Mandy Moore Is Nearly Unrecognizable With Short Hair

Whether singing or acting, Mandy Moore has spent nearly three decades proving how talented she is. The world has seen her transform from a young pop princess to a fan-favorite dramatic actor. It turns out her versatility goes beyond her career. She's changed up her hair a countless amount of times and has looked flawless at every step. After keeping her hair long and brunette during her six-year run on the series "This Is Us," it appears longer locks have become Moore's go-to. But there was a time years ago when Moore kept it cute and playful with a short pixie cut.

Moore first started sporting a pixie cut back in 2002. Her hair was parted on the side so her bangs were side-swept across her forehead. During an interview with Teen People, which was later merged with People, Moore said that chopping off her tresses felt "invigorating," saying, "It makes me feel a little sassier. It's a very confident cut — I have less to hide behind!" Her dark hair made her bangs look noir while light would bring out a sunnier copper hue at the base of her head. Moore would continue to sport a pixie cut into 2003, including on the cover of the infamous Vanity Fair "It's Totally Raining Teens" Issue where she posed next to the Olsen twins, Lindsay Lohan, and Hilary Duff.

Pixie haircuts give classic femininity a fun upgrade. The light and dainty hairstyle has structure but also gives off a feeling of spontaneity and whimsy. This cut can be soft and sweet like how Jennifer Lawrence wore it at the 2014 Golden Globes. Or it can come off as rebellious and punky à la Miley Cyrus in her "Bangerz" era. For Mandy Moore, the pixie cut was a pleasant surprise that boosted her confidence. She told Refinery29 that with her short hairdo, "I felt really sexy and free and edgy, which are not adjectives that many people use to describe me."

The best thing about a pixie cut is that it can be styled for any occasion. It is suitable for casual get-togethers as well as formal events, as A-listers like Anne Hathaway and Emma Stone have proven on red carpets. The look is low-maintenance and does not require much upkeep so haircare is quick and easy. Pixie cuts look appropriate with a range of makeup choices, whether minimal or with bold-colored eye and lip products. Moore did a great job of pairing hers with a bronze shimmer and neutral lip. And for those who decide on a whim that they want to make a subtle hair change, the pixie cut offers freedom to try out different ways of parting your hair and wearing bangs. The pixie cut freshens up more than just hair; it also shows off bone structure so natural beauty will be on full display.  

It's impossible to look back at Mandy Moore's career without noting her vast hair transformation. She has attempted nearly every variation possible by experimenting with different styles, colors, and lengths. As a young teen, the world was first introduced to Moore as a singer with long bleached-blond hair. She primarily wore it pin straight or in a bun with spikes — an iconic, easy-to-replicate Y2K hairstyle that was trending at the time.

She drastically changed her mane in 2001, first by curling it then deciding to go from blond to brown hair seamlessly while filming the movie "A Walk to Remember." Moore also had bangs in the film but quickly grew them out by the time the movie premiered the following year. 2002 saw Moore chop off her long locks into her memorable pixie cut for the 2002 MTV Movie Awards. The mid-2000s consisted of Moore progressing from shades of dark brown which really made her eyes shimmer to all-over lighter blond that she would eventually retire.

Moore was in her movie-star era in 2007 and marked the occasion with reddish hair. Her brassy, auburn hair felt bohemian in waves that cascaded past her shoulders. By 2011, Moore was committed to her brunette mane and has since flip-flopped between styles of wavy shoulder lengths and bold curls on the red carpet. Moore has also occasionally played with blond highlights, but has not since strayed from a base shade of dark brown.