For celebrities, constantly changing hairstyles for different looks is nothing new. It’s even made easier by hair extensions, wigs, and skilled colorists who can easily mix and match and change their hair color as they please—and it won’t break the bank for celebs to do it. So much so that sometimes we do get pulled into the image, and forget that that’s not their real look. Here, we look at 33 celebrities and see them with their hair’s natural tones and textures. Some of them will leave you shocked!
Ariana Grande – From Sweet Coils to Repping Rapunzel
Ariana Grande has not been secretive about the problems she’s had with her hair. It became very damaged after years of it being dyed for Nickelodeon‘s Sam & Cat. She’s giving her hair a chance to recover. Therefore, she has a new style she usually wears where some of her hair is up and some down. She uses hair extensions to pull it off. Ariana’s hair is naturally curly with beautiful ringlets. So beautiful!
Beyoncé – All Hail the Hair Queen
Beyoncé is a huge star—one of the biggest in the world. She wears a lot of weaves and lace-front wigs in various styles—from long to straight ones to curly ones, which she can do with her incredible net worth of $350 million. But many fans have no clue what her real hair looks like. Even when she shows her real locks, people think it’s fake. But her hairstylist, Neal Farinah, reassures that the photo of Beyoncé on the left shows her hair in its 100% natural state. He captioned the picture “All hail Queen Bey.”
Britney Spears – Brunette Baby Becomes Blonde Bombshell
When you think of Britney Spears, you think blonde hair. One could almost forget that they used to be a different color. When the singing sensation first burst on the scene with her teenage spunk and a barrelful of hit songs, she was a brunette, as seen on the left. And she was also known for her lipliner, not lipstick, done in the ’90s style. Now, though she may wear her hair in various lengths, it’s always decidedly blonde.
Jennifer Aniston – The Rachel
Actress Jennifer Aniston has found immense fame since starring in Friends all those years ago (we want a reunion!). She progressed successfully into movies and has regularly dabbled with her hairstyle. Her most notable hairstyle which set women everywhere on an envious path was dubbed The Rachel, based on her character from Friends. She has since tried several colors and styles and, given that money is no issue, can afford to experiment. Her caramel color is perfect for her face, though.
Taylor Swift – Wavy Long Blonde Moves to ‘Coming Of Age’ Platinum Edge
Taylor Swift might have shocked the world by going to the beauty salon and returning with her hair dyed platinum blonde, giving her a vibrant edgy look. But maybe the pop star needed to make a statement to show who she had become—a woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. She may have been a really pretty, sweet wavy-haired blonde teen, but now she’s a gorgeous and bold woman.
Sofia Vergara – Latin Locks of Blonde
Although she has struggled to find roles in the past, actress Sofia Vergara has cemented herself in the acting industry thanks to Modern Family. She’s naturally a blonde. But during auditions, she always seemed out of place—her accent and appearance contradicted her hair color. She opted to dye it brunette and all of a sudden everyone wanted her to play a Latina with style and sass. She pulls off the role with finesse.
Zendaya – When It’s the Taming of the Tresses
Such pretty hair! Zendaya sure spends a lot of her time straightening her natural curls. Using heat for the straightening process, she has said that her bouncy ringlets have been damaged as a result. To cover up her hair and change her style, she uses wigs. Zendaya says she has no plans to alter her hair’s color. It’s still beautifully brown. We’ll see what happens as she keeps her hair healthy.
Christina Hendricks – She Was So Sugary Sweet, But Now She’s a Ginger Lily
Christina Hendricks is another celebrity who we’ve come to comfortably associate with a certain hair color. In this case, bright ginger red. But Christina is really a blonde baby. She loved Anne of Green Gables so much as a child, she began coloring her buttery locks bright red at 10 years old. She must have been a very bold child to attempt this. At that age, most girls wouldn’t attempt to change their looks in such a dramatic fashion.
