12 First Ladies Whose Hair Transformed Right Before Our Eyes

Being the first lady of the United States comes with having the spotlight on you 24/7. Of course, this means that whenever you step foot in public, people will recognize you, and looking your best is imperative. Over the years, we've seen a variety of strong women enter the White House after their husbands got elected to the highest office in the country, and there's no denying that every one of these ladies has left her mark.

Today, we're taking a closer look at their hair transformations over the years. What were the hair colors and styles they rocked prior to becoming first ladies? How did their hair change while they were in the White House? And what became their signature hairstyle after? Some have given us subtle changes throughout the years, while others experimented with their looks more drastically. Either way, all of the first ladies on our list have shown just how diverse and unique beauty can be — and the role that hair plays in that.

Before Melania Trump became the first lady during President Donald Trump's first term in 2017, the Slovenian-born model rocked long and luscious locks; however, the way that they were styled was slightly messier and wilder compared to her signature style as first lady. When asked about her hair changing in 2016, her hairstylist, Mordechai Alvow, revealed that the look they were going for was one of sophistication and sleekness. "Her fashion has been looking demure and chic, which is what we will work off of," Alvow explained to WWD. "The length, smoothing the style or a modern shape, but, of course, [will be] still feminine, textured and elegant, which is how she likes it. She never wants to look overdone."

In addition to Melania swapping her messy bed-head hairstyle with a sleek and sophisticated blowout, she added quite a few highlights to her hair. Although she never completely switched into blond territory, Melania's hair is noticeably lighter nowadays. Interestingly, one thing the first lady always stuck to, including during her second White House stint beginning in 2025, was her hair length: Melania prefers having long hair with layers. Ultimately, it's safe to say that while her hair changes haven't been super dramatic, Melania Trump has undergone a stunning style transformation over the years.

The wife of President Joe Biden, Dr. Jill Biden served as the first lady from 2021 to early 2025, and during that time, she stuck to a hairstyle she knew and loved. "The first thing you notice about Jill Biden's haircut is that it is easy going and not stiff; every woman wants effortless-looking hair and that's down to a few key details," celebrity hairstylist Luke Hersheson told The Telegraph in 2021. "Too many layers can make the ends look thin which can be ageing," he said, adding, "Jill's hair is lightly layered at the ends and around the front of her face which creates just the right balance. The shorter layers around the front of the hairline help to give a little bit of volume at the crown which is exactly where you want it."

While Jill Biden rocked a similar hairstyle in the 2000s, in the 2020s, she switched things up a bit by adding soft, wispy bangs, reminiscent of the 2023 trend of embracing light and breezy Korean air bangs. The first lady stuck to blond locks, switching the shade ever so slightly to a cooler-toned one. One thing that hasn't changed is that she prefers her hair styled in a voluminous blowout, one that bounces with every move she makes. While Jill Biden has been caught wearing some inappropriate outfits, the first lady's hair has always been flawless.

Perhaps the most notable hair transformation among the ladies on our list belongs to Michelle Obama. Michelle, who was first lady during President Barack Obama's two terms from 2009 to 2017, has shown that first-lady hair can be exciting and versatile. "There are two moments in the work I have created with Mrs. Obama that have been meaningful to me. The first would be her iconic 2012 DNC speech, where her hair was styled by Johnny and colored by me," Michelle's hairstylist, Yene Damtew, revealed to People in 2021. "My second favorite look had to have been the 2021 inauguration of then President-elect Joe Biden. Aside from the look going viral, it was a moment when I think people could connect to Mrs. Obama as a relatable beauty," she said, adding, "It was a familiar style that all women have worn at some point in their lives. People always talk about Mrs. Obama as being relatable, even though she's an icon and in a league of her own. This was a moment when her hair carried that message forward even more, particularly for Black women."

