(Image Source: Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
Jennifer Lopez has undergone a striking transformation for her latest role in the Netflix sci-fi film Atlas. The superstar, known for her sleek and polished looks, is now embracing her natural curls, a look that’s left fans stunned. In an interview with Remezcla, Lopez shared her excitement about her new look, saying, “I love my natural curly hair. I like [Atlas] having this disheveled, very thick head of hair that she doesn’t really worry about at all. Kind of like, this is who I am.”
In Atlas, Lopez plays a data analyst battling against an AI soldier, and her natural curls carry symbolic significance, capturing both her heritage and her character’s unpolished resilience. For Lopez, embracing her natural hair goes beyond aesthetics—it reflects her personal journey. In her 2024 documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told, Lopez recalls her curls from her teenage years in the Bronx. “I like taking my hair out like this. It reminds me like, of when I was 16 in the Bronx running up and down the block. Crazy little girl who used to be wild, no limits, all dreams,” she reflected, recalling her connection to her roots.
Lopez has spoken openly about her curls and the confidence they give her. In a 2016 interview with People, she revealed, “I’m still a ponytail, bun-on-top-of-your-head girl, which is all very Puerto Rican Bronx.” Throughout her career, she’s experimented with countless hairstyles, but her natural curls have always held a special place in her heart.
The decision to wear her curls in Atlas was more than a styling choice; it was a reflection of her character’s unkempt, no-frills attitude, mirroring Lopez’s childhood experiences. “[Her curls] were a reflection of not really paying attention to herself the way she wasn’t paid attention to as a child,” Lopez explained. “No one was like ‘Maybe we should blow this out, put a ponytail or something.’ Nothing. They just let her go wild.”
While Lopez stuns on the red carpet with her meticulously styled hair, she also frequently showcases her natural look on social media. In 2023, she promoted JLo Beauty on Instagram with her natural curls on full display. Later, a heartfelt Mother’s Day photo showed her, her mother, and her daughter Emme celebrating their three generations of curls.
For fans who want to recreate her look, Lopez’s former hairstylist Juan Carlos Maciques shared tips for achieving similar volume and texture. In 2016, he told People that shoulder-length hair with plenty of layers works best, as it “creates a lot of body and movement and brings out the natural curl.”
Lopez’s journey with her hair has been one of transformation and self-expression. Her naturally curly hair has long been a reflection of her dynamic career, from her days as a dancer to her evolution as a singer, actress, and entrepreneur. Embracing authenticity, she even revealed that she has had silver roots since age 23, hinting at a potential future look. “I was prematurely gray at 23. I have to have [my roots] touched up every couple of weeks. I’m kind of tempted to one day just let it go. It’d be kind of exciting!”
