20 Celebs’ Natural Hair Colors And Styles That Make Them Look Totally Different

Look, hair can be a contentious topic. First, there’s the issue of natural hair versus heat-altered or chemically-straightened hair. Then there are the obvious gender and racial issues associated with hair. And there’s definitely societal pressure to conform to certain hair colors or styles.

On the flipside, though, people can feel empowered and creative because of their hair. Do you feel like playing it down? Pin those tressed back. Feel like getting a little flirty? Wear a high pony. Dye your hair pink. Crimp it like they did in the ’80s! Do you want to emphasize your natural beauty? Don’t touch your natural hair for a while. Nourish it. Wear wigs for protection or for no reason at all.

Everyone should get creative with their manes, even celebs who are known for having specific hair colors. The celebs below actually did stray from their usual styles, though. We have the OG receipts, and we don’t mind having a little more hair inspiration!

1. Ellen DeGeneres

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Ellen recently had to show off her natural hair due to a bad dye job that happened back in early 2019.

After two rounds of coloring her hair at the salon for a total of nearly 5 hours, her hair was starting to fall out. Over the summer hiatus of her show she shaved her head and allowed her natural color to grow back.

After returning back to her show in September, Ellen shared her journey of embracing her natural hair. She said “Portia liked it, and a lot of people like it,” after sharing the photo with the audience. “It was the first time I had seen my natural color (in years).”

However, you won’t catch her on her live show sporting her natural gray, brunette hair anytime soon. Her executive producer on the show persuaded her to go back to her signature blood look.

2. Gillian Anderson

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If we look back to our youth and remember those creepy sci-fi shows with awesome femme fatale leads, we probably think of Gillian Anderson from The X-Files.

Her red locks were a thing of envy. Anderson’s hair had an air of strength, glamour, and sex appeal.

But guess what guys? She’s a natural blonde. And she told NewBeauty, “I don’t think when I was a redhead (back in the day) that I felt particularly sexy.” Even though we might like her as a redhead, we have to honor what she wants.

3. Shakira

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Most of us know Shakira as a dynamo with a blonde mane.

But it wasn’t always so. When she first started her career in music in Colombia, Shakira had long, seriously jet black hair. Around 1996, you could spot the star rocking out in music videos with her natural color. She started going blonde in the early 2000s, but made a short departure with red locks.

4. Katy Perry

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Even though we might remember Katy as a black-hair pinup girl, she’s not even remotely dark-haired.

Yep, Katy was born with blonde hair. According to Refinery29, the artist wanted to start being more authentic. She said:

I’m really strong as Katy Perry and then sometimes I’m not as strong as Katheryn Hudson… People like talking about my hair, right? They don’t like it or they wish that it was longer. I so badly want to be Katheryn Hudson that I don’t even want to look like Katy Perry anymore sometimes.

5. Mariah Carey

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This pop queen generally has long, wavy, honey-colored hair.

But early Mariah had a very different ‘do. In the 90s, she came onto the scene with thick, dark, curly hair.

6. Meghan Markle

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Meghan is known for her long, wavy, shiny locks.

But as one Twitter user says, “We got curls in the Royal Palace!” Yep, Meghan was born with big curls. We think she looks absolutely stunning with her natural hair and with a straightened mane. Could royal baby Archie possibly have a head of curly, red hair?

7. Zendaya

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Zendaya has incredible hair — we all know.

A lot of the time we see her with a sleek, shiny, straight ‘do. But actually, Zendaya has some incredible natural ringlets. On Instagram she wrote:

When you’ve spent the past however many years growing your damaged hair back, avoiding heat, wearing wigs and trying every natural product in the world and you finally see a little curl pattern comin back.

We love it.

8. Amy Adams

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Amy just seems like she should be a redhead, doesn’t she?

She has fair skin, freckles, and green eyes. Plus, the actress looks wonderful as a redhead. She’s been cast in so many roles with ginger strands that we may not realize… she’s actually a blonde!

10. Ariana Grande

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Amazingly, Ariana Grande’s hair is nowhere near stick straight.

11. Beyoncé

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We see the leader of the Beyhive rocking warm honey locks a lot.

Bey was born with luscious, dark hair, though. The former Destiny’s Child member wore some dark styles around in the early 2000s, but she generally likes to stay in the deep blonde range.

12. Jennifer Lawrence

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This is kind of a tricky one.

Jennifer plays dark-haired characters very convincingly (just look at The Hunger Games and Silver Linings Playbook). But she also plays blonde roles a lot, too. A versatile actress if there ever was one, Jennifer even rocked red hair for a while. But, if you didn’t guess it, she’s actually a true blonde.

13. Nicole Kidman

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When you think of Nicole Kidman, you probably recall the sleek, blonde hair she typically rocks.

But did you know Nicole actually has a head of thick, curly red hair? Yep. She even passed those corkscrew ringlets down to her daughter.

16. Lady Gaga

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While Lady Gaga almost always rocks a platinum mane, she certainly wasn’t born with it.

In fact, the star — born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta — has naturally dark brown hair. Actually, her real hair looks a lot like her character’s hair in A Star Is Brown. Before Gaga became the massive pop star we know her as today, she had a small role on MTV’s Boiling Point. Her natural tresses featured in the show.

18. Taylor Swift

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In fact, Taylor Swift’s hair isn’t even Taylor Swift’s hair.

She came onto the scene with super long, Rapunzel-like, curly hair. So why is it so short and straight these days? Taylor explained:

I learned that your hair can completely change texture. From birth, I had the curliest hair and now it is STRAIGHT. It’s the straight hair I wished for every day in junior high. But just as I was coming to terms with loving my curls, they’ve left me. Please pray for their safe return.

19. Chrissy Teigen

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Today, we can’t imagine Chrissy without medium-length, sleek, warm golden hair.

Her tresses have a slight wave, too. But back in the day, everyone’s favorite Twitter genius had long, dark, straight hair. She looked like someone else entirely.

We think everyone should rock the hairstyle that makes them feel beautiful, authentic and comfortable.