After her time in the White House, Michelle has continued embracing a variety of hairstyles, often switching things up. Most recently, she embraced long hair that she often styles in braids. In addition to bringing traditional Black hairstyles to the forefront, Michelle has shown time and time again that a woman can reinvent herself and experiment with beauty and fashion at any age. The former first lady has never been one to shy away from a bold statement, and Michelle Obama's stunning style transformation will certainly only continue.

From 2001 to 2009, Laura Bush, the wife of President George W. Bush, served as the first lady of the United States. During her time in the White House, Laura preferred a short hairstyle styled with lots of volume and a side part. In a 2025 conversation with People, her daughter, "Today with Jenna & Friends" host Jenna Bush Hager, revealed that the former first lady is very low-maintenance. "She was like a drug store purchaser," Bush Hager told the outlet. "Eckerds was where she got her makeup, upgraded a little bit. She doesn't wear very much makeup. And my grandmother was that way too," she added.

While Laura's makeup routine remained simple and minimalist, the former first lady did embrace a slightly different hairstyle after leaving the White House. In 2025, Laura Bush is rocking a shoulder-length bob styled with a voluminous blowout and a side part. While some short hairstyles can make you look older, there's no denying that Bush's fun bob is adding youthfulness to her look.

Former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is another first lady with a subtle yet noticeable hair change. As President Bill Clinton's wife, Hillary was the first lady from 1993 to 2001. During the beginning of her time at the White House, Hillary rocked longer hair with wispy bangs. However, as the years went on, her hair became shorter and more layered, resulting in a chic bob. "I gave her a cut in '98, and little by little I started to transform that bob into something that has more lift and layers," Hillary's hairstylist, Isabelle Goetz, explained to The Cut in 2016. "It's good for a lot of women, especially professional women. It's feminine but classic. If you push it a little bit back, it has a great line. The style opens up the cheekbones and has volume at the top."

During her second presidential run in 2016, Hillary's hairstylist was available to her almost non-stop. "I'm always on call. We usually start early, about seven in the morning," Goetz explained. "She will come with her hair washed and I'll style it. Sometimes I cut it when it feels heavy. I blow out her hair with a round brush and volumizing spray, then I give her a face mask that she holds to protect her from the hairspray..." According to Goetz, a lot of hairspray goes into Hillary's looks, which is completely believable considering how sculpted they are. Since then, Hillary's hair hasn't changed much, with the former first lady sticking to a short, layered haircut that allows for lots of volume at the crown of her head. 

As the wife of President George H. W. Bush, Barbara Bush lived in the White House from 1989 to 1993. During her youth, Barbara had shoulder-length, wavy hair that was brown; however, by the time her husband became the president, Barbara's hair was entirely white. The former first lady preferred not to fuss over her hair too much, always going for a simple hairstyle. When talking about what Barbara usually asked for, her hairstylist, Jessica Parris, revealed that "up and away" as well as "nothing too special" were her only requests (via Spectrum News).

Barbara embraced her white hair confidently, a hair color she wore until her death in 2018 when she was 92 years old. "The white hair was because I wanted to play golf,” Barbara revealed in 2018 (via Today). "I wanted to play tennis. I wanted to swim and my hair turned, as I'm sure someone else will tell you, orange, green, yellow, depending upon how much chlorine in the pool. So I decided to go white." While embracing aging with grace, especially when it came to hair color, wasn't as common throughout Barbara's lifetime, there are numerous celebrities who proudly show off their gray hair and inspire onlookers today.

Actor Nancy Reagan, wife of President Ronald Reagan, was the nation's first lady from 1981 to 1989. Nancy, who used to have dark-brown hair, embraced a darker blond shade during her time at the White House. Regardless of hair color, Nancy's hair was always perfectly in place, a testament to her hairstylist, Robin Weir. "I've heard the jokes, like if she falls down, she'll break her hair," Weir said in 1984 (via UPI). "You read that it's stiff, but it's very soft. At any time, you can run your fingers through it. It's just that she has very thick, good hair."

