Tate McRae just owned the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, and fans have not stopped talking about it. She hit the runway in head-to-toe red, performed her new single "Housewife" alongside "Sports Car" and "Dear God". Somewhere inside all that noise, one detail kept stealing focus, and it was her hair. That honey blonde, softly waved, face-framing shade has quietly become the reference photo people hand their stylist right now. So today we are counting down Tate McRae's most iconic hair colors and styles. If you have been thinking about getting the look for yourself, do not miss the picks below.
New to her name? Here is the short version. Tate McRae is a Canadian singer and trained dancer who posted original songs on YouTube as a kid and signed with RCA Records at fourteen. "you broke me first" made her a global name, "Greedy" gave her a chart-topping era, and her third album So Close to What turned her into an arena headliner with a Grammy nomination to match. Her hair has been evolving right alongside the music, which is exactly what we are here for.
What is Tate McRae's Natural Hair Color
Fun fact for day one fans! Tate McRae was born blonde! In some of her childhood videos, she can be seen as a young girl with sun-kissed blonde. As she got older, her blonde transitioned to a brunette.
Tate McRae's Signature Hair Color
Image source: @tatemcrae
According to the magazine, her longtime stylist Matt Rez adds lowlights of chocolate, gold, and neutral to add dimension and enhance her natural blonde. A sheer gold finish is then used to blend the colors while still maintaining the dimension. It is expensive-looking without feeling fussy, which is why it is everywhere right now.
Tate McRae's Most Iconic Hair Moments
Tate looks great in all aspects of her appearance, but her hair certainly plays a big role in many of them. She has a look where her hair is perfectly styled and polished, and then another where her hair is loose and soft. All of her looks are perfect for a shoot. We have put together our seven most loved Tate McRae looks below.
Tate McRae's Signature Honey Blonde Loose Waves
Image source: @tatemcrae
This is the look. Loose blowout waves in Tate's signature honey blonde with the dark roots showing through. The face-framing hairs are in the foreground and shine. Grazia consulted hairstylist Tom Smith, who describes the styling as a sleek, flatter S-wave that is polished and relaxed, created with an extra-large curling iron worked horizontally so the ends flick out softly. It reads expensive, a little Y2K, and entirely Tate.
For those who love this colour but are not ready to bleach their own hair, a honey blonde wig will achieve the same in one go. UNice offers honey blonde wigs that have dark roots. These wigs look natural and allow you to get Tate's honey blonde without any bleaching on your head.
Try Money Piece Face-Framing
Image source: @tatemcrae
This is a great way to get the Tate look without switching an entire hair color. Money piece gives the face area a pop of light, and the rest of the hair retains its original color. This gives Tate that lit look in a mirror selfie because of the sunlight halo. It is low maintenance, allows for a transition out, and can be used with a variety of original hair colors. This is a great first step into her full blonde look.
Tate McRae Brunette Hair
Image source: @tatemcrae
Prior to the honey blonde trend, Tate’s go-to was brunette. Her natural brown hair shined with a sheen of depth to it that looked so well on her honey skin. This was a big part of her journey! While she does still occasionally return to darker shades, she mostly keeps blonde in the highlights. The contrast really is keeping the brunette pictures trending again.
Tate McRae's Straight Hair in Early Years
Image source: @tatemcrae
Rewind a few years and Tate's hair was once pin straight, worn long and glassy with barely a bend in sight. It suited the clean, understated early-days aesthetic, and those red carpet moments still hold up. The fun part is how rare this look is now. Today she almost always wears a natural wavy curve through the lengths, which makes these photos feel like a time capsule of her pre-superstar era.
Tate McRae Sleek High Ponytail
Image source: @tatemcrae
If drama is called for, Tate will take all her hair and pull it back into a high pony that is glass-smooth. This is one of her most sculpting styles, as it elongates her facial features and highlights the dancer in her stance. This style also looks amazing under the lights of a red carpet event. No stragglers here.
Tate McRae Messy Buns
Image source: @tatemcrae
Tate is known to look great in the off-duty messy bun style, and we absolutely love it. These messy buns have loose strands let out to frame the face to help soften the style. The messy nature of these buns appears effortless because there is no visible work. This style is ideal for airport and paparazzi encounters as well as oversized blazers.
Cute Double Dutch Braids
Image source: @tatemcrae
The dancer in her comes out with this one. Two tight Dutch braids running down the back are equal parts sporty and nostalgic, a hairstyle that says rehearsal at nine and sold-out show at eight. It keeps every strand locked in through choreography that would defeat lesser hair, and the braid pattern leaves her with that enviable heatless wave once she lets it down.
FAQs About Tate McRae's Hair
What is Tate McRae's haircut called?
Tate has long layered hair with soft and elongated S-waves that are gently flicked at the ends. It isn't currently branded as a specific style, but rather as long layers with a flattened, finished wave instead of a bouncy blowout.
Is Tate McRae's hair a balayage?
Tate has a mix of hairstyles. Her natural hair is a little darker, and her colourist, Matt Rez, has applied some highlights by lifting the hair and applying some balayage and some foil mainly in the area around the face. A beige finish is used to keep the colour slightly warm.
Is Tate McRae's hair real?
Yes. Her hair is her own, colored and styled by her glam team, though like many performers she may use clip-ins for extra volume on big stages.
What does Tate McRae have done to her hair?
Her natural hair is naturally dark brown, but it is toned to a slightly honey blonde, with the roots left dark to create a more natural appearance. Money pieces, ponytails, buns and other styles are used within each time period. The signature color work is credited to Matt Rez.
What is Tate McRae's natural hair type?
Tate’s natural hair appears to be straight with a slight slack curl. Type 1 to 2A. When young, Tate had blonde fine hair, but most of the curl that is currently in Tate’s hair is achieved via styling rather than from her natural hair.
Does Tate McRae wear hair extensions?
She has never confirmed wearing extensions. Clip-ins are common practice among performers for big stages, so it is possible, but her everyday hair appears to be all her own.
Final Thoughts
Sun-kissed honey waves, ballet-slick ponytails, soft brunette eras, Tate McRae has built a hair archive that rivals her discography, and something tells us she is only getting started. Which look is your favorite? Are you team signature honey blonde, or does her brunette era still hold your heart? Tell us in the comments, and send a photo if you book the appointment. We will be first in line to cheer you on.
