Reese Witherspoon's Vibe Totally Changes When She Swaps Her Iconic Blond Hair For Brunette

Since her breakthrough in the early 1990s, Reese Witherspoon has been known for two things: her Southern charm and her blond locks. But while the former remained a constant through the decades, the latter didn't continuously stick. Yes, as the stunning hair transformation of Reese Witherspoon shows, the actor was brunette, if only for a brief time.

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Side-by-side pics of the actor in 2026 and 2004 showcase just how different Witherspoon looks with dark hair. Nevertheless, the "Legally Blonde" star is actually a natural brunette, even though her shade of brown is slightly lighter than the color she dyed her hair in the mid-2000s. Back then, Witherspoon was starring in the critically acclaimed biopic "Walk the Line" in which she portrayed June Carter Cash. "Of course she is wonderful as a blonde, but brown hair makes her blue eyes pop even more," a fan wrote on Reddit, while another one disagreed, writing, "I prefer brown hair typically but Reese looks much hotter as a blonde."

While Witherspoon dyed her hair back to blond by 2006, the Academy Award-winning actor went dark again in 2013 and 2018. But blond remains her go-to, as the star always goes back to lighter hair. Of course, ensuring your blond color is right for your skin tone and undertone is crucial, but Witherspoon's hairstylist knows what she's doing. "Her name's Lorri Goddard," the actor shared with Allure in 2019. "[She's] taken me from blonde to red to brown, back to blonde. She's meticulous about the balayage process and puts oil on the roots and tips so they don't break. But it takes three hours to have my highlights done, no joke. I go every seven or eight weeks."

While it's hard to imagine Reese Witherspoon as anything but blond, the actor did reveal that she is getting gray hairs. "I'm starting to get gray around the edges of my hairline. Lorri [Goddard] doesn't like to call them grays, though. She says they're 'hyper-blondes,'" the "Big Little Lies" star told Allure. And while many tend to panic when they notice signs of aging, Witherspoon is all about accepting yourself.

"I have a point of view because I've been on this planet for 43 years, and I didn't feel that same way when I was 25. I didn't have the same things to say," she shared in 2019. "I've had a whole bunch of experiences, and I can speak with a thoughtfulness about the changes I'd like to see in the world, and ... I just feel like I earned that gray hair and my fine lines. I like 'em," the star of "The Morning Show" added.

Witherspoon turned 50 in 2026, and while the star is still known for her blended blond highlights, we wouldn't be surprised if she became one of the celebrities who proudly show off their gray hair in the years to come. Considering that blond and brown suit her wonderfully, we have no doubt that the actor would pull off the salt-and-pepper look too.