Reese Witherspoon Has Had A Stunning Hair Transformation

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We'd forgive you if you said Reese Witherspoon hasn't changed her hair much over her decades in the spotlight. But you'd be wrong. While long, blond tresses may be her signature, she's actually tried quite the array of looks, from short bobs to dark brunette tones to bangs. One thing that's stayed the same, though? Her colorist. "My colorist, Lorri Goddard, is the best. I've gone to her for 15 years, and she's taken me from brown to blond to red and back to blond. I just feel better getting my hair done," Witherspoon told Glamour, admitting her favorite style on herself is highlighted blond.

But while she may always return to those light locks we know and love, Witherspoon's hair transformation is nothing short of stunning. So we're looking back at some of her most dramatic changes as she evolved from talented teen to A-list superstar mom of three.

Roles in the likes of "Legally Blonde" and "Sweet Home Alabama" would cement Reese Witherspoon's bright, warm locks as her signature, but her hair wasn't quite as light and golden in the beginning. When she burst onto the scene in 1994, the acting hopeful, who was around 18 years old, had long, straight locks that looked super glossy and healthy. At the premiere of "Backbeat," her simple, girl next door-esque cut had a golden tint but with light brunette lowlights that almost pushed her to brond territory. She wore a similar look to the "True Lies" premiere that same year, but with slightly choppier ends and more shaping to frame her face.

Although we met the teen with a blond 'do, black dress queen Witherspoon has hinted it's not her natural color. She posted a throwback snap to X, formerly known as Twitter, which showed her just a few years before her red carpet debut with very long, chestnut brown locks. "Wait... is this my real hair color?!? #tbt" she captioned the upload. What would Elle Woods say?

By 1997, Reese Witherspoon was ready to celebrate her 21st birthday and opted for a more sophisticated hair look to match her milestone. She wowed with a classic bob that was an edgier and trendier hairstyle than her previous, just past shoulder length tresses. At the premiere of "Liar, Liar," the southern beauty tucked the bottom of her chin-grazing 'do under for the most gorgeous and classic face-framing effect. But when she attended the "The House of Yes" premiere that year, she went for something a little less warm but a lot more modern, wearing her cooler blond locks straight with a chic center part.

The cut didn't only symbolize that she was transitioning from teen dream to adult actor; it also proved Witherspoon (who's gorgeous going makeup free) was paying attention to beauty trends. Bobs were huge in the '90s and made a comeback around 2023 when we all tried to get the retro sitcom star haircut that once reigned supreme.

Reese Witherspoon as a dark brunette? Yep, it happened. In 2004, Witherspoon shocked the world when she dramatically ditched her signature light blond locks. She walked the red carpet at the "Vanity Fair" movie premiere with curls much darker than we'd seen on her before. The star wowed with glossy, coffee-toned tresses that finished just past her shoulders. She sported a similar look while promoting the movie at the Venice Film Festival, but that time, the Oscar winner wore a softer curl with a zig-zag part. Though the deep shade didn't quite flatter her complexion the same way as her warm, blond locks do, the rich hue gave her look a polished, elegant edge and highlighted her light eyes.

The new aesthetic was so Witherspoon could play June Carter in the Johnny Cash biopic "Walk The Line." "Arianne Phillips, who did the costumes, did an amazing job of really making us feel like the characters and really conveying the romanticism of the mood. A lot of it, for me, the hair was just completely different too," Witherspoon told IGN.

She also spoke out about how much she loved the transformation in an Instagram post 15 years later. "Playing the role of June Carter was one of the most rewarding experiences of my lifetime. ... I felt completely transformed into an authentic country artist," Witherspoon wrote. She didn't keep the dark aesthetic too long, though. The Reese's Book Club founder quickly transitioned back to blond and was back to her classic color by the end of 2004.

Reese Witherspoon decided to revisit the bob look in 2014, but added a more modern twist compared to the version she sported in the '90s. This time, Witherspoon took a risk and chopped her locks into an asymmetric bob with a deep side part and bangs, creating one of her bluntest 'dos to date.

The Louisiana native added wispy, eyebrow-grazing bangs to soften the look slightly, stopping the style from being too harsh for her face shape. The bangs also offered a fun way to change up her bob — which isn't always the most versatile. At the Golden Globe Awards, she wore them longer on the right side with a classic, straight down style. But when she appeared at the release of Drew Barrymore's photo book "Find It In Everything," she made her bob slightly rounder and partially swept her bangs to the side. Her hairstylist Adir Abergel spoke to Violet Gray about her banging (literally) new look, sharing, "It felt very modern and clean with just a bit of an edge."

The shorter style may have been a practical move, as the beauty was now a busy, working mom of three. In addition to her two children with ex-husband Ryan Phillipe, Witherspoon welcomed a son with her then-husband Jim Toth in 2012.

As Reese Witherspoon and her young kids got older, the actor wasn't afraid to revert to longer locks. And, by 2025, she'd locked down her soft and flattering signature style. The beauty sported a highlighted, warm blond shade for a screening of her rom-com with Will Ferrell, "You're Cordially Invited," and she likely wore extensions to give her extra volume. Her elegant style finished just below her shoulders, and the hue looked gorgeous against her bright complexion and blue eyes. She also showed off the style, seemingly sans extensions, in early 2025 in an Instagram photo that showed her honey locks had slightly darker roots to add a little definition and stop her mane from looking flat. The actor's hair still looked as hydrated and healthy as ever as she neared 50, which may be down to Adir Abergel telling Violet Gray he uses Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Hair Oil on her strands.

But while Witherspoon remained blond, she admitted she'd started discovering a few grays. Getting real about aging during an Allure interview six years earlier, she admitted, "I just feel like I earned that gray hair and my fine lines. I like 'em. I so prefer 43 to 25." So we wouldn't be surprised if the next step in her stunning transformation involves rocking her gray hair with confidence on the red carpet.