In the same interview, Weir revealed that Nancy was always very focused on her work. "There are only two women that I do who work while I'm shampooing, work while they're getting their hair set, work while they're being combed," the hairstylist added. "And that's Elizabeth Dole and Mrs. Reagan. I mean, she (the first lady) doesn't just go to lunches. She really works hard — paper work, answering letters, going over schedules." As Nancy was getting older, her hair became lighter and lighter, resembling a very soft mix of blond and white toward the end of her life. The former first lady passed away in 2016 at the age of 94.

Rosalynn Carter became first lady in 1977 when her husband, Jimmy Carter, became the president of the United States. At the time, Rosalynn rocked a short brown bob haircut — a style that definitely suited the former first lady. "She was as wonderful as can be, from the first day I met her. To the very last. She was a wonderful lady," her hairstylist, Steve Hightower, said in 2023 (via Fox 5). As she was getting older, Rosalynn embraced lighter hair, going for a dark blond color.

The former first lady passed away in 2023 at the age of 96, and Hightower revealed that he had done her hair while she was in hospice care. "I wanted to make sure their last memory of their loved one was as close and as perfect as it used to be," the hairstylist said. "Does that make sense?" Beautifully said!

As the wife of President Gerald Ford, Betty Ford was the first lady from 1974 to 1977. At the time, Betty had light-brown hair cut in a voluminous bob hairstyle that was often styled in flipped-out ends. Just like many of the ladies on this list, Betty also embraced going lighter as she aged.

"She did reinvent herself," Barbara Foster Henderson, founder of the Center Theatre in Palm Springs, where the first lady was a patron chairman, said in 2011 (via Daily Messenger). "She also changed the color of her hair to lighter and she looked very California." Toward the end of her life, the former first lady went even lighter. Betty passed away in 2011 at the age of 93.

Patricia Nixon is the only one on our list who served as both the first lady and the second lady. Her husband, President Richard Nixon, was in office from 1969 to 1974, making her the first lady of the country. However, between 1953 and 1961, Richard served as the vice president, making Patricia the second lady during that period.

Like a lot of the first ladies from the '60s and '70s, Patricia stuck to a hairstyle she knew and loved. The former first lady's hair was cut short and styled in large curls, creating lots of volume. As she grew older, Patricia, who was known for her blond hair, embraced her gray strands, all while sticking to her signature haircut. Patricia passed away in 1993 at the age of 81.

Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson became the first lady of the United States in 1963 — a position she held until 1969. Lady Bird, who was married to President Lyndon B. Johnson, ensured she always had a perfectly put-together hairstyle, one that was very popular at the time.

Similar to Betty Ford and Patricia Nixon, Lady Bird rocked a short hairstyle, usually styled in a voluminous manner with soft curls. Lady Bird also embraced short bangs styled to one side, giving her hair even more volume. While she was known for her dark-brown hair, as she got older, she — like many other former first ladies — embraced blonder locks. Lady Bird passed away in 2007 at the age of 94.

Jacqueline Kennedy served as first lady from 1961 to 1963 — a role that was cut short due to the assassination of her husband, President John F. Kennedy. Jackie was known for her shoulder-length brown hair, usually styled in curls reminiscent of Old Hollywood. Her hairstylist, Kenneth Battelle, revealed that the style wasn't something the first lady was going for prior to meeting him. "At the time Mrs. Kennedy — whose name meant nothing to me — had what was known as the Italian Cut," Battelle remembered in 2013 (via Vanity Fair). "It was too short, layered, and curly for her tall proportions and big bones. I planned to soften the line and the shape, and I suggested she do this by growing her hair longer."

In 1986, Jackie met her new hairstylist, Edgar Montalvo. "It was summertime, and her original hairdresser went on vacation and his substitute got sick, and I was the only one available," Montalvo told the New York Post in 2013. "She loved what I did. The hair just had more softness to it. It moved with the wind," he added. The hairstylist also admitted that the former first lady loved wigs, especially at the end of her life. Jackie passed away in 1994 at the age of 64 from non-Hodgkin lymphoma.