Honestly, if you close your eyes and think of Avril Lavigne, you probably see a wall of pin-straight platinum blonde hair with maybe a streak of pink or orange. It’s her brand. It’s the "Mother F’n Princess" uniform. But there’s this weirdly persistent Mandela Effect—or maybe just a collective fever dream—where people vividly remember Avril Lavigne in black hair as a permanent fixture of her career.
The truth is a bit more nuanced. While she’s the queen of the "all-black everything" wardrobe, her actual hair has rarely stayed dark for long. But when it did? It changed the entire vibe of her music and how we saw her as an artist.
The Under My Skin Era: When the Darkness Crept In
Back in 2004, everything got heavy. Avril traded the mall-punk ties for corsets and "Happy Ending" angst. This was the first time we really saw the shift. She didn't go full raven-black immediately, but she started experimenting with deep, inky lowlights.
In the "Nobody's Home" music video, she plays a homeless teenager. Her hair is a messy, multi-tonal disaster of black and dirty blonde. It was raw. It felt real. For a lot of us who were basically living at Hot Topic at the time, this was the peak aesthetic. It wasn't just a "look"; it was a mood that matched the post-grunge sound of her sophomore album.
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The Two-Toned "Raccoon Tail" Obsession
If you were on MySpace in 2007, you know the "raccoon tail" look. Basically, it was blonde hair with horizontal black stripes or a thick black under-layer. Avril was the poster child for this.
During The Best Damn Thing cycle, she did this specific two-toned thing. The top was blindingly white-blonde, but the underneath was jet black. It gave her this "skunk-chic" look that defined 2000s scene culture. It’s funny because, in the "Girlfriend" video, she plays three different characters. The "nerdy" one and the "mean" one both leaned into those darker, more aggressive hair tones to contrast with the "pretty" blonde Avril.
Why the Black Hair Look Sticks in Our Heads
- The Contrast: Her skin is naturally very pale, so when she adds black, it’s striking. It makes her eyes look almost neon.
- The "Vampire" Rumors: Fans have joked for years that she doesn't age (or that she's a clone named Melissa, but let's not go there). Darker hair feeds into that gothic, immortal energy.
- The "Hot" Music Video: This is the one. In the video for "Hot," she went full "glam rock" with dark, dramatic hair and heavy burlesque-inspired outfits. It was a massive departure from the skater girl we knew.
The 2021-2026 Revival: Modern Goth
Fast forward to the last few years. The pop-punk revival is in full swing, and Avril is leaning back into her roots. In 2021, she did a photoshoot for Nylon and later PhotoBook Magazine where she basically abandoned the "Barbie-pink" streaks for a more "High-Fashion Hex" look.
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We’re talking extra-long black wigs, leather jumpsuits, and sharp, angular styling. It’s not the messy bedhead of 2004. It’s polished. It’s "I own the record label" energy. Even though she usually goes back to blonde for her tours, these "black hair" moments serve as a reset button for her brand.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her "Natural" Hair
People argue about this in Reddit threads constantly. "Is she naturally a brunette?" No. Avril is a natural dirty blonde/light brown.
The jet-black look is entirely a choice. When she goes dark, it's usually a signal that a more experimental or "rock" project is coming. It’s like a costume she puts on when she’s tired of being the pop princess and wants to remind everyone she can still scream-sing "Losing Grip" with the best of them.
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How to Get the Avril Look (The 2026 Way)
If you're looking to channel your inner 2004 Avril without looking like you're wearing a Halloween costume, the "peek-a-boo" black under-layer is the move.
- Don't go solid black. It’s too harsh for most people. Instead, ask for a "deep charcoal" or "espresso" under-layer.
- Focus on the "frame." Avril uses dark colors to frame her face, which makes her signature smokey eye pop.
- Keep the texture. The "Avril Lavigne in black hair" look only works if the hair looks slightly lived-in. Use a sea salt spray or a dry texture foam. Avoid anything too shiny or "perfect."
Basically, the black hair era wasn't just a phase; it was the foundation of her "edgy" identity that still carries her today. Whether it was the "raccoon tails" of the mid-2000s or the sleek, high-fashion noir of today, it’s the look that proves she’s more than just a "Sk8er Boi" footnote.
Next Steps for Your Look:
- Audit your current hair health: If you’re bleaching to get that high-contrast blonde/black look, invest in a bond-builder like Olaplex No. 3 or K18. Black dye over bleached hair can turn muddy or green if you don't use a "filler" color first.
- Master the eyeliner: The hair is only half the battle. To pull off the dark hair, you need a smudgeable kohl pencil. Apply it to the waterline and smudge outward with a dense brush to get that "I’ve been at a concert for six hours" vibe.
- Reference the "Hot" video: If you’re heading to a stylist, show them stills from the 2007 "Hot" music video. It’s the best reference for how she balances dark tones with her specific skin tone without looking washed out.