Audrey Hepburn’s iconic hair color is one of the most recognizable and admired in Hollywood history. Though she tried out a few different shades, her signature brunette hue with honey blonde highlights came to define her glamorous yet approachable screen image.
What was Hepburn’s natural hair color?
Audrey Hepburn was born with dark brown hair that she wore in a short, curly style as a child. As a teenager in the 1940s, she began lightening her hair to a chestnut brown shade. Her natural color can be seen in publicity photos from some of her early films like Roman Holiday and Sabrina.
When did she start lightening her hair?
Hepburn started experimenting with highlights in the 1950s as her fame grew. Celebrity hairstylist Sidney Guilaroff lightened her hair to a warm brown tone with golden highlights for 1954’s Sabrina. The romantic, sophisticated style drew lots of attention and influenced beauty trends of the era.
What inspired her signature brunette hair?
Hepburn’s role as Holly Golightly in 1961’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s cemented her iconic hair color. The character called for a subtle, multi-tonal brown with hints of blonde throughout. Hepburn also trimmed her locks into the now-iconic pixie cut for the part. Her Golightly beauty look continues to inspire cosplayers and fashionistas today.
Did she ever dye her hair blonde?
Though brunette was clearly her color, Hepburn did experiment with blonde over the years. For the 1967 thriller Wait Until Dark, she donned a shoulder-length blonde wig. Ten years later, she went platinum blonde for her role in the 1976 film Robin and Marian. Though chic, critics generally agreed neither blonde shade was the right fit for her complexion.
What products did Hepburn use on her hair?
To maintain her glossy, lightly highlighted hair, Hepburn used gentle cleansers and protein-rich conditioners and treatments. Guilaroff recommended Pantene products and introduced the actress to products like egg creams and hot oil treatments to boost shine and manageability. She typically wore her hair in an unfussy pixie or chignon style.
Did she influence 1950s beauty ideals?
Absolutely. Along with Marilyn Monroe’s platinum blonde bombshell look, Hepburn’s softer, feminine styletap established mainstream standards of beauty in the 1950s. Her sparse eye makeup, defined brows, and neutral lipstick also inspired less dramatic makeup compared to the 1940s. Her influence endures today.
Conclusion
Though she tried out other shades, Audrey Hepburn’s signature look will always be her rich brunette locks with golden highlights. Her breakthrough role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s cemented this elegant yet charming color combination that thousands of women still try to emulate. Along with her makeup and style, Hepburn’s hair epitomized the understated glamour and femininity of mid-century beauty ideals.
| Decade | Hepburn’s Hair Color |
|---|---|
| 1930s | Dark brown |
| 1940s | Chestnut brown |
| 1950s | Golden brown with highlights |
| 1960s | Chocolate brown with blonde |
| 1970s | Platinum blonde wig; brunette |
Audrey Hepburn’s signature hair color evolved over decades in the public eye, but her breakthrough role as Holly Golightly in 1961 established the precise shade of chocolate brown hair with golden blonde highlights that she will forever be remembered for. Her hair color was a perfect complement to her celebrated sense of style and helped solidify her stature as a beloved beauty icon.
Even today, Hepburn’s signature brunette locks remain influential and inspiring. Her color is frequently cited by modern celebrities as hair inspiration and remains a popular request at salons for women seeking a touch of classic Hollywood glamour. There is an enduring aspirational quality to Hepburn’s flawless aesthetic that transcends decades.
While Hepburn tried out soft blonde highlights and shades of platinum blonde for certain film roles, her chocolate brown hair color clearly won out as the most harmonious match for her physical features and personal style. Even slight variations to the precise balance of brown and gold tones she perfected with stylists could throw off the allure.
Her color also benefitted from consistent care. Hepburn used thickening shampoos and nourishing hair masks to maintain the health of her tresses and the vibrancy of her highlights. She was an early devotee of now-popular hair treatments like hot oil conditioning. This diligent hair care regimen allowed her to achieve a look that appeared effortlessly elegant.
Though she became synonymous with her 1950s starlet style, Hepburn’s hair color actually remained largely consistent throughout decades in the limelight. This gave her beauty look an enduring, classic appeal that stood out against bolder makeup and hair trends. When she wore her hair in a flawless pixie cut, pulled back in a tidy chignon, or perfectly coiffed in a shoulder-length bob, her steady color lent sophistication.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s continues to draw legions of loyal fans into the unique charm of that film and Audrey Hepburn’s portrayal of Holly Golightly. Little black dress aside, Golightly’s look would not have possessed the same magic without Hepburn’s beloved brown locks. Indeed, it is almost impossible to separate Hepburn’s face from the precise shade of subtly golden-accented brown hair that completed her image to legendary effect.
Whether in cropped pixie bangs or longer, graceful updos, Audrey Hepburn’s chestnut brown hair with warm blonde highlights perfectly complimented her features. More than a memorable screen look, it became central to her persona. Today it remains an aspirational touchstone for women around the world. Hepburn made an enduring impact on beauty ideals with this specific, balanced combination that looks stunning but not overdone. Her flawless aesthetic reminds us style icons are created through the seamless sum of their parts.
Audrey Hepburn’s brunette mane with golden accents remains a crowning jewel of Old Hollywood elegance. More than any passing trend, her signature color represents timeless femininity and grace. It sprang from her natural beauty rather than artifice. Six decades later, we continue looking to Audrey Hepburn’s flawless hair as inspiration, knowing true style is a precious thing never lost to the ages.
