Ed Sheeran debuts shaved head, says he 'wouldn't recommend' shingles
Ed Sheeran debuts shaved head, says he 'wouldn't recommend' shingles
Taylor Ardrey, USA TODAYWed, April 29, 2026 at 1:29 PM UTC
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Ed Sheeran is providing fans with a life update: a new look and a recent health battle.
The "Shape of You" singer showed he has ditched his signature red hair in an Instagram post on Tuesday, April 28.
"Yes I’ve shaved my hair. I wanted to shave it to signify a fresh start," Sheeran, 35, wrote. "A lot of new beginnings in my life atm. I love it, thinking of keeping it this way."
Sheeran also opened up to his fans about his experience with shingles for" the last month," saying he "wouldn’t recommend it, but on the mend now."
What is shingles?
Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a viral infection caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
People who have had chickenpox before are at increased risk of developing shingles. After a person recovers from the infection, the virus stays inactive in the body and can become reactive years later, causing shingles, the CDC said.
It typically doesn't last beyond three to five weeks, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine; the rash usually has blisters that scab over across 7 to 10 days and go away in two to four weeks.
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'I might be the only person': Ed Sheeran reveals he's moving to the US
Other celebs open up about their shingles battle
Ed Sheeran performs during iHeartRadio KISS108's Jingle Ball 2025 Presented By Capital One at TD Garden on December 14, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Sheeran is one of the latest celebrities to speak about shingles, including actress and director Elizabeth Banks last year. It caused her to miss out on work, and the now 52-year-old said she got the vaccine after dealing with it.
Signs and symptoms include pain, itching or skin tingling, painful rash of blister-like sores, fever, headache, chills, and upset stomach. The CDC recommends adults 50 and older get two doses of the Shingrix vaccine to prevent shingles and complications from the disease.
Although rare for someone his age, Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, 26, revealed his struggles with the virus on "The Pat McAfee Show," according to the Indianapolis Star, part of USA TODAY Network.
"I'm going on eight weeks of face shingles right now. I haven't been able to get rid of it," Haliburton said earlier this month. "I've switched my meds three times and I got a Botox injection. None of it has helped."
He said his most recent medicine has made him hungry, prompting weight gain: "I'm bigger for no reason. So now they're killing me on social media. I see I'm being called 'Tyrese Haliburger.'"
Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@usatodayco.com.
Contributing: Adrianna Rodriguez, David Oliver, USA TODAY, Scott Horner, Indianapolis Star, USA TODAY Network
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ed Sheeran shows off shaved head, shares shingles experience
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