Billie Eilish Opens Up About Identity and Hair Transformations

A major aspect of Billie Eilish’s visual identity has long been her ever-changing hair, with colors ranging from blue to blonde to neon green. The "Bad Guy" singer has used her hair transformations to embody different personas corresponding to her musical eras.

Struggles with Identity

In a recent interview with the LA Times, the Grammy-winning superstar revealed the impact of her hair journey on her sense of identity. She expressed that during the period in 2019 when she dyed her hair green, she felt unstoppable and on top of the world. However, as time passed and external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and another album release occurred, she found herself yearning for the happiness she felt during that earlier time.

Eilish disclosed that her introspective contribution to the Barbie soundtrack, titled “What Was I Made For?”, was inspired by this yearning. She admitted to basing her happiness on external, material things that are beyond her control and subject to change.

The Blonde Hair Experiment

Billie Eilish experimented with blonde hair during the release of her 2021 album, Happier Than Ever. Despite expecting to be happier, she revealed that the blonde hair experience turned into something unexpected. She described it as initially "fun" but eventually realized that her hair had become a sort of costume, causing her to grapple with her sense of identity.

Reflecting on this period, Eilish admitted, “I completely had no idea who I was. I came up with this whole aesthetic, and I just got swallowed up in it.”

Return to Black Hair

Since then, the singer has returned to her signature black hair, now accented with red roots. Despite the challenges she faced with her identity, Eilish is currently nominated for five Grammys for her song “What Was I Made For?” at the 2024 ceremony. The nominations include Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Song Written for Visual Media, and Best Music Video.