​​Rachel McAdams Is Almost Unrecognizable With Her Natural Hair Color

If you think of actor Rachel McAdams' hair color, you might immediately picture the strawberry-blond shade she had as Allie in "The Notebook," or maybe Regina George's bright blond in "Mean Girls" comes to mind. But when it comes to guessing her natural hue, you're probably more likely to imagine the auburn she rocked as Amy in "The Family Stone." Actually, though, her natural color is none of the above.

Add Rachel McAdams to the list of celebs that are nearly unrecognizable with their natural hair color. Because the "Wedding Crashers" star is actually a natural brunette. She has revealed that she began experimenting with hair color at a young age, even using Kool-Aid drink mix to change her shade as a teenager. She's mostly known as a blond, which is her go-to for most of her acting roles, but in March 2024 she debuted a brunette shade that's close to her natural hair color. 

The rich chocolate looks beautiful on the Canadian star, but also made us do a double-take. And while the hair-dye dabbler clearly loves to switch things up, there's one main reason that she's able to, according to expert Jennifer Korab, a New Jersey-based celebrity hairstylist who spoke exclusively with Glam. "Rachel McAdams is known for her signature blond hair, but her natural hair is actually much darker, so keeping that lighter shade is definitely a commitment," Korab shares. "From my perspective as a stylist, going from brunette to a soft, natural-looking blond requires multiple steps, including lifting the hair several levels and toning to achieve that creamy, seamless finish."

Pro Jennifer Korab speculates that when she's blond, Rachel McAdams gets her roots touched up every four to six weeks. How much would that set you back? "Salon visits for root touch-ups, approximately every four to six weeks, can run anywhere from $150 to $500 and up, depending on the salon and stylist," Korab reveals exclusively to Glam. Another reason McAdams' hair looks great even with frequent hair color changes (something that's notoriously damaging on strands) is that she clearly takes good care of her tresses. "To protect the hair from damage with such frequent processing, I'd believe she's using bond-repair treatments, weekly deep conditioning, and regular glosses or toners to keep her blond vibrant, healthy, and true to tone," Korab goes on. What's the price tag on those treatments? "To keep the blond looking fresh and vibrant, toners or glosses are also often needed, typically adding another $50 to $100 and up. Treatments to protect and strengthen the hair, like bond builders and deep conditioners, can cost an additional $40 to $100 per session."

But the treatments don't end at the salon door; women who bleache want to follow steps to keep color-treated hair healthy. As Korab explains, "There's the upkeep at home; you want to make sure you are using salon-quality shampoos, hair masks, and heat protectants, which can add to the overall expense. Altogether, keeping blond hair this polished and healthy can cost several thousand dollars a year."

Ready to dye-ve in? Protect your investment by avoiding these mistakes that can damage color-treated hair.