When it comes to celebrities, hair isn’t usually the first thing most people notice. Despite that, hair is usually what separates the huge Hollywood stars from the bit players. Luxurious locks can help to transform a pretty performer into an absolute icon. But there’s one downside: once everyone associates a star with a certain hair color or style, the actors look downright unrecognizable if they try something different or simply return to their natural hair.
Don’t believe us? Don’t worry…we brought plenty of receipts. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the biggest Hollywood stars who look downright unrecognizable with their natural hair. Keep reading to discover if your favorite stars made the cut, but just be warned: by the time you get to the end of the article, you might be tempted to call your stylist and change your own look up!
Olivia Wilde supercharged her career with a hair color change
For Hollywood starlets, one of the biggest decisions they can make is what color their hair will be. That’s because audiences associate certain colors with certain personalities. Because of the persistent phrase “blondes have more fun,” many women dye their hair blonde so they can land roles playing leading ladies…or, at least, the ladies who turn the heads of iconic male characters like James Bond.
Ironically enough, Olivia Wilde was born a blonde but decided to become a brunette to change up her career. In an interview with Into the Gloss, she explained her reasoning: “I think the perception of brunettes being more intellectual persists,” she said. “Even though it makes no sense!” Afraid of potentially be seen as a ditzy blonde, Wilde embraced the brunette color as a way of appearing more intellectual to audiences.
Nicole Kidman and the curls
Pop quiz, hot shot: what do you think about when you imagine Nicole Kidman’s hair? Chances are that you are thinking about long, blonde locks. It’s the look that she has rocked in some of her most memorable roles, and it’s the same one she sports in those weirdly hypnotic AMC commercials. But would you believe this is about as far from her natural hair color and style as Kidman can possibly get?
This Hollywood megastar is originally from Australia, and she had a very different look down under. Back home, Kidman was known for not only having very curly hair but having very red hair. To this day, the curls are a very rare sight on the red carpet, and most of Kidman’s biggest fans have no idea what she really looked like before changing her style!