Breaking down Olivia Rodrigo’s best hair moments
There’s a lot to love about Olivia Rodrigo—the chart-topping hits, the pop-punk aesthetic, and the ability to make us all relieve our teenage heartbreaks. But when she’s not serving us emotionally devastating lyrics, she’s out here giving us serious hair envy.
No matter if she’s rocking glossy waves, Y2K baby braids, or that effortlessly sleek shine, her hair is ALWAYS on point. But after a brutal (yep, we went there) onstage moment, fans are asking the beauty question of the hour: Does Olivia Rodrigo wear hair extensions?
Here’s what went down. During a Melbourne stop on her Guts World Tour, Olivia was mid-performance, flipping her signature strands, when—bam, she casually yanked out a loose extension. No hesitation, no panic, just a quick snatch and toss before jumping right back into her song. If you blinked, you might’ve missed it, but the internet? Oh, they caught everything.
So, is Olivia secretly an extensions girl, or was this just a one-night hair hack? We’re breaking down her best hair moments, investigating her signature styles, and showing you how to get the Olivia Rodrigo hair—extensions or not.
The viral extension moment—what happened?
Let’s get into the hair drama that broke the internet: Olivia Rodrigo casually pulling out a hair extension in the middle of a live performance. We’re talking about a major oops moment that had fans tweeting, TikTok-ing, and meme-ing for days.
Here’s the play-by-play.
During her Melbourne stop on the Guts World Tour, Olivia was giving us all the energy of a pop-rock superstar as she performed her hit song “brutal”. While spinning around on stage, she must’ve felt something weird—and like a true profesh, she yanked out a loose extension and tossed it aside, all while perfectly belting the next note. No panic, no pause, just Olivia doing Olivia things.
Fans, of course, were quick to notice this slip-up (which, to be fair, isn’t the first time a celebrity has had an onstage hair malfunction—hello, Beyoncé and her hair got stuck in a fan). But what set this apart was that Olivia didn’t miss a beat, she just kept on performing, like pulling out an extension was just another part of her choreography. Classic Olivia, right?
But this moment had everyone wondering: Does Olivia Rodrigo regularly wear hair extensions, or was this just an accidental hair fix?
We’re about to break down her signature hair looks and explore if extensions have a regular spot in Olivia’s beauty routine—because one thing’s for sure, her hair always looks fleeky, whether she’s on stage or off.
Breaking down Olivia Rodrigo’s best hair moments
When it comes to signature celebrity hair, Olivia Rodrigo’s look is deceptively simple—but that’s exactly why it works. She’s not out here doing drastic color changes or experimental cuts (yet), but she is always sporting that effortlessly cool, perfectly undone, slightly grungy yet still polished look.
But the question remains—is her long, glossy hair all-natural, or does she get a little help from extensions? Let’s take a look at her most iconic hair moments and see if we can spot the difference.
1. The “Good 4 U” pop-punk princess waves
Back in her SOUR era, Olivia leaned hard into early-2000s pop-punk nostalgia — heavy eyeliner, baby tees, and, of course, those effortless long waves. The look screamed Sk8er Boi meets Gen Z cool girl, and honestly? We ate it up.
Could she have been rocking clip-in extensions for that extra volume? Maybe. But considering she’s been growing out her hair since her Disney days, it’s totally possible her natural length was doing most of the work here.
2. The Y2K baby braids & face-framing layers
If you’ve scrolled through literally any Olivia Rodrigo hairstyle inspo page on Pinterest (which, we all have), you’ll see the baby braids era.
Face-framing braids, effortless waves, and just the right amount of shine—this look screams cool-girl minimal effort (even though it *actually* takes effort).
Would extensions help with this look? For sure. They add a little more fullness, which is perfect for when you want those '90s supermodel waves to hit just right.
3. The “Guts” tour hair—when extensions entered the chat
Fast forward to Guts-era Olivia, and suddenly, we get our answer. That viral moment in Melbourne was all the proof we needed—Olivia does, in fact, wear extensions.
But here’s the thing, this doesn’t mean she always does. The fact that her extensions were loose enough to be yanked out mid-spin means they were probably just clip-ins for extra stage drama.
In other words? She’s giving us the best of both worlds—natural on the daily, extra volume for big performances.
Does Olivia Rodrigo wear extensions?
The evidence? Mixed. Olivia’s natural hair is already long and healthy, so it’s safe to assume she doesn’t rely on extensions all the time. But when she wants extra volume, length, or a little stage-ready enhancement, clip-ins or tape-ins are definitely in the mix.
Now, do you want to get her look? Because no matter if you’ve got natural length or need a little boost, we’ve got the styling breakdown to help you pull off that effortlessly cool Olivia vibe.
