9 Gorgeous Pics Of Keri Russell's Natural Hair That Gave Us Curl Envy

When Keri Russell starred in the series "Felicity" back in 1998, it may not have been the initial intention, but her hair took center stage. Russell's gorgeous natural curls were something that non-curly-haired people around the world envied. In fact, Russell's curls were so loved by fans, that when it was written into the script that Felicity cut her hair in the show's second season, it basically became a national scandal.

"I did not expect all the hysteria," Russell told W in July 2017, adding that strangers came up to her on the street to tell her she was pretty before the now-infamous haircut. But Russell stood by the showrunners' decision. "I feel like it was so the right move and I'm really glad they did it. What's fascinating about our culture is we like women with long hair ... I love women with short hair. Like their necks, it's such a sensual part of their body."

Although it's been fun to witness Keri Russell's stunning hair transformation, we just can't help but get a case of curl envy when we come across certain photos of her natural locks. After all, not everyone is born with curly hair and, for some people, their hair simply won't hold a curl, regardless of product or tools. Russell may be wearing her hair mostly straight these days, which is also a beautiful look for her, but we're taking a moment to appreciate her hair's natural texture. 

When Keri Russell attended the 1999 MTV Movie Awards, she rocked a super cute updo. Because curly hair naturally comes with a boatload of texture, there are a lot of options when it comes to styling it. As we see here, all Russell did was pile up her curls into what looks like a high ponytail, and yet the result was sophisticated, glamorous, and totally polished. Even the few tendrils left loose around her face look completely intentional. 

In January 1999, Keri Russell attended the 56^th Golden Globe Awards with her famous curls down and free to do what curls often do best: misbehave to the point of being untamable. Having been nominated for her very first Golden Globe that night and winning, it was a major triumph for Russell. So, it's nice she can look back at photos from that event and see her epic curls on display — she definitely had the best hair in Los Angeles that evening.

It's not often that you see a celebrity munching on fast food, but when Keri Russell attended an NBA playoff game in May 2001, she was all about McDonald's. Dressed casually in a denim shirt — curiously matching her friend — Russell's curls are pure perfection. And that's because she's rocking visible layers that provide extra volume. If you have natural curls, you should know the difference between a curly cut and a regular cut, for the health and appearance of your ringlets.

Keri Russell attended the 2002 premiere of "Sweet Home Alabama" in New York City, looking soft and glamorous. Wearing a camel-colored corduroy blazer, Russell's curls were swept back into what appears to be a low ponytail. Whether on purpose, or because the ponytail at the nape of her neck was loose, some curls escaped, creating face-framing tendrils that were trending in the '90s. Tendrils give off a literary romantic vibe which suits Russell very well. 

When Keri Russell attended the 2000 Emmy Awards, her infamous haircut from 1999 was still growing out. While growing out a pixie cut without that awkward in-between phase isn't easy, it looks to us like Russell was doing a fine job of skipping that not-so-great stage — at least for the most part. "It just kind of grew out and was bad," Russell told W, but what we see here is a curly bob having a moment and the woman rocking it looking gorgeous.

At an event in 2000, Keri Russell was photographed in this strapless white dress, mid-conversation, looking beautiful. However, all we notice are her curls. Not only is she pulling off one of the dozens of cuts that complement super curly hair, but it's so darn shiny! Curly hair is notoriously dryer than straight hair and because of that, moisturizing and hydrating it is absolutely essential to keeping it healthy. Whatever Russell was using during this stage of growing out her hair, it was definitely working.

As the 2000s marched on, Keri Russell started to pull away from her ultra-tight ringlets, embracing curls that were more on par with waves. When she attended the premiere of 2005's "The Upside of Anger," it was a major shift for her hair. The long, soft waves felt like a more grown-up version of Russell's signature curls, and she was serving an ethereal, romantic look that paired well with her angelic features. 

For the 2006 Tokyo premiere of "Mission: Impossible III," Keri Russell gave the Renaissance-inspired Botticelli hair trend a try and she nailed it. While not as curly as she wore it in the early 2000s, but definitely much curlier than she was spotted wearing it in 2005, the hair she rocked in Tokyo — style and color — were stunning. The way the curls fall over her shoulders in a loose, carefree way is exactly the style many people wish they had — even those of us who already have natural curls.

It may not be fair to pit curly hair against straight hair, but considering the versatility and range of curly hair, it's definitely created many winning looks for Keri Russell. In December 2008, for the Los Angeles premiere of "Bedtime Stories," Russell arrived with the type of curly-meets-wavy lob that some only dream about. It not only looks soft to the touch, but you can tell it's been cut and styled to have movement, adding to its overall elegance.