Rita Ora: ‘I didn’t care about my hair until it was all gone’

Rita Ora exudes confidence, yet the celebrated singer suffers her own insecurities. Here, she talks hair loss and why she’s gone into business with an Aussie on a global beauty product.

Pop stardom came at a price for Rita Ora.

The British singer has revealed she lost her hair as a result of experimenting with her image, particularly in the earlier part of her career.

“I didn’t really have hair in my 20s because I burnt it all off with colour damage and things,” Ora told The Daily Telegraph.

“That was really a big deal because I would commit to the look, I always changed my look – short hair, purple hair, blue hair, whatever hair,” she said.

“Whatever the era is, I am in — and I didn’t care about my hair until it was all gone.”

Rita Ora and Anna Lahey launch new TYPEBEA haircare products. Picture: Richard Dobson

Ora, 33, famously calls Australia her “second home” and has partnered with local business identity Anna Lahey to launch a new global haircare brand, TYPEBEA.

Her mother, Vera, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 39 in 2005.

“My journey has been really interesting seeing my mum go through chemo and losing all of her hair and understanding that connection of actually not being yourself without your hair,” Ora explained.

“You don’t feel sexy, you don’t feel confident.”

Lahey, too, suffered hair loss in her 20s due to health issues.

TYPEBEA is for everyone though, both pointed out.

Ora with a platinum blonde pixie cut in 2015. Picture: Getty Images

Long and multi-coloured tresses. Picture: Instagram

It was when Lahey invited Ora to her home for dinner with her family that the friendship, and business relationship, blossomed.

“I’ve always had thin hair and so I understood that there are so many things you could do to strengthen your hair and that is actually what we bonded over,” Ora said.

Tousled blonde waves in 2012. Picture: AP

A honey blonde look in 2017. Picture: David Caird

“For me, when I can’t feel good, it just sucks and I feel crap and can’t be the best version of myself.

“I am always self-conscious, I am a lady.

“Every girl is like that, there is always parts you don’t like about yourself.”

The brand launched globally across the UK and US, as well as Australia of course, at a luxe event in Sydney on Thursday.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]