TWICE Beauty Evolution: From Debut to “I Can't Stop Me”

Nine-member K-pop girl group TWICE is known for showcasing new hair colors and fresh makeup concepts with every comeback. Over the years, TWICE has made a steady transition from playful doll-like looks to more daring, fierce choices that transcend sugary aesthetics.

In an interview with Allure from April 2020, member Mina admitted she’s happy about constantly trying new beauty looks, saying, "I'm very happy that I don’t have to stay on just one look. I love trying different things all the time.” While trademark TWICE staples include space buns and glitter eyeshadow, the group’s varying concepts have given their glam team plenty of opportunities to experiment over the years. 

To celebrate TWICETOBER 2020, we are looking back at TWICE's beauty (and fashion) evolution from today to their debut in 2015.

2020: “I Can't Stop Me,” “More & More” and Beyond Live

On the beauty front, TWICE started 2020 on a high note. The members, minus Mina, stepped out for the January awards season in pared-down beauty looks and hair colors fans have now come to know and love. Keeping things simple and sticking to neutral colors, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Tzuyu, Sana, and Momo had their hair styled in different variations of waves, while Chaeyoung showed off her then-short cut and wispy bangs. Leader Jihyo and Dahyun provided blond representation with a neat, silver updo and long, platinum hair, respectively.

That same month, for the 34th Golden Disk Awards, half of the group showed up in matching pastel pink outfits and different updos — spot Momo’s neat half-pony with bangs, as well as Dahyun, Nayeon, and Jihyo’s ponytails. Range.

With the release of the More & More mini-album in June, the members showed up in bohemian-inspired looks meant to reflect the era’s “hippie and nature-inspired” concept. Makeup-wise, it was all about the soft pastel eyeshadow and rosy cheeks, complemented by lighter hair colors from members in what could be their most experimental simultaneous hair moments to date.

Jeongyeon, Momo, and Mina all presented different shades of blond hues, which looked tame next to Sana’s neon orange. Ever-chameleonic Chaeyoung rocked dip-dye blue tips and bangs this time, while Dahyun debuted silver-purple waves and Nayeon kept it simple in a natural, brown bob. Tzuyu’s hair for this comeback was dyed a dark reddish-purple and Jihyo’s pastel pink.

Following the release of “More & More,” this year, we’re also seeing a more mature TWICE, which we got a glimpse of during last year’s “Fancy” and “Feel Special” eras. Bold red lips were prominent in the group’s Seize the Light promos while the members teased more natural, sophisticated vibes in neutral lip colors to go with the camo green, workwear-inspired outfits for their World in a Day online concert. In the major hair transformations, we have: Chaeyoung with a platinum blond, short bob; Jihyo with bright, red hair; and Momo, who sported deep blue hair and bangs.

And even more changes came with the English version of “More & More.” Jihyo now had pink, long hair; Nayeon's short, brown bob was still going strong; Jeongyeon flaunted super long, blond hair; Momo's bangs were now also blonde; Sana's hair was a cute, bright orange; Mina also went blond; Dahyun's long hair featured a purplish-blue; Chaeyoung's blue hues were back in action; and Tzuyu's auburn bangs were still thriving.

TWICETOBER 2020 continued on the trajectory of bold hair colors. For their comeback with their second full-length album, Eyes Wide Open, on October 26. Just in time for their fifth anniversary, the group took to the ‘80s for musical and beauty inspiration. 

The music video for lead single “I Can’t Stop Me” is bursting with beauty inspo, with members appearing in a variation of hairstyles and makeup looks all throughout. Jihyo gave off major Ariel vibes with her cherry-red waves, while Nayeon’s slick backed purple ponytail and pigtails seemed fitting for the song’s vibes. Momo’s signature fringe was cropped and dyed a deep blue.

Other members kept it simple for this comeback – Mina’s platinum blonde waves were just as silky as they looked in More & More, with Jeongyeon following suit but with blunt bangs. Sana’s light brown locks were teased ‘80s-style, with the side pieces curled away from her face.

Beauty-wise, it was Chaeyoung’s many eye looks that stood out the most – under-eye glitter and mismatched contacts, and teal eyeliner layered over a black wingtip. Dahyun kept the sparkly moment alive with rhinestones, scattered like blush across her cheeks. Tzuyu’s reddish-brown hair may not have seemed as bold a choice as the other members, but her beauty moment came in the comeback teaser photo, which saw her sporting a dramatic swish of black eyeliner above her eyelids.

On the fashion front, the ninesome rocked some of their best co-ordinating looks – from grey mini skirt suit sets that revamped the tried and true uniform look to breathtaking checkered and tweed yellow pieces that looked straight out of Clueless and an unforgettable Jeans Genie moment.