Kerry Washington – Her Little Orphan Annie Look Went Heat Sleek
When Kerry Washington plays power player Olivia Pope on the TV show Scandal, her style is sleek. Her hairstylist, Takisha Sturdivant-Drew, has revealed however that more often than not, when she goes to the hair salon, Washington is mixing up her look and loves having different styles. This is something her on-screen character, Olivia, does not do. According to Takisha, the 41-year-old actress loves a style that embraces her natural texture.
Celine Dion – Musically Golden
There’s no denying that Celine Dion has a voice that is hard to match. She has enjoyed decades of success since she started her singing career. When she first started out, she was proudly showcasing her brunette appearance. However, since finding fame, she has opted for a golden blonde look instead. Her hair salon must be making a fortune with the consistent hair dying she must undergo to stay blonde.
Jessica Simpson – The Dukes of Blonde
Dukes of Hazard actress and pop singer Jessica Simpson is often caught parading a stunning head of wavy blonde hair. She pulls off the style perfectly and many would assume she is just a natural blonde. In reality, though, she’s a brunette and consistently has to have hair care to ensure the color is right for her and that the bleaching isn’t too detrimental on her long locks. She’s known for her luxurious hair among other things, after all.
Emma Stone – She’s a Stone Cold Fox!
Remember Superbad, the popular comedy where Emma Stone played a cool but feisty redhead? It’s a case of bottle dye alert. And when we saw her again in her The Amazing Spider-Man role, she was back to her natural blonde look. She recovered the color with another hair dye job. Stone says she actually loves her natural color. And when she got it back after a long time of being red, she felt like she was back to her old self again.
Olivia Wilde – Brunette Bombshell
Olivia Wilde is beautiful, talented, and has an ever-increasing bank account thanks to her acting prowess. What many don’t know, however, is that she boasts naturally blonde hair. She opts to dye it to become the brunette we all know and love and we think it suits her perfectly. We imagine it might be quite costly and perhaps not healthy for her hair as surely she’s constantly going to her hairdresser to get the blonde stripped out!
Laura Prepon – Obsidian and Proud
Laura Prepon might well be known for her role in the hit Netflix show, Orange Is The New Black, but the actress established herself many years prior in That ’70s Show. Unlike her prison role, she donned gorgeous red hair on that show which many fans thought was not her natural hair color. It turns out, she didn’t rock out the hair dye until she wanted to leave the red hair behind. It must drain her finances, though, having to ensure it’s the right color for Orange Is The New Black.
Shakira – The Blonde Latina
Shakira became a huge star with hits like Hips Don’t Lie and Whenever, Wherever. But what many don’t know is that she isn’t a natural blonde beauty. You’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise as she’s been rocking the blonde look since around 2000. However, she naturally has black locks. Her financial planner must get flustered constantly trying to work out the cost of the frequent dying and changing of her hair.
Halle Berry – This Beautiful Foxy Lady Rocks Her Own Hair
Halle Berry’s name has become synonymous with the pixie cut. But she looks so, so good in it. Why mess with a good thing? Halle Berry’s photo is always front and center when the topic is beautiful and talented actresses. And we know that her anti-aging regimen is working for her based on her beautiful skin. Her hair is also well taken care of. Though usually straightened, we’ve seen what her true texture looks like and it is gorgeous!
Gwen Stefani – The ‘Anti -Hairstyle’ Rebellion Becomes ‘All-Woman’ Loveliness
Gwen Stefani seemed to have found a hair dye that she really loves and feels she can identify with because, for the better part of her career, she has been platinum blonde. She’s so into it that she dedicated a song to the pale blonde hue. Stefani has gone on-record with InStyle as saying that the last time she saw her natural hair color, she was still in grade 9.
Katy Perry – Pink Obsession
One wonders if Katy Perry was going through a cotton candy fixation when she opted to color her hair this shade of pink. More than that, one never knows what color her hair will be at any given moment. This is something she has been doing from before she became famous. Before Katy Perry was ‘Katy Perry,’ she actually dyed her hair in every rainbow color. You might be surprised, but Katy’s actually a natural blonde.
Mariah Carey – Now That’s a Major Blow Out!
