10 Times Celeb Hair Transformations Stole The Show On The Red Carpet

Considering that the rich and famous have all the best hairstylists at their disposal, it's not surprising that they often decide to showcase a fun new hair change on a red carpet. And while some decided to go for a dramatic cut because they've always wanted short hair, à la Emma Watson after she finished filming the "Harry Potter" films, others decided to spontaneously match their hair to their fashion choice, like Lady Gaga at the 2019 Golden Globes.

Red carpets have always been known as a place where entertainers flaunt their hair changes, creating a moment that remains a part of pop culture for decades to come. A popular place to showcase their new 'do? The annual Met Gala, where fashion and beauty are at the forefront. Stars like Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift have famously gone platinum blond just before the fete, and their bleached locks have since become cult beauty moments that fans have never forgotten. From film premieres to awards events, these are some of the most significant hair changes that stole the show on red carpets!

Academy Award winner Emma Stone chopped her hair off for the sci-fi film "Bugonia," and she premiered her pixie cut at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards. The look is definitely one of the more memorable ones in the dramatic hair transformation of Emma Stone. 

Given that Stone actually shaved her head for the film, the pixie was already showing quite some growth. "It's been growing out, and it's looking so stunning — very '90s in that nostalgic way," Stone's hairstylist Mara Roszak told Allure (via Harper's Bazaar).

Over the years, Taylor Swift's best and worst red carpet hairstyles have defined her fashion and beauty eras. Among them is also the look she wore to the 2016 Met Gala with the dress code "tech white tie." 

The "Blank Space" star showed up to fashion's biggest night with a platinum blond bob, a dramatic departure from her usual natural-looking shade. However, the musician wore bleached hair only briefly, as she returned to a darker shade of blond in June that year.

In March 2017, Kristen Stewart surprised everyone at the Los Angeles, California, premiere of her mystery thriller "Personal Shopper" with a cool new hairstyle, as the actor swapped her short brown locks for a dramatic platinum blond buzzcut. 

While the stunning hair transformation of Kristen Stewart gave us a multitude of edgy cuts, this might just be her most memorable to date. Stewart admitted that she had always wanted to try short hair. "I've been wanting to do this for a long time, just for novel's sake," she told Today (via Refinery 29).

In 2023, Florence Pugh joined a long list of celebs who shaved their head for a role. The British star cut off all of her hair for her gig in the romance drama "We Live in Time," and she showed off the look at the 2023 Met Gala, where the dress code was "In honor of Karl." 

In 2024, Pugh talked to British Vogue about the hairstyle. "[Shaving] it was really bizarre," she admitted. "My head was so sensitive and so many people were trying to touch it and it was so alive."

When Billie Eilish set foot on the 2021 Met Gala red carpet, all eyes were on the musician's hair. The "Happier Than Ever" singer replaced her signature black-and-green hue with a platinum blond bob, channeling a Marilyn Monroe-inspired aesthetic for the night's dress code, "American Independence." 

Nevertheless, in a 2024 conversation with Rolling Stone, the star admitted that she didn't like the brighter locks. "I dyed my hair blond and I immediately was like, 'Oh, I have no idea who I am,'" the singer shared.

In 2015, former Disney Channel star Zendaya showed up to the Academy Awards rocking locs styled in a half-updo, paying homage to her African American heritage. The traditional hairstyle was infamously disrespected by Giuliana Rancic on "Fashion Police," and Zendaya took to social media to reply to Rancic's comments. 

"To say that an 18-year-old young woman with locs must smell of patchouli oil or 'weed' is not only a large stereotype but outrageously offensive," she wrote on Instagram, adding, "I don't usually feel the need to respond to negative things but certain remarks cannot go unchecked."

If there's one thing that Lady Gaga's biggest fashion risks have taught us, it's that the star loves to shock with her appearance. In 2019, the "Bad Romance" singer showed up at the Golden Globe Awards in a periwinkle blue gown with matching blue hair. 

Speaking to Allure, Sarah Tanno, the star's makeup artist, shared that the decision was spontaneous. "The color of the Valentino gown was the most beautiful shade of periwinkle [and] she loved the idea of incorporating the color of the dress into her hair and makeup," Tanno explained.

Nobody could have predicted that Emma Watson would cut her long brown hair into a pixie after she finished filming the last installment of "Harry Potter." Nevertheless, the British star embraced the transformation, showcasing it at the November 2011 premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" in London, England. 

Prior to the red carpet, she shared the transformation on Facebook (via Daily News), writing, "Cut my hair off a few days ago ... Feels incredible. I love it. I've wanted to do this for years and years; it's the most liberating thing ever."

Rihanna has been known for her influence on fashion and beauty, constantly changing her look and setting the trends. Looking at the stunning hair transformation of Rihanna, it's difficult to imagine that the "Diamonds" singer could surprise us with a new aesthetic. But in June 2024, she did just that. 

RiRi showed up to the launch of her haircare brand Fenty Hair rocking a pixie. "Falling in love with my hair again was the biggest inspiration for me to create this brand," she shared on the podcast "Couch by Lena Situations."

With "Gilded Glamour and White Tie" as the official dress code for the 2022 Met Gala, Kim Kardashian decided to go all out and swapped her signature dark hair for platinum blond locks. 

Wearing a vintage dress previously worn by Marilyn Monroe, the reality star stunned in a sleek platinum-blond bun. "I did want a physical change, too, so I thought I would wait and do it for this, so I'm spending a day straight dyeing my hair — 14 hours straight — to get it done," Kardashian shared with Vogue.