Keri Russell's Stunning Hair Transformation

It's always fun to watch celebrity hair transformations, but Keri Russell's hair journey is a pop-culture chapter all its own. Oh, and it's also played a huge role in her career. The actor's first TV appearance was on "The Mickey Mouse Club" at just 15 years old, and from day one, she became known for her full head of thick, bouncy curls. But Russell didn't become famous until she landed her breakout role in "Felicity" in 1998, and her unique hair became her claim to fame. 

At the time, few TV characters were known for their naturally curly locks, and since Russell's curls had so much personality that they almost deserved their own acting credit, fans were enthralled. Unfortunately, this would lead to immense backlash when an iconic hair moment known as "Felicity's big chop" happened (we'll get to that). 

True fans know just how much Russell spoke about the aftermath of the incident, and considering her post-"Felicity" portfolio, it's clear that she did everything to break out of her cutesy box, including trying different haircuts and styles until she found her new normal. Her breakout look was just one of many iconic hairstyles she's worn throughout her career, as we've seen her with long curls, short curls, sleek straight hair, cropped cuts, and everything in between. Every hairstyle has marked a new era for her, and honestly, few stars can say the same.

Picture this: You're a budding actor in your early 20s playing a college student who just switched schools for a boy. Everyone adores your long, gorgeous curls — they've become your signature look. But after a breakup with said boy, you and the producers decide it's time for a change: The curls go, and they're replaced by a short cut that's boyish yet still feminine.

If you're Gen Z or a millennial, this probably sounds normal. Breakup haircuts are practically a rite of passage, and the real reason people love changing their look post-breakup is to help them find a new image and identity. Plus, it's not unusual for actors to commit to major hair changes for a role. But when Keri Russell did this as Felicity Porter, the backlash was wild. Ratings dropped, the network president spoke on it, and Russell even received death threats — all because of a haircut. "I did not expect all the hysteria," the actor reflected on the moment to W Magazine in 2017. "I feel like it was so the right move and I'm really glad they did it."

Naturally, the move left a mark on Russell, and she's never forgotten it. During a 2016 segment on "Late Night with Seth Meyers," she was asked to give advice to her younger self, and she didn't hesitate. "Your life is going to be so exciting, but whatever you do, don't cut your hair short during the second season of Felicity. No, I'm serious. People will freak the h*** out. You'll get hate mail. You'll even get death threats. But, gradually, your hair will grow back and your fans will forgive you, but you will never — and I repeat never — forgive your fans" (via E! News).

Eventually, Keri Russell's hair grew back, and her famous curls returned to their thick fullness, though only to shoulder-length. That said, by Season 4 of "Felicity," the show's final season, fans began to notice something different about the titular character's hair. The curls were still there, but not as tight or wild as before. Russell seemed to have softened her natural texture with blowouts. The waves were there, but they had lost her signature bounce. Many fans saw this change as proof that the star was giving in to Hollywood's beauty standards, as the industry had very little representation for naturally curly hair at the time.

When "Felicity" wrapped in 2002, Russell quickly moved on to her next project, "We Were Soldiers." In the film, she played Barbara Geoghegan, the pregnant wife of a young lieutenant who informs other wives when their husbands pass during the war. This character was worlds apart from Felicity, not just in maturity levels but also in looks. Her hair was even straighter, and she had a graveness to her that Felicity hadn't had or needed.

Curly gals know that there are a dozen wrong ways to straighten hair, and by 2005, Keri Russell seemed to be figuring that out in real time. The curls were long gone, replaced by uneven waves that were more playful than polished. This in-between era wasn't as feminine as the curls, but it wasn't as serious as her fully straightened locks, either. You could tell she was in that experimental phase every curly haired girl hits. We can't speak for her, but for us, it was full of testing serums, blowouts, and frustration.

However, it paid off. By 2008, the star of "The Diplomat" had clearly mastered her straight-hair era. Gone were the remnants of her signature curls; now, her new 'do was sleek with a glossy finish and some volume at the crown, and it framed her face and gave her a bit of grown-up glam. At the time, she was also freshly postpartum, as Russell had welcomed her first child, River Russell Deary, in 2007.

Despite all the drama surrounding her first big chop, Keri Russell didn't let it define her. In 2008, she cut her hair again and returned to a wavy bob that framed her face beautifully. That same year, she also gave then-19-year-old Taylor Swift hair advice, according to a MySpace post that the "The Life of a Showgirl" singer shared back then.

"So.. Ben (my banjo player), Grant (my guitar player) and I all got to meet Keri Russell the other night," Swift wrote (via People). "We were playing at the same corporate party she was at. Ok, and I've always been obsessed with her because she rocks the curly hair, and was AMAZING in The Waitress and Felicity. When we met her, she was SO incredibly cool." Swift went on to say that one of her bandmates jokingly asked Russell about her hair routine, and instead of brushing it off, Russell actually wrote it all down — the products, the blow-dryer, everything. Swift ended the post calling her "awesome and cool." Just a year later, Russell went even shorter with a confidence that we absolutely love.

By 2014, Keri Russell had grown her hair out again, but this time, she began blow-drying it religiously. And then in 2017, she revealed her secret weapon: keratin treatments (which made our list of salon services that are worth the splurge, according to reviewers). "I get it once or twice a year, and it's a dream come true. It's everything to a curly haired girl, because you don't have to blow it out, you don't have to do all these things to it — nothing," she told People in 2017. The actor added that it was especially useful since motherhood didn't leave her much time to care for her hair. "It's a life-changer, and a time-saver."

Since then, Russell has settled into her new normal of straight hair. Over the years, she's played around with that look, from slightly wavy tips to bobs and low buns, but none of these tweaks have been as drastic as her curly-to-straight transformation. Ultimately, Russell's hair journey stands out because she refused to stay boxed in. She's tried every version of herself and looked incredible through every phase. Still, if she ever decides to bring back those golden curls, we're all ready to welcome them home.