These days, we always see R&B/pop diva Mariah Carey with her signature hairstyle— honey-blonde stick-straight hair. She seems determined to get away from how she looked when her career just started. It’s like a completely different look for a completely different woman. However, the curly-haired brunette will always find a way back to our hearts. The award-winning singer has been married and divorced twice and has twins with her second husband, rapper-comedian Nick Cannon.
Scarlett Johansson – It’s the Blonde Who Wakes You Up Like Your Morning Cup of Joe
Before we knew her as a blonde bombshell who rakes in huge earnings in the box office, did you know that young Scarlett Johansson had dark chocolate brown hair? But then, if you look closely at Scarlett, you do see dark roots. That is a dead giveaway. Scarlett has made quite a name for herself as a sassy blonde. She is now the highest-paid actress in the world and has made it to the Forbes Celebrity 100 list a number of times.
Kristen Stewart – The Vampire Buzz Cut
Actress Kristen Stewart shot to fame with the movie Twilight, entangled up in a romantic triangle before becoming a vampire herself (spoiler alert?). Her decisions with her hair have often been out of the box, changing her hair color at different times or even deciding to completely shave it off. The cut was thought to be because of an acting role she was involved with. Surprisingly, she pulled off the look with style. To add to the benefits of her ‘do, there’s almost no maintenance involved with her shaved head.
Leighton Meester – Brilliant Brunette
The stunning Leighton Meester rose to prominence thanks to the hit show Gossip Girl. The actress is naturally a beautiful blonde but had to go brunette for her character on the show. Taking the hair dye out seemed like a good decision with the success that the series achieved. Her audition went smoothly and she ended up getting the part—although the cost of frequently dying her hair might have been an inconvenience.
Sophie Turner – Game of Red
Anyone who has seen Game of Thrones will instantly know Sophie Turner—but perhaps not when she’s donning her natural hair color. The actress is naturally blonde; a striking contrast from the fiery red hair we’ve gotten used to her having on the show. We’re not sure how damaging the constant dying will be on her hair, although we imagine she spends an ample amount of money on hair care treatments to ensure it stays healthy.
Emilia Clarke – Queen of Wigs (and Dragons)
Speaking of Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke is worthy of a mention here. The actress is a natural brunette although she looks strikingly beautiful with blonde hair when she’s in character as Daenerys. She doesn’t constantly grab the hair dye, though. Instead, a man called Kevin Alexander is tasked with her transformation. To achieve this, she has to wear an assortment of wigs. She has four in total and wearing one involves her having a bald cap and a mesh cap placed on her head first.
Anna Paquin – True Blonde
Actress Anna Paquin has been establishing herself as a talented actress since she was young. She really gained traction after being cast in X-Men. However, it’s her role as Sookie in True Blood which really boosted her earnings and status in the world. In the show, she is seen with short blonde hair. This requires her to frequently get the dye out of the cupboard as she is naturally a brunette. The commitment, eh!
Rachel McAdams – Queen of Mean
Rachel McAdams has showcased her immense acting talent on more than one occasion but her defining role will always be that of Regina George in Mean Girls. In the movie, McAdams has exuberant blonde hair which really compliments her look and style. If left untreated, though, Rachel would soon be showing the world her gorgeous brown locks. She’s stunning, regardless, but we imagine the costs! Necessary maintenance and all the hair care involved means being brunette is a lot easier!
Mandy Moore – A Hairstyle to Remember
Stunning actress and star of A Walk To Remember Mandy Moore was originally a blonde sweetheart when she first came onto the scene. For her role in that movie, however, she dyed it brown. From then, she saw it as a way of transitioning herself and showing growth and a ‘new her‘. A different color, good hair conditioner, and a talent in acting are all she needed to propel herself forward. We imagine the maintenance is relatively straightforward too!
Brittany Snow – Pitch Perfect Hair
Brittany Snow pulls off her red hair in Pitch Perfect, but she is, in fact, a stunning natural blend of brown and blonde. Her hair salon must be very glad she’s around as she’s always willing (and eager) to change up her style. She pulls off virtually any color she throws on her scalp so it’s no surprise she looks completely natural with the redhead look. We don’t want to think about the damage it might do to her precious locks, though, so maybe tone down the dye ever so slightly.
