Just turned 39 and she continues to shape the way we see beauty—be it through deft contouring or her fifty shades of blonde
Kim Kardashian West, or at least the subject of her, divides people. Some say she’s talentless, while others admire her for using her influence to do good things. But we’re not here to argue any of that today. We’re here for her beauty looks and transformations that have kept her 149M followers on Instagram scrolling and double-tapping every single day. Why? Because like it or not, Kardashian-West has and continues to shape the way we perceive beauty—be it through her out-to-there lashes or deft contouring, or the fifty shades of blonde she’s tried out.
Below, a list of her best and transformative hair and beauty looks to celebrate her birthday:
Photo Nadim All
2008 (just a few years after the world met Kim) was the year glossy pin-straight hair with bangs, side swept or otherwise, became a thing. We were also already starting to notice the reality star’s smoky eye paired with thick long wispy lashes that gave her a smoldering gaze.
Photo George Pimentel/ Getty Images
In 2009, she went for a look on the opposite end of the spectrum: a faux mussed up bob inspired by Marilyn Monroe and pared back makeup, keeping only what
we now know as her signature eye, contoured cheek and nude lip.
But it was only when she grew out the fringe and tamed her bombshell waves (that may or may not have launched blow dry bars) that we really started paying serious attention.
While 2012 saw many transformations for Kim, including (we’re eyeballing the timeline) lasering her natural hairline to take out her baby hair, we took notes from her first Met Gala beauty look: sleek hair parted at the center, signature fanned out lashes, soft contour and berry-painted lips.
The short years that rolled by allowed Kim to refine and perfect her signature clean beauty look. A result of baking and layering powders and concealers, and deft contouring with plenty of help from long-time makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic.
2015 marked one of the most talked about hair dye job reveals in pop culture history and at the front row of fashion week no less. Memes be damned, but this wouldn’t be the last time we’d see Kardashian-West with shocking blonde locks.
The following year, the then-mom of two showed up at the 2016 VMA’s, bronzed and glowing, like she just rolled out of the ocean (in the best possible way). It’s the hair that made this look, really.
In a rare move, Kim attended Paris fashion week with a nearly bare face (just lash extensions, lip balm and maybe some of them alphabet creams) and brushed out straight hair parted at the center.
2018 witnessed Kim go really short for the first time with a shoulder-skimming blunt bob that takes off years from anyone who dares try this length. Kim paired it with her usual makeup look but with a wash of peachy nude on the lips. This year, the same hairstyle made its way back to the KKW beauty bible.
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Present times have seen Kardashian-West rock rosy to red colored lids and lips, but our fav beauty statement of all? Her flip hairstyle and its various iterations made possible with the skilled hands of hairstylist Chris Appleton. Inspired by Jackie O,’ the classic style is big and voluminous at the root and flips out at the end.
Happy birthday Mrs. West! Now which Kim K hair and beauty look is your favorite?
Art Alexandra Lara
