aespa Winter’s New Look Slammed As “Worst Ever” After Visual Transformation

“It washes her out…”

aespa‘s Winter is known as one of the K-Pop idols who can pull anything off, but her new hair has not impressed Korean netizens.

| @imwinter/Instagram

The SM Entertainment quartet is seemingly preparing to return with a new album soon, as fans theorize the girl group will release it this summer. As such, the members themselves are getting ready with new looks and style while wrapping up their last few tour stops in Japan.

aespa’s last comeback was back in September 2025, with “Rich Man.” | SM Entertainment

Winter surprised everyone when she first teased her bold new hair color at the airport, while attempting to hide it.

260409 #aespa #에스파 #WINTER #윈터 pic.twitter.com/t22uc8BW0I

— confetti (@confetti_wt) April 9, 2026

The bright orange hair is fitting for a “summer comeback.” However, some are saying it may just be Winter’s worst look.

| @dk0001050616 /X (formerly known as Twitter)

The aespa star has experimented with hair colors more often than not. She debuted with bright blonde hair, then changed to the iconic “Next Level” short two-tone bob.

| SBS Inkigayo

| SM Entertainment

She has even tried red hair for aespa’s strong release “Drama.”

| SBS Inkigayo

Netizens seem to agree that brown is the color that suits her the most.

Regardless, even though orange is being slammed as her worst ever, netizens still point out that it still suits her fairly well.

Winter’s orange hair might be her worst look, but even if it washes her out a bit, it still suits her fairly well.
Personally, I think brown hair suits her best.

— Viral post on Pann

| Pann

In the comments of the viral post, Winter is facing similar criticism and even more praise.

| Pann

• “Even if it’s not her best look, Winter seems to pull off pretty much everything.”
• “There’s a certain charm to the tone mismatch. When she has orange hair, she kind of looks like a fox.”
• “I think Winter herself knows brown hair suits her well, but she said she wanted to try other colors too.”
• “I think this [brown] is her best look.”
• “There’s a kind of beauty that comes from the tone mismatch.”