.com girl crush Katy Perry.
Katy opted for this sweeping pink beehive style for a night at the theatre in London.
Goff PhotosWe met Katy at the ghd party after her brilliant O2 show in October 2011 and quizzed her about her gorgeous pink hair. She told us: “Well obviously I didn’t start the trend. Don’t forget Pink!”
She said: “I love the look because I think it’s synonymous with the whole Cyndi Lauper Girls Just Wanna Have Fun thing.”
Rex FeaturesKaty stole the show on Sunday’s X Factor results show. Are we more in love with her soulful voice, playful personality or her quirk-queen style? Tough call...
David La ChapelleIn October 2011, Katy's latest campaign for ghd was released, and we got an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at the shoot.
Katy said: "The Show White fire escape look was really cool. It was very peachy. I was wearing a John Galliano dress. David LaChapelle is known for his beautiful, larger-than-life sets, and the people that he works with are very talented – they make the picture look like a billion bucks."
David La Chapelle"There were lots of little birds hanging around so I felt like a princess, like Snow White, and I was singing and talking to the birds as they fluttered around me. I would maybe wear something like this again. I liked the glittering fishnets I got to wear with it."
David La Chapelle"I liked the hair – it’s super frizzy. I’ve done that type of frizzy hair before for some posters for the MTV Europe Music Awards when I hosted them for the second time – I wore the same kind of frizzy hair. I really liked it."
David La Chapelle"The Snow White look is very different for me because it is a very short bob, but we were inspired by the Art Deco era – a bit flapper-y, a bit 40s. The furniture is very Art Deco. I love my nails in it, and my bob that has little curls coming around it. I think it’s a bold look for me, especially for the short hair, but I’ve actually had a pixie cut before. I used to have a black pixie cut when I was about 17, 18, 19, so I felt I was reliving that part of my life again. It’s really cute. I’d probably wear this look again, but I probably wouldn’t do it for long."
David La Chapelle...And, on the look that she'd most like to try that she hasn’t already: “I might like trying being a blonde – a long, hippie-esque blonde with black roots. We’ll see."
PA PhotosIn August 2011, Katy joined the rainbow hair colour revolution with this bright candy floss pink. We fell instantly in love with her popping pink hair hue and retro curly style.
Rex FeaturesIn July 2011, Katy went back to her roots with this bright blonde 'do. With still a hint of the ginger tone she tried on the way to her natural blonde hair hue, this image of Katy in her Smurfette dress has become one of her most iconic looks.
PA PhotosJaws dropped when Katy stepped out in Toronto showing off this 'ginger' hue, but the singer explained to her Twitter fans that it's just an in-between step to a drastic colour swap.
The naturally blonde star has been dying her hair dark for years but said on Twitter: "So I didn't get to the exact color I wanted from being black for so long! 2get to goal I have 2b GINGER for 3WKS If I don't wait 3wks, I'll end up w/no hair or a #pixie90scutw/abarretteinthefront It's okay, I'll get to my secret color(s) soon! #patience" (sic).
We couldn't wait to see the blonde locks!
We loved Katy's classic style in her first ghd campaign image. This look just screams Hollywood glamour.
The ghd campaign images were shot by David LaChapelle.
Rex FeaturesTrust Katy to be at the forefront of reviving a hot hair trend! The bob is back and Miss Perry was one of the first celebs to go for the chop.
Rex FeaturesHair envy alert! OK, now we’re sulking. Even this classic, mid-length bob, which would make most of us look old and frumpy, looks amazing on KP! Not fair, not fair, not fair!
PA PhotosFor a serious muso performance at London’s Union Chapel, Katy softens her choppy layers with a chic and grown-up feathered hairband. We like!
PA PhotosRockin’ razored layers at an MTV press conference Katy keeps it soft without the heavy black eyeliner, cool without being try-hard.
PA PhotosEven wearing a BLUE WIG Katy looks gorgeous! We know if we tried this look at home we'd look more Marge Simpson and less Katy Perry - boo!
PA PhotosEven though Katy was sat next to bessie mate Rihanna (Ri's organising Katy's hen do!), Katy’s uber-luxe sultry waves caught the attention of all the fashion press at Paris Fashion Week.
PA PhotosBless 'er! Katy supporting her boyf, Russell Brand at the LA premiere of Russell’s new film, Get Me To The Greek. Katy works a eyebrow-skimming fringe, which always looks best when the hair is properly straightened and in great condition.
PA PhotosWith raven-hued, luscious hair like Katy's a retro screen siren ‘do like this one works without having to use loads of volumising product. Jealous, us? No!
Rex FeaturesOMG! We love this ultra glam Grecian goddess look. If you’re going to do the Grecian draping trend then you’ve got to make the hair work with the dress. Step forward Miss Perry and the perfect loose princess ponytail - and the eye make-up is to die for!
PA PhotosWithout the heavy showgirl make-up and the ‘done’ hair Katy looks fresh and natural and a little like Lily Allen – no?
PA PhotosThe hairstyle that started a million copycats - are you listening Gaga, Madge and Aquilera? Katy's naturally wavy locks and perfectly proportioned face can carry off a 1940s style like this.
PA PhotosAnother MTV awards show and another fabulous hairdo! This time Katy wears an updo – not a style she does often. We love the deep side parting, which makes this updo ultra flattering for Katy’s oval face.
Rex FeaturesIs this the hairstyle that captivated Russell Brand? Big waves, a soft, centre parted fringe and a cute diamante hair bow. Katy does gorgeous hair the first time she meets Russell at the MTV Video Awards in 2008.
Rex FeaturesHmm, we’re not so sure about this ‘do. The waves are gorgeous but what’s going on with the fringe? Of course, Miss Perry still pulls it off thanks to fabulous earrings and long lashes – bravo!
PA PhotosWe don’t believe Miss KP ever has a bad hair day but if in doubt wear a retro headscarf and big sunnies, et voila a whole new look.
Rex FeaturesShowing the French how to do good hair Katy frames her oval face with a blunt bang and long, ironed locks at the NRJ Music Tour Concert in Strasbourg.To make her cut a little edgier Katy gets the fringe cut from temple to temple - tres cool!
Rex FeaturesThis is Pure Perry! Bold, bright make-up, a crazy watermellon playsuit and a super-cute princess ponytail and matching hair accessory for an extra dose of Katy kitsch.
PA PhotosAt Paris Fashion Week Miss Perry showed her fashionista credentials with a totally on-trend feather and metallic bow hairband. And note ladies, Katy didn't just plonk it on her head, she styled her hair around the accessory - good work Miss P!
PA PhotosVa va vixen volume! Turning a so-so layered bob into so-sexy with a little volume at her 25th birthday party. Top tip: If you're bored of your bob and trying to grow it out, do as Katy did and and max-up the volume to make more of the bob shape.
PA PhotosBe-a-utiful! Katy spins Hollywood with Bollywood at the 52nd Grammy Awards and it totally works! Loving the luxe wave and blunt fringe combo. If her bang wasn't soft and curled under it would compete with the curls and look odd but Katy's got it bang on (soz!)
Rex FeaturesThink hair extensions are tacky? Take a leaf out of Katy’s book and wear them styled into a high ponytail. And Katy's style secret? Tie mini braids around the base of the ponytail to hide any tell-tale attachments.
PA PhotosWorking her classic retro rolls in 2009, the same year Miss Perry won the Aussie Haircare Newcomer Of The Year award at our very own GLAMOUR WOTY Awards. It’s no wonder with a show-stopping hairstyle like this!