Olivia Rodrigo’s signature hair looks—natural or enhanced?
Now that we know Olivia has worn extensions at least once, let’s talk about the real question: does she wear them all the time, or was that just a one-hit wonder?
Olivia’s hair has become as much a part of her signature style as her pop-punk outfits and emotionally devastating lyrics (looking at you, “traitor”). She’s been known to rock a variety of looks, from long, glossy waves to Y2K-inspired baby braids and even grungy, undone curls. But how much of it is all-natural, and how much is a little styling magic?
The case for natural
There’s no denying that Olivia has thick, healthy, and naturally long hair—even in her early High School Musical: The Musical: The Series days, her strands were already giving major length and volume. Plus, in candid, no-styling-required moments (like her behind-the-scenes TikToks and casual IG stories), her hair still looks just as full and healthy as it does on stage.
The case for extensions
That being said, the red carpet is a different game. Some of Olivia’s looks, especially her extra-long, waist-grazing waves, seem to have a little extra help. The added volume, the perfectly blended thickness, and the way her hair moves? It screams expertly placed clip-ins or tape-ins. Plus, after her onstage extension mishap, we know she’s open to a little length-enhancing help when needed.
So, what’s the verdict? Olivia probably has naturally long hair but isn’t afraid to use extensions for extra drama when the occasion calls for it. And honestly? Same, girl. Same.
How to get Olivia Rodrigo’s signature hair—extensions or not
Okay, we’ve established that Olivia Rodrigo sometimes rocks extensions for extra length and volume, now how do we get that effortlessly cool, pop-princess hair for ourselves? If you’re working with your natural length or need a little boost, here’s how to achieve Olivia’s best hair moments, no matter your starting point.
1. The “Guts” tour long waves
That iconic waist-grazing, ultra-voluminous hair from her latest tour? Absolute goals. But unless you’re naturally blessed with Rapunzel-level strands, you might need a little help to get that look.
✔ If you’ve got long hair already → Focus on shine, hydration, and styling techniques. A lightweight hair oil (like argan or jojoba) will give that glossy finish, and a 1.25-inch curling iron will help you achieve those soft, bouncy waves.
✔ If you need extra length → Clip-in extensions are your best bet. They add instant inches without the commitment, and you can take them out at the end of the day (just like Olivia did on stage). Look for seamless clip-ins that blend naturally with your hair.
2. The Y2K baby braids
Arguably Olivia’s most iconic everyday look—those effortless, face-framing baby braids paired with undone waves. They give off that perfect "I just rolled out of bed looking this cool" energy.
How to get it
– Part your hair in the middle and section off two small front pieces.
– Braid each piece, stopping at your collarbone, and secure with a clear elastic.
– For added fullness, use tape-in extensions for a natural, lightweight boost.
– Finish with a light texture spray to keep it looking perfectly undone.
3. The ultra-sleek, glass hair moment
Olivia has pulled off that liquid-shine, straight-hair perfection more than once—especially on the red carpet. If you want that ultra-glossy, almost reflective shine, here’s how.
The key? Hydration + heat styling protection.
– Start with a bonding treatment or deep-conditioning mask to smooth the cuticle.
– Blow dry using a round brush and finish with a flat iron for that sleek AF look.
– Apply a lightweight serum (not too much, or it’ll get greasy fast!).
– If your hair is naturally on the thinner side, hand-tied wefts or tape-in extensions can add just enough fullness without making the hair look bulky.
4. The messy pop-punk curls
This one is all about volume, texture, and just the right amount of messiness—basically, it’s giving “Good 4 U” music video energy.
How to recreate it
– Use a texturizing mousse before blow-drying for extra grit.
– Wrap small sections around a ¾-inch curling wand for a tighter, undone curl.
– Flip your head upside down and shake out the curls for that effortlessly tousled finish.
– If you need extra thickness, opt for halo extensions—they add fullness without requiring any professional installation.
What’s the truth? Does Olivia use extensions or not?
The answer—sometimes, but not always. Olivia’s hair is naturally long and major goals, but she’s not afraid to enhance it with a little extra volume and length when the occasion calls for it. Her viral onstage extension moment proved she’s dabbled in clip-ins (at least for performances), but day-to-day? She’s likely rocking her real hair.
Oh, and girlie, don’t worry, not all of us are blessed with effortlessly long, glossy, pop-star-perfect hair. (Sigh). Hint hint: if you can’t quite get Olivia Rodrigo-level locks on your own, there’s always a little birdie out there willing to help—AHEM, us at The Lauren Ashtyn Collection.
