Daenerys Targaryen, known as Khaleesi and the Mother of Dragons, is one of the most iconic characters in the fantasy series Game of Thrones. Played by actress Emilia Clarke, Daenerys is known for her long, silvery blonde hair which seems to get lighter and lighter as the show progresses. This has led many fans to wonder – did Daenerys bleach her hair? Let’s take a deep dive into the facts and fan theories about the Khaleesi’s famous locks.
Daenerys’ Natural Hair Color
In the Game of Thrones books, Daenerys is described as having silver-gold or platinum blonde hair. This is likely her natural hair color, as it matches the typical Targaryen look. The Targaryens were known for their distinctive hair and eye colors – silver/platinum blonde hair and deep purple eyes. So Daenerys’ pale locks are likely just a manifestation of her Targaryen genes.
Changes Throughout the Seasons
When we first meet Daenerys in season 1, her hair is a relatively natural looking dirty blonde. But as the seasons progress, her hair gets lighter and lighter, eventually becoming almost white. By season 5, there is a very noticeable difference between her season 1 and season 5 hair:
| Season 1 | Season 5 |
|---|---|
 |
 |
So what causes this dramatic lightening over the seasons? Did Daenerys start bleaching her hair? Or are there other explanations?
Was it Bleach?
Many fans believe that the show’s hair and makeup artists gradually bleached Emilia Clarke’s hair more and more to match Daenerys’ ethereal appearance. Bleaching hair very light blonde is damaging, so they may have taken it slowly over several seasons to spread out the damage. Many think Emilia Clarke must have worn wigs in later seasons as her natural hair likely could not handle being so severely bleached.
However, others argue that bleaching would not produce such a stark, icy tone – silver-white bleached hair usually has more yellow/warm undertones. The Khaleesi’s hair has an unnatural icy, moonlight color, leading some to believe it must be wigs.
Wigs
The wig theory suggests that Emilia Clarke wore progressively lighter colored wigs each season to achieve Daenerys’ changing hair color. High quality wigs, especially custom made for lead actors, can look very natural. The wig theory also explains how Emilia Clarke still had healthy brunette locks in real life – avoiding damage from continuous bleaching.
It’s very likely that a combination of bleaching and wigs were used. Her hair may have been lightly bleached in early seasons before switching to Silver/white wigs by later seasons to avoid further damage.
Hair Color Meanings
The progression of Daenerys’ hair color is symbolic of her character progression. Her dirty blonde hair in early seasons represents her innocence and naivety. As she becomes more powerful and gains confidence as Khaleesi and Mother of Dragons, her hair lightens. By season 7-8 when she has fully stepped into her role as conqueror and Queen, her hair is practically glowing platinum. Her icy, otherworldly hair represents her transcendence from helpless girl to powerful Queen.
| Hair Color | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dirty Blonde | Innocence |
| Lighter Blonde | Blossoming Confidence |
| Icy White-blonde | Powerful Queen |
Hair Color in the Books
In the A Song of Ice and Fire books, Daenerys’ hair is described as silver-gold, or silver with gold undertones. While still an unusually light shade, it is not the stark bright white of the show. When picturing book Daenerys, think of a lighter, cooler toned Marilyn Monroe blonde rather than platinum white-blonde.
The show likely made a choice to go with extra light hair not just for symbolic reasons, but for visibility. On screen, soft silver-gold hair could look dirty blonde or light brown in some lighting. The vivid icy platinum locks stand out vividly on screen.
Fan Theories
Some fans have other theories about the meaning of Daenerys’ hair:
- Her hair reflects her proximity to her dragons – the hot dragonfire singes her hair lighter.
- It’s a visual marker of her power – burning anyone who doubts her claim.
- As she gains control of her dragons, their fire magic flows into her and lightens her hair.
These mythical explanations reflect fan fascination with Daenerys’ striking locks. While the reality is likely just bleaching and wigs, fans love to find deeper meaning in this striking visual detail.
Conclusion
So did Daenerys bleach her hair? It’s very likely her actress Emilia Clarke’s hair was artificially lightened over the course of the show through a combination of bleaching, wigs, and hair powder. This achieved the symbolic progression from innocent girl to powerful Khaleesi. While we may never know all the hair secrets, Daenerys’ locks remain one of the most memorable details of the show, intriguing and inspiring fans even years later.