Nicole Kidman just did the one thing her fans have been begging for since the nineties. She stopped fighting the frizz. For decades, we’ve seen her in sleek, waist-length blonde extensions or those "NASA-grade" wigs that look almost too perfect to be real. But as of January 2026, the Nicole Kidman new hairstyle is a total 180-degree turn: she is officially embracing her natural, tight curls again.
It’s a vibe. Honestly, seeing her at the Sydney Airport earlier this month was like a time machine to her Days of Thunder era. She wasn't hiding under a beanie or a silk press. Instead, those famous strawberry-blonde ringlets were out in full force, cascading over a leather bomber jacket. It’s messy, it’s voluminous, and it feels remarkably human.
The "Divorce Glow" is Real
The timing isn't lost on anyone. After her split from Keith Urban last September, the internet started joking that Keith must have kept the hair straightener in the divorce settlement. Whether that’s true or not, the "healing era" hair is definitely a thing.
Look, we've seen her play around with some wild looks lately. Remember the 2025 Met Gala? She showed up in a slicked-back, edgy pixie cut that had everyone gasping. It turned out to be a wig, of course. Then there was that bizarre, bright red "jellyfish" bob for a photoshoot that made her look like a high-fashion anime character. But this current look—the natural texture—isn't a costume. It’s a homecoming.
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Why the Curls Matter So Much
For years, Kidman has been open about the damage she did to her hair. She famously told Graham Norton that she "tortured" her curls into submission because she wanted to fit the sleek Hollywood mold.
"Curly hair people, don't straighten your hair!" she warned.
It's a lesson in hair health that most of us learn the hard way. When you spend forty years using heat, chemicals, and sew-in extensions, your natural curl pattern basically goes into witness protection. Seeing her curls return now, even as she approaches 60, is actually a pretty big deal for the "curly girl" community. It proves that with enough moisture and patience (and probably some very expensive Virtue labs products), your hair can actually bounce back.
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How to Get the Nicole Kidman Natural Look
If you're looking to replicate the Nicole Kidman new hairstyle, you have to ditch the flat iron. Like, today. Her current look is less about "styling" and more about "managing."
- Diffusing is your best friend. You can’t just blow-dry this with a round brush. Use a diffuser on a low-heat setting to keep the ringlets defined without the "lion's mane" effect.
- The color is "Butter Biscuit." That’s the official term her colorist, Chris Appleton, uses. It’s a warmer, sun-kissed blonde that has more strawberry undertones than the icy platinum she wore in 2024.
- Layering is the secret. She’s added wispy, early '70s-style bangs that blend into her curls. It softens the face and makes the grow-out phase of a haircut look intentional rather than awkward.
The Breakdown of Her Recent Hair Timeline
It has been a chaotic twelve months for Nicole’s scalp. Let's look at how we got here:
- The Met Gala Bob (May 2025): A shocking, short-cropped wig that made her look like a different person.
- The Jellyfish Cut (June 2025): A two-layered red bob for Allure that was definitely more art than everyday wear.
- The Paris Bangs (October 2025): She debuted shaggy, French-girl fringe at the Chanel show, which signaled the start of this more relaxed, textured journey.
- The Natural Return (January 2026): Full-on curls in Australia, celebrating the new year with her daughters.
The shift toward "quiet luxury" in fashion has finally hit her hair. It’s no longer about looking "done." It’s about looking like you just flew 20 hours from Sydney and still look like a global icon because your hair has its own personality.
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Is it a Wig?
People are always going to speculate. Some Reddit threads are convinced she hasn't shown her real hair since the late nineties. But if you look at the photos from her Christmas Eve party or her daughter Faith's 15th birthday, there's a certain "frizz" at the roots that is impossible to fake with a high-end lace front. It looks like real hair that has been through a lot and is finally being allowed to breathe.
If you have naturally curly hair, the best thing you can take away from Nicole's 2026 look is the permission to be "undone." Stop the chemical straightening. Invest in a good hair oil—she reportedly uses Virtue Healing Oil—and let the texture do the work. The "polished-but-undone" finish is the hardest thing to achieve, but it’s the most rewarding once you get there.
Next steps for your own hair transformation: Start by swapping your standard towel for a microfiber one to prevent breakage, and look for a "curly cut" specialist who understands how to layer hair so it doesn't turn into a triangle shape. Embrace the volume; 2026 is clearly the year of the big, natural curl.