Dua Lipa’s Hair Change “Wasn’t Anything Deep” (But Her Love of Brown Lipstick Is)

Just weeks after Dua Lipa revealed her new deep red hair, we’re sitting on a couch in downtown Manhattan, sharing coffee. We live in a world where it seems like every time a pop star walks out the door we wonder—are they sending us a sign?—but Dua insists her makeover actually “wasn’t anything deep.” Really, no easter eggs hidden here…and I believe her. 

“It was more like, I’d be in the studio working on songs [for my upcoming album], and I really resonated with the color red,” she shares. “There’s this darker, earthy tone to it that I just felt really connected to. And I was like, you know what? I’m going to dye my hair red. That’s my new vibe and it’s what I want to do.” It wasn’t until, post-dye job, while looking back on old family photos that she realized “my mom had dyed her hair this red color my whole childhood.” 

Now, the singer is having a fun exploring new beauty looks that match this new vibe. Especially given today’s announcement: On top of being the face of YSL Beauty‘s Libre fragrance, she’s now also the brand’s global beauty ambassador. 

“Mascara has always been a non-negotiable for me,” she says of her routine, adding she’s both a double-coater and a bottom lash applier. “When I was 16 or 17, I discovered a brown lip and I’ve never stopped using a brown lipstick since.” It’s also her go-to for a night out. “If I know it’s going to be a sweaty dance night, it’s less is more for sure. It’s a brown lipstick, highlighter, I’m out the door.”

For Dua, beauty—whether it’s makeup or surprising her fans with a hair makeover—it’s all just a new and fun way to express herself. “Some days, I really want to be in a boyish look, and some days I want to feel really glamorous and feminine. Being able to play both of those sides of me and experiment is really fun.”