Mariska Hargitay's Stunning Hair Transformation

You may not be a fan of the "Law & Order" franchise, but you probably know that actor Mariska Hargitay fits into it somewhere. She's played the lead role of detective Olivia Benson on the "Special Victims Unit" ("SVU") spin-off since 1999. Amazingly, the award-winning series has aired 26 seasons so far, and Hargitay continues to extend her tenure as the longest-running character on television. Not only does she seem like a perfect fit for the role, but she's also well-rewarded for it. Did you know she's the highest-paid actor on TV?

Hopefully, most of us don't relate to the often-horrendous storylines that detective Benson has to confront, but we can relate more to the lead character's personal life because the writers and producers have included Hargitay's actual backstory at points, including writing an injury into the show. Even her hairstyles have been a talking point, as they would be IRL. As Hargitay told TV Insider in 2018, "Like any woman, Olivia is trying to find the hairstyle that fits her life. I stand behind all my hairdos, except maybe three." We would definitely say that Hargitay's hair transformation has been stunning, but we might even go so far as to call it legendary, like the actor herself.

Mariska Hargitay was born in 1964 to Hollywood icon Jayne Mansfield, who sadly died in a car accident just three years after giving birth to Hargitay. Though she grew up in L.A., competed in beauty pageants, and had bit parts on TV shows and movies, it wasn't until she was in her mid-30s that she landed a life-changing opportunity. In 1999, at the age of 35, that all changed when she was offered the lead role on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."

A natural brunette who's always had a penchant for bangs, Hargitay began her turn as detective Olivia Benson with a bob in a rich, chocolate shade. We called this vintage brunette one of our favorite hair colors in winter 2024 and stand by it. And while she had the rich espresso hue for her first three-and-a-half decades of life, it didn't last long once she was a household name.

In the summer of 2000, Mariska Hargitay debuted a choppy pixie cut, which suited the grittiness of her character's world on "Law & Order." In August 2001, she took the look to the next level with a dye job. The messy, blond pixie was short-lived, however; by the fall, she was veering into darker territory, demonstrating how to go from blond to brown hair seamlessly. The crop was more subdued, as well, with the star wearing it in sleeker styles.

Although she didn't share if this was the instance, she told TV Insider years later that one haircut almost landed her jobless. "After one shoot, the hairdresser, who was French, wanted to trim my hair," she told the outlet. "So he's drinking wine and cutting, and when I looked up from my magazine, I just went, 'This is not good.' [Show creator] Dick [Wolf] told me he was going to fire me." Thankfully, the threat didn't come to anything, and it just meant that Hargitay started her hair-growth journey.

Major kudos to Mariska Hargitay's hairstylist for being a pro at styling pixie cuts for every occasion. As the actor's chop grew out, the "Law & Order" star demonstrated how to wear short hair in a variety of ways, including with volume and a flower accessory, which actually looked like an updo. She wore the look at the 2004 SAG awards and repeated it again for that year's Emmys.

By 2006, she was wearing her hair to the shoulder. (Her pregnancy that year might've even assisted her hair growth.) It also appears that this is when she started leaning into hair extensions, adding extra length to her tresses for red carpet occasions. For the 2006 Emmys, where she won the best actress award, Hargitay opted for a sleek, straight style and a long fringe. It was a sexy, youthful choice for the then-42 year old.

The next dozen years proved again that Mariska Hargitay isn't afraid of variety when it comes to transforming her hairstyles. While many longtime actors, like Jennifer Aniston and Blake Lively, have relied on tried-and-true looks throughout their careers, Hargitay has been more open to experimentation. In 2007, she bid adieu to her long length and went back to a short hairstyle, this time with a graduated bob. The look felt very of-the-moment, as Victoria Beckham had made it a major trend when she debuted the hairstyle in 2006.

Olivia Benson also sampled various hair colors in this era. For the 16th season of "SVU," which aired in 2014, her hair was a color close to her natural brunette hue, but more often than not, she leaned into caramel highlights. It was also in this time period that she began wearing her hair in beachy waves, a look she continued to rely on for years to come.

When it came to the 2020s, there was one consistent element in Mariska Hargitay's hair: length. Like many of us who let their locks grow out in the COVID-19 era, Hargitay consistently kept her length longer than ever before; she's clearly enjoying long tresses, which could be courtesy of hair extensions.

Hargitay, who turned 61 at the beginning of 2025, is one of the many women in Hollywood who are embracing long lengths in their sixth and seventh decades of life. She joins Demi Moore (62), Angela Bassett (66), Andie MacDowell (67), Julianne Moore (64), Cher (79), and Sarah Jessica Parker (60), who are all showing how gorgeous long, healthy hair can look on mature women. As Hollywood's highest-paid TV actor proves, the mandate that women need to chop their hair as they age is as outdated as the notion that men should earn higher paychecks.