Quote of the day by Shakira: ‘The secret to having long hair is basically…’ What the Colombian singer reveals about her hair-growth secret

Shakira has spent decades in the spotlight, where her music, performances and distinctive style have made her one of the world's most recognisable entertainers. But the Colombian singer has also often attracted attention for her beauty and signature hair. In a 2014 interview with Glamour, Shakira revealed her simple secret for maintaining long, voluminous hair. She also shared a broader thought about confidence, suggesting that self-trust and a genuine smile can make a bigger impression than makeup or clothing.

Shakira reveals her secret to having long hair

In an interview with Glamour in 2014, Shakira was asked about her approach to achieving “big, sexy hair.” Her answer was surprisingly simple. The singer said the secret was basically “not cutting it.” Shakira also admitted that she had learned this lesson from experience. She recalled cutting her hair once and said she “regret[ted] it” because it took a long time for her hair to grow back.

The comment reflects a straightforward approach to maintaining long hair: sometimes, patience is as important as an elaborate beauty routine.

Shakira on confidence and standing out

The singer's advice did not stop at hair. During the same interview, Shakira also spoke about what helps a person stand out in a crowd. She said the key was to “feel confident”, adding that there was no better makeup or dress than “self-trust, confidence, and a good smile.” Her statement shifts the focus from appearance alone to how a person carries themselves.

While hairstyles, clothes and makeup can change the way someone looks, Shakira's message suggests that confidence can have a stronger effect on how someone is perceived.

What does Shakira’s hair quote mean?

Shakira's comment about long hair is essentially about patience and consistency. Hair grows gradually, so repeatedly cutting it short can make the process of achieving greater length take longer. By saying that she regretted cutting her own hair because it took a long time to grow back, Shakira was sharing a personal beauty lesson rather than presenting an elaborate hair-care formula.

Her answer also highlights how sometimes the simplest approach can be the one people overlook. If someone wants to maintain long hair, allowing it to grow instead of frequently cutting away the length can obviously help preserve that length.

Why Shakira’s confidence advice remains relevant

Shakira's second observation adds another layer to her beauty advice. Her statement that confidence, self-trust and a smile can matter more than makeup or clothing speaks to the difference between looking good and feeling comfortable with oneself.

That idea can be relevant beyond celebrity beauty routines. People often focus on finding the right outfit, hairstyle or makeup look before an important event. Shakira's advice suggests that confidence can influence the overall impression just as much as those external choices. For someone trying to stand out, her message is therefore less about following a particular beauty trend and more about feeling secure in their own appearance.

Shakira’s journey from teenage singer to global superstar

Shakira's influence extends far beyond beauty and style. The Colombian singer-songwriter, dancer and record producer is widely known as the “Queen of Latin Music” and has played a significant role in taking Latin and Spanish-language music to international audiences.

She made her recording debut with Sony Music Colombia at the age of 14 with the albums Magia in 1991 and Peligro in 1993. Her major breakthrough came with her third studio album, Pies Descalzos, released in 1995. The album produced popular songs including Estoy Aquí and helped establish her as a major Latin American star. She strengthened that position with Dónde Están los Ladrones? in 1998 and the acclaimed MTV Unplugged in 2000.

Shakira’s global crossover success

Shakira's career entered a new phase in 2001 with Laundry Service, her first English-language studio album. The album delivered the international hit Whenever, Wherever and helped introduce her music to a much wider global audience.She followed that success with the dual projects Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 and Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 in 2005. The latter featured Hips Don't Lie, one of her biggest international hits.

Her global profile continued to grow through songs and projects including She Wolf, the 2010 FIFA World Cup anthem Waka Waka This Time for Africa, and El Dorado.

Shakira’s recent achievements

Shakira continued her global presence in the 2020s, including co-headlining the 2020 Super Bowl Halftime Show. She also returned to the charts with viral hits including Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53. Her 2024 album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran added another milestone to her career. Shakira became the first woman to have number-one albums on the Billboard Top Latin Albums chart across four different decades.

Her career has earned her numerous honours, including four Grammy Awards and 15 Latin Grammy Awards.