Allison Williams – Girl with Style
Having placed herself in the limelight with dominating and powerful performances on the TV show Girls, actress Allison Williams continues to become a huge star. It has helped that she has sheer talent, stunning looks, and the ability to pull off different styles with her long locks. She’s experimented of late with her brunette hair by trying out blonde. We have to say, the hair dye certainly suits her perfectly—even if it takes a slice of her earnings.
Alyson Hannigan – Queen of Red
Alyson Hannigan has been on our screens for decades thanks to the success she found on Buffy The Vampire Slayer. She followed that up with a long-standing role in How I Met Your Mother and became well known for her red hair. With her bulging bank account, she could easily afford to dabble in different styles and colors. Although if you trace her back to her younger years, you might just find she once boasted a browner head of hair.
Julia Roberts – A Pretty Woman with Brown Roots
She’s one of the most influential actresses a studio could hope to have on set. She has repeatedly shown the world her talent with Pretty Woman and Erin Brockovich—just two examples of her stand-out performances. When it comes to her hairstyle, though, she’s very adaptable. Usually boasting a curlier look, we’ve often gotten used to her having blondish hues to her hair. Naturally, though, she is a light brown. Her hair color is just as adaptable as her acting talent and she nails both perfectly.
Emma Roberts – No Horror Story for this Hairline
The up-and-coming niece of the aforementioned Julia Roberts is destined for great things and displays a constantly evolving look with her hair. We’re of course talking about the stunning Emma Roberts. She has been more than happy to change her hair up as roles require it. She strikes us as someone who prides themselves in hair care so we’re sure it isn’t too damaging. Just like her Aunt, Julia, Emma’s natural hair color actually leans toward light brown.
Madonna – Queen of Pop…and Blonde
Madonna is perhaps one of the biggest stars in the world, even all these years after her career peaked and slowly faded into the background. She is renowned for displaying her long hair with a striking blonde hue to it. However, her natural color is much, much darker. She naturally boasts a dark brown, although she’s hardly ever let the blonde grow out. If there is ever a wealth management team employed purely for hair treatments and coloring, surely Madonna is the star to have them.
Zooey Deschanel – She’s a Hopeless Chocolate Romantic
When she first came on the scene, Zooey Deschanel had strawberry blonde hair and a penchant for parting her hair in the middle—and using great conditioner! Fast forward to today and we have the quirky actress with long brown hair and bangs. She’s had it so long, no one really recalls the strawberry blonde version of her. She does seem more comfortable in her skin with the new look, though. Maybe the dark hair brought her good luck.
Cynthia Nixon – Life Brings Maturity and the Hair Style Follows
S** and the City was certainly a controversial show that explored some topics and ideas that were considered taboo. The ladies who were the lead characters on the show were deep into anti-aging skin care, high vogue fashion, and exciting lifestyles. In many respects, it was a trailblazer. Because of the character she had on the show, Cynthia Nixon went red. Her character needed to be a sweet person with spunk and a dash of feistiness. Cynthia’s actually a natural blonde.
Amy Adams – A Rare Woman Who Can Look This Beautiful and Natural With Two Totally Different Hair Colors
Actress Amy Adams can certainly pull off roles that require perfect hair. Though she was a blonde in the days before she became an A-lister, she has stuck with long red hair for as long as she has been famous. She does look really good both ways, so we suppose it doesn’t matter which look she chooses. It just might eventually be better for her hair’s health if she reverts to her natural look.
Solange Knowles – Bold Change of Hairstyle And Color
It is said that blondes have more fun. And Solange has been blonde since the fall of 2017 when she dyed her hair that color. Her being blonde is not the issue, it’s her hairstyles—like this particular braided one that drew rather mixed responses. Solange gives us a new look each time she makes a public appearance. At the BCBG Max Azria Spring 2010 show, Solange showed off very curly locks. At least we knew she was having hair treatments.
Lady Gaga – Reality Presents Such a Lovely Picture.
