Thirteen years after it came out, adults who were teenagers and preteens in the 2000s still love to sing along to any song from Paramore’s album Riot. They can’t get enough of Hayley Williams’s cool hair, too! Her bright hair colors and different styles are so striking that they almost take attention away from her amazing singing — but not quite!

A lot of those cool looks actually come from Hayley Williams’s long-time hairstylist and makeup artist, Brian O’Connor. He said, “I’ve been doing her hair since Riot — right before ‘Misery Business’ dropped.” From that point on, he’s handled pretty much every haircut, color, and style for her. O’Connor describes their vibe as totally collaborative, saying, “It’s definitely a joint relationship, but Hayley has her own stylish edge and thinks outside the box, which makes it easier for me to get creative.” Their teamwork has definitely helped create her iconic looks over the years!

Since Hayley Williams has changed her hair so much for over ten years, she gives all the punk-inspired hair ideas you’ll ever need. While her hair choices have evolved, she still loves bold colors, unique cuts, and creative styles. Now, we’re looking back at her best hair looks. This includes the moments when Paramore first rose to fame and her release of her first solo single. Be warned! Scrolling through these might make you want to dye your hair right away!

June 2007: Tri-Color Shag

Although she had dark auburn hair when Paramore released its first album, All We Know Is Falling, most people will recall this look from their first impression of Williams, thanks to the “Misery Business” music video. With a mix of orange, yellow, and platinum blonde tones, this style still makes self-proclaimed emo kids just a tiny bit jealous.

February 2008: Burgundy With Pink Streaks

Paramore attended the Grammy Awards for the first time and received a nomination for Best New Artist. Hayley Williams walked the red carpet with burgundy hair that had fluorescent red streaks. Her hair was the most eye-catching look of the night.

July 2009: Signature Neon Orange

In 2009, Hayley Williams returned to her signature orange hair. This time, she chose one bold color instead of her usual blonde and yellow streaks. With longer layers and side-swept bangs, this look upgrades the hairstyle that first made her a pop-punk beauty icon.

September 2009: Strawberry Blonde

As Paramore releases their third studio album, Brand New Eyes, Hayley Williams lets her bright orange hair fade into a pretty strawberry blonde. She also chooses slightly darker roots to add more dimension.

December 2009: Platinum Blonde

Although Hayley Williams has a very light natural hair color, Paramore fans are surprised when she shows off a platinum blonde shade at the end of 2009. This blonde look is only temporary, but fans don’t know it will come back for the long term later.

November 2010: Vivid Bubblegum Pink

Hayley Williams shows off pink hair for the first time at the 2010 MTV Europe Music Awards. She pairs the bright bubblegum color with blunt-cut bangs, incredible volume, and a full metallic makeup look.

June 2011: Yellow Roots

Before Billie Eilish made neon colors popular in 2020, Hayley Williams was already using them in 2011. When her red-orange hair started to grow out, she lightened her roots and dyed them bright yellow instead. This bold choice showed her fearless style and helped her become a trendsetter in music.

April 2013: Two-Toned Pink and Orange

After four years, Paramore released their fourth album called Paramore. Hayley Williams had baby bangs and colorful hair with bright orange and pink.

September 2014: Light Auburn

Hayley Williams returns to red hair with a new neutral auburn shade. She pairs it with a chin-length bob and textured waves. This is one of her best color choices so far.

May 2017: Platinum Blonde 

After a long break from dropping a new album, Paramore released After Laughter. This is their last album before Hayley Williams starts her solo career. To celebrate, she dyes her grown-out hair platinum blonde again. 

Hayley Williams changes her hair often, and that takes a lot of work. According to Leanne Chadwick, a colorist from London, Hayley likes bold, neon hair colors. To get these colors right, she needs to keep her hair very light and touch up her roots often. “For bright colors, you need a really light base for the true tones of neon oranges and pinks to pop,” Leanne explains. “The lighter the blonde underneath, the brighter the color.”

Hayley probably uses temporary hair dyes to change her color quickly. If you like to switch up your hair color like she does, the bright colors won’t harm your hair. The real issue is how you lighten your hair. “Always use a bond builder like Olaplex to keep your hair healthy. This helps balance the hair’s porosity, so when you apply the vibrant color, it develops evenly,” she advises.