In the ephemeral world of TikTok beauty trends, where aesthetics are born and buried in the span of a single scroll, one look has managed to achieve legendary permanence: the “Clairo Cut.” From her DIY “Pretty Girl” origins to the high-fashion sophistication of her 2025 ‘Charm’ era, singer-songwriter Claire Cottrill has become the definitive muse for a generation of bang-havers. Her hair evolution is more than just a series of salon visits; it is a visual diary of her artistic maturation, blending the raw edges of 90s grunge with the polished grace of French New Wave. As we move through 2025, the fascination with her signature shag and ever-evolving fringe has reached a fever pitch, proving that the most influential beauty looks are those that prioritize ease, organic texture, and a touch of effortless rebellion. In this feature, we dissect the anatomy of the Clairo cut and the artistry behind its enduring, “cool-girl” appeal.
The Architecture of the ‘Charm’ Era Shag
As Clairo embarked on her global tour for her third studio album, Charm, her hair transitioned into its most refined iteration yet. The 2025 “Clairo Cut” is characterized by collarbone-length layers and a shaggy, lived-in texture that defies the rigid structure of traditional bobs. Created by celebrity hairstylist Miyuki Goto, this look balances the grit of a 2 a.m. impulsive chop with the precision of high-end salon training. The layers are designed to move effortlessly, removing internal weight while preserving the perimeter length, resulting in a silhouette that feels both light and voluminous.
What makes the current iteration so covetable is its “intentional messiness.” Unlike the heavily styled “wolf cuts” of previous years, Clairo’s 2025 shag relies on soft, face-framing pieces that blend seamlessly into the rest of her hair. It is a modern boho look that whispers rather than screams, providing a versatile canvas for her “2011 mashed up with French New Wave” aesthetic. This “North Star” of styling—soft, light, and playful—has turned her into the most frequent face hair stylists see in inspiration photos, rivaling even the long-standing influence of Dakota Johnson’s fringe.
The technical brilliance of the shag lies in its ability to highlight the wearer’s natural texture. Whether Clairo is performing in 100-degree Coachella heat or walking the red carpet, her hair maintains an organic “kicking about” quality. By using a razor to slide-cut the layers, stylists can create a shape that looks air-dried and undone, even when meticulously prepared. It is the ultimate “low-maintenance” power move for a generation that values authenticity over artificiality.
The Evolution of the Fringe: From Baby Bangs to Curtain Wisps
If the shag is the body of the Clairo look, the bangs are its soul. Over the past several years, Clairo has experimented with almost every iteration of the fringe, turning her forehead into a focal point of global beauty discourse. In early 2019, she rocked blue-dyed, face-framing layers, a nod to her bedroom-pop roots. By the time of her sophomore album Sling in 2022, she had transitioned to a 1970s-inspired rounded fringe that perfectly complemented her move toward a more folk-leaning, organic sound.
In 2025, we have seen two distinct “bang moments” that have dominated social media. For the Grammys, Clairo opted for a “swoopy,” romantic curtain style that tapered at the cheekbones, offering a timeless elegance that felt regal and sparkling. Conversely, her recent “baby bangs”—a shorter, choppier version of her classic fringe—have added a sharp, editorial edge to her look. These micro-bangs marry her quintessential delicate style with a hit of drama, proving that she isn’t afraid to go against the grain of the “long and wavy” standard.
The secret to Clairo’s bang success lies in the manipulation of cowlicks and texture. Her stylist, Ericka Verrett, often uses a technique of blow-drying the fringe back and forth to ensure it lays flat against the forehead before “piecing it out” with fingers. This creates the “perfectly piecey” look that has become her trademark. It’s a delicate balance; the bangs must sit right above the eyebrows to frame the eyes without overwhelming the face, a feat of geometric precision that remains the most-requested detail in modern salons.
The Dark Makeover: Embracing the Jet Black Heart
Perhaps the most dramatic shift in Clairo’s hair history occurred in late 2024 when she swapped her signature brunette locks for a deep, jet black. This color change added a layer of “dangerous romance” to her persona, aligning with the darker, more soulful tones of her Charm era. The jet black heart aesthetic provides a striking contrast to her soft, mauve-lipped makeup, creating a look that is both “scary-sweet” and sophisticated.
This transition into darker territory wasn’t just an aesthetic choice; it was a statement of maturity. The black hair, often styled in a sleek, “bent under” fashion for red carpets, evokes the “shipwrecked-doll” energy she has cited as a creative reference. It moves her away from the “girl next door” image and into the realm of the high-fashion enigma. The darkness of the hue emphasizes the health and shine of her strands, making the shaggy layers look more intentional and editorial.
The maintenance of such a bold color in 2025 relies on “bonding” technologies and ammonia-free formulas that preserve the hair’s internal structure. For Clairo, whose hair is frequently subjected to the rigors of touring and heat styling, this focus on health is paramount. The jet black transformation proves that even a “lived-in” cut can benefit from a high-impact color, providing a sense of stability and “quiet luxury” to her overall aesthetic.
Coachella and the Art of the Festival Flip
One of the most analyzed hair moments of 2025 was Clairo’s return to the Coachella stage. Facing 106-degree desert heat, her hair—specifically her bangs—became a case study in durability. Styled in a half-up, half-down twist with soft, airy texture, the look was designed to feel “polished but organic.” Her stylist utilized a “zen” approach, focusing on minimal product to ensure the hair didn’t get weighed down by the energy of the performance.
The Coachella look highlighted the “retro-chic” vibe that has become synonymous with the Clairo brand. By pinning sections of the hair to create flipped, rounded ends, her team achieved a silhouette that felt like a 60s gamine moved into a modern festival setting. The use of dry shampoo—sprayed onto a brush rather than directly onto the scalp—kept the volume concentrated at the roots, allowing her fringe to remain “front and center” throughout her set.
This moment solidified the pixie-shag hybrid as a “spring festival” essential. It demonstrated that Clairo’s hair isn’t just a static style but a dynamic element of her performance art. The “Coachella Flip” has since been recreated by thousands of fans, who look to her as the blueprint for how to remain chic under pressure. It is a testament to the fact that when a haircut is built on a foundation of natural movement, it can survive almost any environment.
The Cultural Impact: Reclaiming the Indie-Pop Aesthetic
The “Clairo Cut” has effectively reclaimed and refined the “twee” and “indie-pop” aesthetics of the early 2010s for a 2025 audience. It is a look that feels nostalgic for the Tumblr era while remaining firmly rooted in the “clean girl” and “quiet luxury” movements of the present. By combining natural wavy texture with tousled layers, Clairo has provided an alternative to the hyper-polished, “manufactured” beauty standards that often dominate the industry.
This cultural impact is visible in the way the “Clairo Cut” has swept TikTok and Pinterest. It has become a symbol of self-reliant, authentic beauty—the kind of look that looks just as good in a grainy selfie as it does in a high-fashion editorial. The “ease” of the style is its greatest strength, appealing to a demographic that values individuality and “finding balance” over conforming to a single beauty norm. Clairo’s hair evolution is a reminder that beauty is a process of exploration and refinement.
As we look toward the future of the Clairo aesthetic, it is clear that she will continue to be a “North Star” for hair inspiration. Whether she is sporting “Birkin bangs,” a jet-black lob, or a shaggy crown, she remains the ultimate thought partner for anyone looking to reinvent themselves through a pair of shears. In the “Magazine World” of 2025, the Clairo cut isn’t just a trend; it’s a permanent fixture in the pantheon of iconic hair moments.