2019: “Fancy” and “Feel Special”

2019 was a year of even more daring concepts for TWICE, with looks reminiscent of their debut — a refreshing departure from their usual bright lips and peachy eyeshadow combos. In January, they attended the Gaon Chart Music Awards, where Sana, Tzuyu, and Dahyun styled their hair in soft waves. Throughout the months, the members continued to shine on the red carpet but the hair highlight goes to the 2019 Soribada Awards, where the members looked absolutely stunning in their looks fresh off their Japanese comeback for Breakthrough.

Jihyo went for a shorter brown-haired moment, while Momo’s long dark waves and fringe stole the show. Also notable were Jeongyeon, Chaeyoung, and Jihyo’s shorter styles, Sana’s half-pony, as well as Dahyun’s ultra-straight, slick look and Tzuyu’s dirty blonde 'do.

To finish off a year full of glamour, the members attended December’s Gayo Daejeon 2019 decked out in Christmas-themed Santa outfits. Jihyo’s space buns went very well with her reindeer onesie, while the rest of the members turned up in mostly dark hair colors, save for Dahyun, Jihyo, Sana, and Nayeon.

As far as their MV releases are concerned, “Fancy” and “Feel Special” redefined TWICE's aesthetic. In separate interviews for Allure Korea, the group’s makeup director Won Jung-yo explained how “Fancy” involved experimenting with the way eyeshadows and eyeliner worked with space while “Feel Special” aimed to make the members “look elegant by adding some moisturized and glowing texture to their skin tones.” The looks were achieved by using iridescent eyeshadow and liquid highlighter.

Both music videos also saw more variation in terms of accessories and details, both eye and lip-wise. So many great eyeliner looks this time around — just look at Chaeyoung’s silver and Nayeon’s blue, as well as Mina’s bejeweled lids! The wet hair trend also went very well with Sana’s pastel pink hairstyle in “Feel Special.”

2018: “What is Love,” “Dance the Night Away,” and “Yes or Yes”

Including their Japanese releases, TWICE had a total of seven comebacks in 2018. Accessorizing with headbands, statement earrings, and flowers tucked into their hair — this era was all about looking natural and carefree. That, and the space buns, which made an appearance thrice — once on Dahyun in the “What is Love” promos, and on Chaeyoung with her bright orange hair in “Dance the Night Away.”

In “Yes or Yes,” Dahyun makes a more dramatic change, dying her hair pink and purple ombre, with choppy bangs. We also got a glimpse of some colored contacts with a couple of close up shots and some bright red lipstick.

2017: “Knock Knock,” “Signal,” “Likey,” and “Heart Shaker”

With concepts that featured heavily vibrant hues and retro outfits, 2017 was all about the regular brown and black hair colors for the members. Most of the comebacks hinged on the members’ hairstyling rather than coloring, as seen in the prominence of curls, buns, and pigtails throughout the four comebacks.

Jihyo, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, and Nayeon (ft. dyed blue tips) all had wispy see-through bangs at one point in the year. Chaeyoung, meanwhile, kept things short with her apple cut bob (as seen at February’s Gaon Chart Music Awards) and later on a longer lob. She revealed that Kristen Stewart was the inspiration for her super short hair on an episode of Weekly Idol.

Dahyun maintained red locks at one point, while Mina and Tzuyu stayed consistent with darker hues. Accessory-wise, braids and crisscrossed clips were also featured on the girls, like on Jeongyeon in “Likey.”

2016: “Cheer Up” and “TT”

TWICE kicked off 2016 at the Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards in matching black outfits and hair envy galore. All members looked stunning as usual, but Jihyo's ombre hairdo as well as Chaeyoung's and Jeongyeo's bold, pixie cuts definitely stood out.

TWICE occasionally likes to take cues from movies and fictional characters, and “Cheer Up” (a.k.a. the “shy shy shy” song) was the music video that started it all. Movies and series like Bring It On, Scream, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Chungking Express, Sailor Moon, Tomb Raider, and Itsuki Fujii provided great costumes for the TWICE members’ to imitate.

The fairytale concept of “TT” worked the same way, introducing us to bolder makeup looks from the members, like Tzuyu’s vampire eye and Chaeyoung’s glittery mermaid look. It’s during this era that Jeongyeon had her signature short cut, eventually dyed lighter for “TT.”

At the 2016 Asia Artist Awards, Momo’s white bow updo and Nayeon’s barrettes swept the red carpet, matching the group’s all-white color scheme for the evening.

2015: “Like Ooh Ahh”

Fresh off of the reality show Sixteen, TWICE debuted with “Like Ooh Ahh,” mixing zombie apocalypse motifs with traditionally teenage elements a gogo. Dressed in red outfits and accents and wearing bright red and hot pink lipstick, each member’s personality shone through their hairstyles. Momo was the only blonde one, while the rest — Jeongyeon with her ashy red cropped cut, Mina and Jihyo with their red locks, Sana with the standard TWICE space buns, and Dahyun with hot pink and orange streaks. And their first-ever video rounds off TWICE's beauty evolution — for now.

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