Angelina Jolie has built much of her public persona around her striking appearance, particularly her iconic dark, voluminous hair. Over the years, she has embraced a range of daring hair transformations that have surprised fans and redefined her look. From pixie cuts to retro Hollywood curls, Jolie’s evolving hairstyles have showcased her fearless approach to style and self-expression, making her nearly unrecognizable at times.
Her willingness to experiment with different hair colors and cuts corresponds with significant moments in both her career and personal life, underlining the importance of these changes as part of her broader artistic and emotional journey.
Defining an Era with the Pixie Cut in Hackers
Angelina Jolie’s major breakthrough came with the 1995 film Hackers. Playing Kate Libby, nicknamed Acid Burn, Jolie sported a sharp, short pixie cut that perfectly matched her character’s edgy and rebellious nature. This dark pixie style quickly became one of the most memorable elements of the cult classic, highlighting Jolie’s boldness early in her career and revitalizing the pixie cut trend in the ’90s.
The Blonde Radiance at the Eddington Premiere
In May 2025, Jolie displayed a dramatic shift from her signature dark hair by emerging with bright blonde locks at the Cannes Film Festival in France. She stunned on the red carpet during the world premiere of director Ari Aster’s dark comedy Eddington, wearing an ivory gown that complemented her fresh, summery hairstyle. Although she was not involved in the film, her appearance at this event with a lighter, warmer hair tone marked a notable departure and sparked speculation that her evolving look could be linked to personal changes following her divorce from Brad Pitt.
Channeling Old Hollywood Glamour with Golden Curls
Angelina Jolie surprised audiences in February 1999 at the National Board of Review Awards in New York City with a hairstyle inspired by Marilyn Monroe. Her golden, flawless curls evoked the essence of Hollywood’s Golden Age, delivering a glamorous, vintage vibe far removed from her typical edgy style. This look accompanied her award win for Best Breakthrough Performance by an Actress and remains an iconic moment in her career.
Shaving It All Off for the Role of Gia
For the biographical drama Gia, in which Jolie portrayed supermodel Gia Carangi, she drastically altered her appearance by shaving her head to depict the devastating effects of illness and addiction. Jolie described this experience as liberating, explaining,
“I was sick in the film, so I had to look like I had no … [like I was] losing hair. So, I shaved it off with a razor, and I kind of loved it,”
—Angelina Jolie, Actress
“It was kind of freeing to feel like hair doesn’t matter, and get rid of it.”
—Angelina Jolie, Actress
Fiery Red Bob Cut for Playing By Heart
In 1998’s Playing By Heart, Jolie embraced a fiery red bob hairstyle to perfectly match her role as the vivacious Joan, a club-going party girl. Her sleek bob was a sharp contrast to the punk-inspired teal spikes of co-star Ryan Phillippe’s character, Keenan. This period marked a distinct phase featuring shorter styles that diverged from her later signature long, dark hair, underlining her versatility as an actress and style icon.
Youthful Innocence with Loose Dark Curls
As the daughter of actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand, Angelina Jolie began her career early, gradually adopting various looks that reflected her growth. One of her earliest appearances, a professional headshot from 1991 taken when she was 16, showed her with long, loose dark curls that gave her a soft, innocent appearance. This nostalgic style contrasted sharply with the rebellious, punk-influenced aesthetics she would later embrace.
Natural Blonde Waves at the 2024 AFI Fest
In 2024, Jolie revealed another remarkable transformation by sporting a frizzy, curly, dirty blonde hairstyle on the red carpet for the premiere of her film Maria at the AFI Fest. This light and natural look suggested optimism and evolution, as it followed her admission to Vogue about still discovering her personal style amid changes in her life. Jolie reflected on this phase candidly, stating,
“I wonder if I don’t know what my style is because I’m still understanding who I am at 48,”
—Angelina Jolie, Actress
“I guess I’m in transition as a person.”
—Angelina Jolie, Actress
Impact and Reflection of Jolie’s Hairstyles Over Time
Angelina Jolie’s hairstyle transformations have not only illustrated her adaptability and courage but have also mirrored shifts in her personal journey and professional challenges. Each change, whether a dramatic haircut or a bold new color, acted as a form of self-expression that captivated fans and media alike. These transformations underscore her status as both an enduring icon and a woman unafraid of evolution.
Looking ahead, Jolie’s hairstyles will likely continue to evolve alongside her career and life experiences, symbolizing her ever-changing identity and creative energy.
