Nicole Kidman Has Had Quite The Hair Transformation

Nicole Kidman has donned a lot of different hairstyles for her on-screen roles, with her assortment of unconvincing wigs becoming a meme among fans. but she has also experimented with plenty of cuts and colors on the red carpet. While the Australian movie star became known for her curly, red locks during her rise to fame in the early '90s, she has revealed that she hasn't always loved her natural look. "It's taken me 40-something years, but I embrace the curl," Kidman told People in 2020. "My littlest daughter has the same hair. She likes it when my hair is curly, so I wear it for her."

It's true that the celeb has sported iterations of her natural hair in Instagram snapshots and magazine editorials, but her curly mane is just one part of her hair transformation. In this way, Kidman has worn some truly stunning hair looks throughout her decade-spanning career, always maintaining her status as a style icon.

Nicole Kidman's hair transformation starts with her tousled curls, as the redheaded celeb became known for the iconic 'do during her rise to Hollywood fame in the '90s. While the Sydney-raised actor got her show business start in Australian media, her role in the Tom Cruise-starring movie "Days of Thunder" marked her transition into U.S. stardom. In addition to marrying Cruise in 1990, Kidman also starred in movies like "Portrait of a Lady" and "Practical Magic" early in her Hollywood career.

Just as Kidman looks stunning with minimal makeup, she also flawlessly pulls off her natural curls, as seen at award show events and movie premieres throughout the decade. Though she played around with straightened styles and experimented with a darker shade of red, the curly look dominated this era of her hair journey.

Nicole Kidman later chopped her hair to a chin-length cut in the early 2000s, which made her curls appear bouncier than ever. The new look coincided with her split from Tom Cruise, with Kidman going on to have an iconic post-divorce style transformation. The look proved to be surprisingly versatile. While the celeb channeled classic Hollywood glamour in a side-parted look with large curls while attending the 2001 Golden Globe Awards, she went on to sport smaller ringlets at the 2002 premiere of her film "The Hours."

The mid-2000s saw Nicole Kidman growing her hair out while transitioning to a strawberry blond color, with the era marking some of her most memorable looks. At the time, the actor starred in films like "The Stepford Wives" and tied the knot with country star Keith Urban, marking a shift in her professional and personal life as she became an even bigger household name. She was often photographed wearing sleek, straightened hairstyles, as seen at both the 2006 and 2007 Academy Awards.

But while there's no denying the actor looked elegant in pictures, taking the flat iron to her curls that often came at a cost. The Australian star opened up about her hair regrets in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, lamenting the damage she'd done to her curls. "Do I wish that I hadn't screwed up my hair by straightening it all the time? Sure," Kidman told the outlet in 2020. "And am I willing to share my knowledge, what I've learnt along the way? Absolutely." Thankfully, she later learned there are a few tricks to restore a natural curl pattern after dealing with damage.

Fast forward to the mid-2010s, Nicole Kidman maintained strawberry-infused shades of red as she rocked a side-parted, lob. This cut is often a sleeker take on the classic bob, typically falling somewhere below the chin but above the collarbone. Additionally, a lob, or long bob is a great way to try short hair without the commitment, so it's understandable why Kidman, who had previously spent several years with extra long, straight tresses, went for the medium-length style. The star definitely channeled chic and cool vibes when posing for the "Queen of the Desert" photocall and when walking the red carpet at the 87th Academy Awards. This hair era also saw the beginning of the "Kidmanaissance," in which the star transitioned from poorly received films like "Queen of the Desert" and "Strangerland" to critically acclaimed projects such as the biopic "Lion" and the award-winning series "Big Little Lies." 

As the "Kidmanaissance" took form, Nicole Kidman transitioned from her strawberry-colored lob into a shoulder-length cut featuring face-framing pieces. She wore the new 'do with a slight side-part for a subtle bang look at the Paris premiere of "Lion," while styling it with a middle-part with longer face-framing layers at the 65th Taormina Film Fest. This hair era also marked Kidman's long-standing foray into more purely blonde looks, with the Australian star opting for white and yellow-toned hues throughout the period. If you're looking for blond shades to inspire your next salon trip, then Kidman is definitely a celebrity worth emulating.

Nicole Kidman has continually opted for varying shades of blonde since the mid-2010s, but the natural redhead did infuse some coppery tones into her locks during 2023. For example, the London-screening of "Special Ops: Lioness" saw the celeb pulling her hair back into a red-toned ponytail with shorter pieces framing her face. She then went for a blonde-copper hybrid at the County Music Awards in November, cultivating a warm-toned appearance at the event she attended with her music star beau Keith Urban. While not the bold red or strawberry blonde of her early career, this color definitely feels a fresh take on Kidman's signature red look.

The mid-2020s saw Nicole Kidman back to embracing the blonde bombshell look while bringing some killer volume to her red carpet ensembles. The "Babygirl" star sported a beautiful golden blonde color at the 2025 Golden Globes, styling her hair in a flowy bouffant ponytail that gave serious '70s energy. Kidman also went for a voluminous look at the 30th Annual Critics Choice Awards, wearing her tresses in plentiful waves parted down the middle. While not as glamorous as her Golden Globes look, the 'do definitely paired well with her oversized, vintage-inspired suit. As far as hair transformations go, Kidman has certainly changed things up since her curly, redheaded days.