Top 25 Actresses with Signature Hairstyles

Hairstyles are often a key part of how actresses create their public image, and they can even come to define fashion and beauty trends for years to come. Certain haircuts and colors become strongly associated with the actresses who wear them, inspiring fans for generations. Throughout the history of film and television, actresses have used their hair as a way to express their characters and build their personal brand. Here’s a list of twenty-five actresses famous for their iconic and memorable hairstyles.

Farrah Fawcett-Majors

Farrah Fawcett became famous worldwide in the 1970s, mainly because of her big, layered, feathered blonde hair. This style, with its soft, swept-back sections framing the face, looked relaxed and natural. During her time on ‘Charlie’s Angels’, countless women visited salons trying to copy it. The hairstyle is still one of the most imitated looks ever, and it strongly represents 1970s American style.

Jennifer Aniston

In the 1990s, Jennifer Aniston’s hairstyle on the TV show ‘Friends’ became a huge trend. Created by stylist Chris McMillan, the layered cut – nicknamed ‘The Rachel’ – was designed to add volume and movement as she grew out her bangs. Millions of women asked their hairdressers to copy the style, even though it took a lot of work to maintain. Later, Aniston switched to long, smooth layers, which also became a signature look for her.

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe is instantly recognizable thanks to her platinum blonde hair and red lipstick. Her carefully styled curls created a glamorous look that made her stand out in movies like ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’. This particular shade of blonde became the standard for many Hollywood stars and still inspires beauty trends today. Maintaining this iconic look took a lot of work, including frequent touch-ups to hide roots and keep the curls perfect.

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn was known for her charming hairstyles, from playful pixie cuts to elegant updos, which perfectly highlighted her features. Her short hair in the film ‘Roman Holiday’ represented her character’s desire for freedom and a modern lifestyle. As her career progressed, she often wore sophisticated styles like high buns and French twists that matched her classic fashion. These looks helped solidify her image as a graceful and simple icon of style during the mid-1900s.

Veronica Lake

Veronica Lake was well-known for her distinctive hairstyle – long, blonde waves that dramatically covered one eye. This alluring look created a sense of mystery and became a signature style in 1940s film noir movies. During World War II, government officials actually asked her to change it because female factory workers were getting hurt trying to copy the style while operating machinery. Even today, the hairstyle serves as a memorable example of how Hollywood fashion can have a real impact on people’s safety.

Louise Brooks

Louise Brooks became famous for making the short, blunt bob haircut a trend in the 1920s. Her sleek, dark hairstyle perfectly captured the independent and energetic spirit of the ‘flapper’ generation. This sharp, geometric style highlighted her eyes and neck, and was a deliberate break from the long, complicated hairstyles of the previous Victorian era. Brooks showed audiences that a bold haircut could project confidence and self-reliance, especially in her silent films.

Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple was the biggest child star ever, instantly recognizable for her fifty-six perfectly formed curls. Her mother carefully styled these curls before every appearance and filming to keep them consistent. During the difficult years of the Great Depression, her hairstyle became a symbol of hope and happiness. Fans loved her so much they could buy dolls and hair accessories to copy her famous look.

Mia Farrow

In the late 1960s, Mia Farrow surprised everyone with a dramatically short pixie haircut. Created by stylist Vidal Sassoon for her role in ‘Rosemary’s Baby’, the cut was a bold move against the long hairstyles popular at the time. It emphasized her features and represented a move towards a more androgynous style. Even today, it’s still considered a classic look for women wanting a striking and freeing change.

Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot popularized the effortlessly tousled, voluminous hairstyle that became a hallmark of French style. She was known for her bouncy, often half-up styles with soft strands around her face, frequently accented with a black ribbon. This look blended a playful, seductive energy with a casual, undone feel – a departure from the more formal hairstyles of earlier eras. Today, stylists still get requests for the ‘Bardot bang’ and her signature teased volume.

Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher will always be remembered for Princess Leia’s iconic cinnamon bun hairstyles in ‘Star Wars’. Director George Lucas based the look on traditional hairstyles worn by Hopi women and Mexican revolutionaries, aiming for a style that felt both historical and otherworldly. The distinctive buns were meant to show Leia’s strength and importance as a leader in the rebellion. The style remains instantly recognizable and is often used in parodies and tributes in popular culture.

Pam Grier

Pam Grier became an icon of the 1970s, representing both the Black Power movement and a new wave in cinema. Her large, natural Afro wasn’t just a hairstyle; it was a proud and politically charged statement, especially in her roles in films like ‘Foxy Brown’. It challenged traditional beauty standards that favored European features and instead celebrated the beauty of natural Black hair. Grier proved that natural hair could be glamorous and empowering on screen.