Since there may be some people on the planet who might not have known it, we’ll tell you that Lady Gaga has been wearing wigs—so her super eccentric look is not at all natural. Since Gaga is also known for her heavy makeup, we are left with no clue as to who the real person is under all that glam. However, at a recently held concert, Lady Gaga kept the makeup on but wore none of her wigs. It was her own natural wavy hair. Fans got a huge thrill on the occasion.
Dita Von Teese – Black Hair That Looks This Good On Someone Apart from Snow White
Dita Von Teese says that growing up, she was fascinated with the kind of dance she now does as an adult—burlesque. Known for helping repopularize burlesque performances, she needed to maintain a certain public image. It might also explain why she changed her hair from long blonde waves to jet black. But whatever the reason, her pretty black hair is iconic. Her hairstyles harken back to the ’40s and ’50s, the heyday of her dance genre. But we guess Dita is true to her character.
Nicki Minaj – It’s a Hot Pink Mess
Nicki Minaj is known for her over-the-top style of dressing and for her out-of-the-ordinary hairstyles. She has, however, softened a lot and gone more streamlined over the years. More natural-looking makeup has replaced the costume character-type makeup. The bright pink wigs and weaves are gone, and we see her real tresses. Though her real hair is long, the award-winning rapper likes to add hair extensions for an even greater impact.
Karlie Kloss – It’s Marsha Partridge #2
When Karlie Kloss started out as a model, she was a fresh-faced, light brunette. But over time, she switched to blonde. This happens a lot in the modeling industry, where models either get assigned or acquire for themselves a certain image. Kloss took on this new look in 2014 and has never gone back to the old one. It’s a very neat look and one that suits her. It has both the drama and flair needed by one in her profession and is comfortable enough for one’s private life.
Alicia Keys – The Lady Crooner Plays it Conservative
Alicia Keys is a great singer and pianist. She’s also a good-looking woman who has a great presence on the red carpet. She’s also more of a conservative lady. In recent times, she began going all-natural, with both her hair and makeup. It seems she has come to a point in life where she feels free to be herself. And she is not afraid to be that person and let herself shine. She also obviously feels comfortable enough with her fan base to know that she will not have a huge fallout over the change.
Cardi B – She’s the Opposite of Alicia Keys
Cardi’s style is straight over the top. There is probably nothing conservative about this lady. She loves attention and she knows how to get it. As such, the vivacious rapper wears all kinds of hairstyles and heavy makeup. She goes from long, mermaid wigs to blonde bobs in the blink of an eye. But her hair is actually curly in real life. So why would she have hidden it? She says that when she was a child, she hated her hair. But now, she loves it! So maybe now we’ll see more of it.
Blake Lively – If You’re Free and Comfortable in Your Own Skin, It Shows!
Blake Lively is a confident maturing lady, and it shows. It is said that a woman’s hair is her crowning beauty. Well, “All hail Blake Lively!” Her hair is gorgeous, and it suits her maturing status. Yes, she’s best known for playing golden-haired Serena van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl, but sometimes she lets her roots show. One can actually see that she’s a natural brunette. This is evidence of her comfort and confidence in herself.
Gabrielle Union – Pretty Easygoing Lady Vs Classy Elegance
There’s no doubt about it, Gabrielle Union is a beautiful woman. She has a very polished professional image that includes sleek hairstyles in long lengths. However, it’s not her hair that we see. Underneath the protective styles, her own curls are flourishing and strong. Union is trying to protect her hair from the rigors of her profession, and the damaging effects of the various things that are done to an actress’ hair on the job. With her salary, she can definitely afford this.
Emmy Rossum – Sleek and Glossy Becomes the Lady
Shameless actress Emmy Rossum loves to wear her hair straight all the time. It’s sort of like her trademark and her professional look. So no one had a clue that her natural hair was actually curly! We don’t get to see her beautiful curls after all the hair treatment, and that’s too bad. She doesn’t wear it like that more often. Though we appreciate her sleek look, it’s good when ladies feel enough confidence in their real selves.
