Modern Family Star Ariel Winter's Whole Look Changed When She Switched Up Her Signature Hair

"Modern Family" star Ariel Winter has had a stunning transformation over the years, from gracing our screens as an adolescent actress to a young adult on our social feeds. But, for Winter, much of her beauty evolution stems from her hair, which has changed many times over the years. When fans first met the actor as Alex Dunphy in 2009, her signature look included pin-straight, armpit-length black hair, even though her natural hair color is dirty blond. In the early seasons of "Modern Family," Winter's sleek style was synonymous with her character's studious persona, in contrast to her carefree, fun-loving on-screen sister, Haley Dunphy, played by Sarah Hyland, who has also undergone a complete transformation.

arielwinter/Instagram

However, in July 2020, Winter embraced one of the pandemic's biggest beauty trends. Following in the footsteps of Kaia Gerber, Emily Ratajkowski, and Kylie Jenner, the actor debuted striking, icy platinum-blond hair. She showed off her new look on Instagram with a photo captioned, "Winter Is Coming!!!!!!!!!!!" The caption is a reference to "Game of Thrones," and she could certainly pass for a Targaryen. Given Winter's naturally dark eyes and fair complexion, the new shade created a striking contrast that completely transformed her appearance. However, we would argue that the dramatic color shift slightly washed her out instead of enhancing her features, not to mention that maintaining platinum-blond hair is more expensive and difficult than most people think.

Many of the "Modern Family" women are gorgeous with their natural hair color, and so is Ariel Winter. Nonetheless, the actor has made major color changes numerous times since 2019. Winter debuted her first red hair look in May 2019, though it's unclear if it was a wig, because just a few months later, she was back to deep brunette. 2020 was Winter's year of light, bright colors, and sharing her last brown hair post of the year in February, she wrote, "Bye-bye dark hair ... I don't think I'll miss you." 

According to the actor, the first time she lightened up her hair, it was a welcome surprise. "The day after I dyed it, I felt like a different person. I walked past my bathroom mirror and was like, 'Oh my god! Who's in my bathroom?' ... But I love it. It's my favorite style I've done so far," she told Allure. In addition to her icy blond look, the actor also rocked strawberry blond and a fun pastel pink in 2020. Over the following years, Winter went back and forth between red and blond hair a few times.

By July 2024, however, the actor returned to her familiar dark brown shade, only to make another change in December 2025. This time, she opted for a light-brown base with soft golden highlights. The dimensional color added warmth and brightness while maintaining a more natural feel than her previous blond transformations. Winter still experiments with her look because for her (and most of us, too), a trip to the salon leaves her feeling refreshed and reignited. "Every time I come out of getting my hair done, I feel like a new woman," she told People.