Did Zendaya get an undercut, or is it just her updo?

Sound the ‘Zendaya hair’ klaxon.

I don't doubt for one second that, when Zendaya works with her beauty team, the intention is to craft a look that exudes a certain mood (whether that's elegance, simplicity, or an avant-garde feel) and complements her ensemble. But, sometimes, I think celebrities are trying to screw with us – even if it's for just a moment. Take the updo Zendaya wore at the Louis Vuitton Spring-Summer 2025 show, for example.

The fashion-forward actor arrived at one of the most highly anticipated womenswear shows wearing a black and white blazer with dramatic angles, an asymmetrically gathered cream-coloured skirt, fishnet stockings, and black pumps. Her lipstick matched her sculpted, ribbon-like red brooch, and her hair scared the living crap out of me.

Don't get me wrong: It didn't startle me because I was seeing anything frightening or bad. It's just that, for a hot minute, I really thought that Zendaya had chopped off her hair and buzzed the sides, and I wasn't ready.

In reality, Zendaya was wearing a mid-height bun with an ever-so-slightly messily wrapped look. But from the front, her dark roots create the illusion of a partially buzzed head, and her super deep side part helps suggest a pompadour vibe.

Zendaya's blonde has certainly evolved since she first debuted a lighter look back in March. The bronde hue lightened way up mid-summer, with nary a root in sight on the golden shade. But lately, she's been letting her natural colour grow out quite a bit for a high-contrast and equally high-fashion look — not to mention a balance that makes it easy to trick the eye.

We love an illusion hairstyle, since it gives you the chance to experiment with different styles without the commitment. So for a faux pixie from the front and a demure, sophisticated updo from the back, we'll be saving this Zendaya hairstyle for inspo.

This feature originally appeared on Allure.