Laverne Cox – She Portrays Herself Like a Golden Godness
Like her idol, Beyoncé, actress Laverne Cox loves to dye her hair with beautiful blonde highlights. But occasionally, we’ll get a glimpse of her own brunette hair on Instagram. The one shown here is from this 2011 photoshoot that she herself once shared with the public. It’s a different look for her and highlights the fact that celebrities do spend a lot of money to get the right look for them and to constantly maintain it.
Sia – It’s Like A Nightmare on Elm Street Took Possession of Her Head
It seems like rather odd behavior to wear wigs that cover three-quarters of the face, but it has become Sia’s signature look. If a regular person did this, people would have questioned their mental health. But apparently, a different rule applies to celebrities. The singer-songwriter says she only wears them when cameras are around, so as to maintain even a little bit of privacy. But once when she really needed to get through TSA, she revealed her face in a rare moment.
Nicole Kidman – Sometimes You Don’t Know What You’ve Got ‘Til It’s Gone
We first noticed Nicole Kidman in the 1990 film Days of Thunder, where she still had her cascade of gingery corkscrew ringlets. It was awesome! But as Nicole’s career became increasingly successful, though, the coif of curls became sleeker and blonder. It’s like a major investment in just her hair alone. Kidman herself regrets the transformation and has said that if she could just tell her younger self to leave her hair alone. She’d say, “Don’t ruin the ringlets!”
Sanaa Lathan – Here’s a Rocking Sister With a Groovy Hair Temperament
Sanaa Lathan has beautiful long hair, and she loves it. She spends a fortune on keeping it healthy and beautiful, and it shows. But did you know that she once buzzed it off for a role? Now that’s commitment! She eventually grew it back and we’re so glad she did. She’s also committed to style, and her clothes are always on point to compliment the hair. Whether her hair is styled sleek, curly, or done natural, Sanaa is all good.
Kate Middleton – Wavy Brunette Becomes A Royal
Marrying into the royal family requires making a few changes. Okay, yes, a lot of changes! And Katherine Middleton was happy to make them. After her royal wedding to Prince William, Kate went from sporting casual hairstyles as a student to being the epitome of elegance as the Duchess of Cambridge. Kate has become an influential figure when it comes to fashion ever since she married the Duke of Cambridge. While costly, her outfits are indeed breathtaking and she always makes sure that she is dressed appropriately for different occasions.
Priyanka Chopra – From Cute to Dark-Haired Beauty
The difference is rather obvious! Priyanka Chopra has always been beautiful, there’s no doubt about that. And just like the rest of us, her hair has changed over time. Priyanka now sports a modern wavy look while her hair color is slightly darker than before. The pretty actress we know from the television series Quantico recently married her 10-year younger beau, singer Nick Jonas, in December 2018. The two tied the knot in both Indian and Christian ceremonies. Needless to say, she looked absolutely gorgeous wearing marvelous outfits in both celebrations.
Jennifer Lopez – This Latina Has A Lot To Live To But Plays It Sleek
J.Lo is famous for more than just her amazing physique and her multiple talents. She’s also known for her hair. She wears a lot of long, straight wigs. Again, it’s her professional look and something that celebs do to save their own hair from damage. But we admit, it’s easy to forget her hair is actually curly/wavy, like the picture on the left. With a net worth of $380 million, she sure could afford the best hair care.
Meghan Markle – Curly Sue Meets Polished Princess
Meghan Markle’s natural hair is a ton full of sumptuously beautiful long curls. For her career as an actress, she had committed to straightened hair and suitable hair shampoo. More so now that she’s Duchess Meghan. The issues surrounding racial identity and hair run deep, but many do not desire to see anything but straight hair in such high ranks of nobility. So when Meghan said “I do” to Prince Harry, she said “goodbye” to the liberation of her curls probably permanently.
We must say that Heidi Klum looks better and better as she ages. Even her hairstyle does! While she was equally pretty with her shorter mane back when she was younger, she became even more breathtakingly beautiful with her wavy long locks now. The German modeling figure, style expert, and businesswoman, Heidi was blonde for a long time but this more natural color suited her better. In December 2018, Klum announced that she and the young music star Tom Kaulitz were engaged. She will tie the knot in Germany in what will be a very costly ceremony, according to sources.