Meg Ryan

In the 1990s, Meg Ryan became the queen of romantic comedies and also a style icon thanks to her famous haircut, ‘The Shag.’ This textured, layered bob perfectly matched her cheerful personality in movies like ‘French Kiss.’ Interestingly, the look was created by accident! Stylist Sally Hershberger accidentally burned a piece of Ryan’s hair with a curling iron, and the resulting carefree style became hugely popular, with women everywhere copying its fun and youthful vibe.

Lucille Ball

Lucille Ball was famous for her bright red, curly hairstyle, which became a key part of her ‘I Love Lucy’ persona. She used henna to get the unique apricot shade that stood out even on older, black and white TVs. The style, a tight updo with lots of curls, also stayed out of her face during her energetic and physical comedy scenes. By consistently sporting this signature color, she cemented her image as a comedy icon.

Halle Berry

For years, Halle Berry was known in Hollywood for her striking, short, textured pixie cut, which was unusual for a leading actress at the time. The style highlighted her features and allowed her to play many different roles, from glamorous spies to powerful superheroes. She once explained that the haircut actually boosted her career, as it made producers focus on her talent and face rather than long hair. It’s still considered one of the most iconic short hairstyles ever seen on the red carpet.

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts became famous for her big, curly, reddish-brown hair in the movie ‘Pretty Woman’. This natural, voluminous hairstyle became her signature look early in her career and helped create her warm and friendly image. The vibrant red color she wore in the 1990s was a huge influence on hair dye trends. Even though she’s tried different looks like blonde and straight hair, she often comes back to variations of her original curly style.

Goldie Hawn

Goldie Hawn is known for her long blonde hair, styled in a layered shag with face-framing bangs. This relaxed, 1960s-inspired look suited her energetic and playful personality on screen. The bangs highlight her eyes, and the layers give her hair fullness and bounce. Hawn demonstrates how a classic hairstyle can stay beautiful and flattering throughout the years.

Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel is known for her distinctive hairstyle: thick, straight-across bangs and long, dark wavy hair. This classic look is a big part of her unique and vintage style. Her bangs perfectly frame her large blue eyes and have become especially associated with her character, Jess, on the show ‘New Girl’. She’s even said she feels like herself without them, and doesn’t feel recognizable when she doesn’t have her bangs.

Grace Jones

Grace Jones became known for her striking image, largely thanks to a bold, flat-top haircut. Her style blurred traditional gender lines, making her stand out in both fashion and film. The haircut’s sharp lines worked perfectly with her dramatic makeup and clothing. Even today, her look continues to inspire designers and musicians pushing creative boundaries.

Jamie Lee Curtis

Jamie Lee Curtis has rocked a very short, spiky gray pixie cut for years. She chose to embrace her natural hair color and texture, going against the typical Hollywood practice of dyeing gray hair. This style is both easy to manage and fashionable, and it really shows off her confidence and personality. By consistently choosing this look, Curtis has become a role model for natural beauty and self-acceptance.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker is best known for the bouncy, blonde curls she had while playing Carrie Bradshaw on ‘Sex and the City’. Her hair really showed off Carrie’s fun, fashionable personality and New York City lifestyle. Because her hair was so versatile, it could be styled in many ways, from casual buns to smooth, blown-out looks. This inspired a lot of women to wear their natural curls instead of trying to straighten them.

Bo Derek

Bo Derek’s hairstyle in the movie ’10’ – featuring cornrows with beads and blonde extensions – quickly became iconic. It took a long time to create, but sparked a huge trend for braided hairstyles and beach fashion. The image of her running on the beach with those braids remains one of the most famous movie scenes from the late 1970s.

Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor was famous for her striking black hair, which she typically styled in short, curly waves. The dark color beautifully highlighted her violet eyes and pale skin. Her full, glamorous hairstyles during the 1950s and 60s became a symbol of sophistication and maturity, and she often completed the look with luxurious jewelry.

Liza Minnelli

Liza Minnelli’s signature hairstyle was a short, black pixie cut with a unique pointed side. She first adopted this bold look while playing Sally Bowles in ‘Cabaret,’ and it became her trademark style. The cut highlighted her expressive eyes and perfectly complemented her lively performances on stage. It’s a great example of how a haircut can become instantly associated with a performer.

Uma Thurman

Uma Thurman’s character in ‘Pulp Fiction’ brought the sleek black bob with bangs back into style. The sharp haircut helped create a dangerous and cool image for Mia Wallace. While inspired by the hairstyles of early silent film stars, it was given a modern, edgy update for the 1990s. The wig she wore even became a popular Halloween costume and a lasting symbol of cool cinema.

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda’s hairstyle in the film ‘Klute’ and her workout videos sparked a major trend in fitness and fashion. Created by Paul McGregor, the layered, feathered shag was a unisex style that was easy to wear in many different ways. It symbolized a move towards more relaxed, sporty looks for women embracing a new sense of freedom. While often seen as an early version of the mullet, the original shag was known for its sophisticated and stylish shape.

2025-11-19 12:47