Reese Witherspoon may be known for her signature long, blonde locks, but her hair journey has been far from static. Over the years, the actress has experimented with a variety of styles, from short bobs to dark brunette shades, and even bangs. One constant in her transformation? Her colorist, Lorri Goddard. Witherspoon has trusted Goddard for 15 years, during which time she has switched from brown to blonde to red and back again. “I just feel better getting my hair done,” Witherspoon shared with Glamour, admitting that highlighted blonde is her favorite look.
While Witherspoon is often seen with her beloved light blonde hair, her style evolution is nothing short of impressive. From her early days as a talented teen to becoming an A-list star and mother of three, her hair has gone through some dramatic changes.
When Witherspoon first rose to fame in the 1990s, her hair was far from the golden blonde we associate with her today. In 1994, at around 18 years old, she sported long, straight hair that looked healthy and glossy. At the premiere of Backbeat, her hair had a golden hue with subtle light brunette lowlights, giving her a brond look. A similar style appeared at the True Lies premiere that year, though her ends were choppier, and the cut framed her face more dramatically.
Though she debuted with blonde hair, Witherspoon has hinted that it wasn’t always her natural color. In a throwback post on X (formerly Twitter), she shared a photo from her younger years, revealing long chestnut brown hair. “Wait… is this my real hair color?!? #tbt” she captioned the image, leaving fans to wonder what Elle Woods would think.
As Witherspoon’s family grew, she wasn’t afraid to embrace longer hair again. By 2025, she had perfected a flattering, signature style: a warm, highlighted blonde that complemented her bright complexion and blue eyes. For a screening of You’re Cordially Invited with Will Ferrell, she sported a soft, shoulder-length style, likely with extensions for added volume. In an early 2025 Instagram post, her hair showed a more natural look, with slightly darker roots adding dimension and definition to her honey-toned locks. Her hair remained healthy and hydrated, a result of Adir Abergel’s use of Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Hair Oil, as he revealed to Violet Gray.
While Witherspoon’s blonde hair remains a constant, she’s also embraced the signs of aging. In a 2019 Allure interview, she openly discussed her growing gray hairs, saying, “I just feel like I earned that gray hair and my fine lines. I like ’em. I so prefer 43 to 25.” It seems likely that as she continues to embrace her natural beauty, we may soon see Witherspoon proudly flaunting her gray hair on the red carpet.
Witherspoon’s hair journey is a reflection of her evolving style and confidence, showing that transformation is not only about changing looks but also about embracing who you are at every stage of life.
