Contents
- 1 Robin Wright, 'The Princess Bride'
- 2 Diana Ross, 'Mahogany'
- 3 Mia Farrow, 'Rosemary's Baby'
- 4 Sharon Stone, 'Casino'
- 5 Rachel Weisz, 'The Mummy'
- 6 The Entire Cast, 'Black Panther'
- 7 Brigitte Bardot, 'Le Mèpris'
- 8 Natalie Portman, 'Closer'
- 9 Pam Grier, 'Foxy Brown'
- 10 Uma Thurman, 'Pulp Fiction'
- 11 Anna May Wong, 'Shanghai Express'
- 12 Julia Roberts, 'Mystic Pizza'
- 13 Whoopi Goldberg, 'Ghost'
- 14 Winona Ryder, 'Beetlejuice'
- 15 Milla Jojovich, 'The Fifth Element'
- 16 Angelina Jolie, Girl, 'Interrupted'
- 17 Rita Hayworth, 'Gilda'
- 18 Halle Berry, 'B.A.P.S.'
- 19 Cameron Diaz, 'There's Something About Mary'
- 20 Janet Jackson, 'Poetic Justice'
- 21 Rachel McAdams, 'Mean Girls'
- 22 Kirsten Dunst, 'Marie Antoinette'
- 23 Penelope Cruz, 'Vanilla Sky'
- 24 Carrie Fisher, 'Star Wars'
- 25 Michelle Pfeiffer, 'Scarface'
- 26 Audrey Hepburn, 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'
- 27 Kate Winslet, 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'
- 28 Grace Jones, 'A View to a Kill'
- 29 Demi Moore, 'G.I. Jane'
- 30 Alicia Silverstone and Stacey Dash, 'Clueless'
An unforgettable character and an expressive beauty look often go hand in hand, which is what makes hairstyles from movies so memorable. From pixies that define an era to aspirational blowouts to hair that serves as symbolism, cinematic manes function as vehicles to better tell an onscreen story.
“The way hair is styled in movies helps to communicate a character or a feeling—it accentuates a vibe that a producer and director might be trying to get across,” says hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons. “A unique element, be it a short fringe, a unique color, over-use of a product like gel, etc., helps to establish characters and their personality.” We couldn’t agree more.
Here are 30 hairstyles from movies we'll remember forever.
Robin Wright, 'The Princess Bride'
As far as movie manes go, Robin Wright's blonde cascade in The Princess Bride is difficult to beat. And while her turn as forced royalty may come with a luxurious wardrobe, we prefer her waves loose and brushed out to textured perfection.
Diana Ross, 'Mahogany'
“Diana Ross stunned in a bouncy, voluminous blowout to play fashion designer Tracy Chambers in Mahogany,” says Fitzsimons. “Ross’s hair is set in a deep side part, which helps bring out the glamour of the style.” To achieve on your own terms, Fitzsimons recommends applying a mousse or volume spray to achieve maximum hold from your heat tools. “You’ll also want to use a liberal amount of hairspray and shine spray to finish the look.”
Mia Farrow, 'Rosemary's Baby'
One cannot talk movie hair without mentioning Mia Farrow's sweet, gamine pixie, cut for her character in Rosemary's Baby. The chop remains a primary inspiration point for many going short for the first time and provided a pure and innocent juxtaposition to the film's more sinister events.
Sharon Stone, 'Casino'
Fans of the mob wife aesthetic would do well to look to Sharon Stone’s beauty throughout 1995’s Casino. “This is such an iconic mob wife look,” says Jennifer Matos of Rita Hazan. “It’s a classic half-up, half-down style that you can achieve with a flat brush and a flexible hairspray.”
Rachel Weisz, 'The Mummy'
Brendan Fraser is great, but I consider Rachel's Weisz's tumble of brunette to be the true star of The Mummy. The romanticism of her soft curls is heightened via the French girl fringe, a luxurious hair moment that makes us want to ditch all cuts in favor of a fully committed grow-out.
The Entire Cast, 'Black Panther'
The hair looks throughout the Black Panther franchise speak volumes, with head tattoos, natural texture, braids, and coils exuding power, culture, and pride.
Brigitte Bardot, 'Le Mèpris'
"Brigitte Bardot’s black wig in Le Mèpris was voluminous and edgy, a stark departure from her typical blonde locks," says Fitzsimons. "The cheek-grazing black bob was full of volume, and flattered Bardot’s face shape." The film also features Bardot's signature blonde pushed back by an oversized black headband, making for iconic hair looks all around.
Natalie Portman, 'Closer'
Throughout Closer, it becomes quite clear that Natalie Portman's Alice Ayres is not entirely sure who she is, a reality best represented by the wigs worn when she's performing. This is particularly true of this bubblegum pink, donned for a scene that reveals more about her character than perhaps any other.
Pam Grier, 'Foxy Brown'
Foxy Brown is an all-out celebration of 1970s hair, but Pam Grier's buoyant Afro is a symbol of the times and a much larger movement.
Uma Thurman, 'Pulp Fiction'
Uma Thurman's (or Mia Wallace's) onyx and banged bob in Pulp Fiction makes her vignette all the more memorable, for better or for worse.
Anna May Wong, 'Shanghai Express'
“I absolutely love the way Anna May Wong’s long loose waves and choppy bangs in Shanghai Express. They have this duality where it’s soft and romantic yet still edgy and cool with a choppy short fringe,” says Fitzsimons. “To really nail this look, I recommend adding Bellami extensions to achieve the dramatic length that Anna May has, then taking a hair serum or oil to the bangs to give it that sleek look. The lengths of the hair can be tousled with texture spray to help things look more lived-in.”
Julia Roberts, 'Mystic Pizza'
Julia Robert's auburn curls have been winning hearts since the late '80s, and her Mystic Pizza mane is the ultimate in freeform (and free-spirited) glamour.
Whoopi Goldberg, 'Ghost'
"You're in danger, girl," But don't worry, Whoopi Goldberg's feathered mullet can save you.
Winona Ryder, 'Beetlejuice'
Winona Ryder may be associated with '90s-style insouciance, but her turn as Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice is all about this piecey, complicated goth-girl updo.
Milla Jojovich, 'The Fifth Element'
"I really do believe red tones are the look for 2024, and I am obsessed with this bold, blunt, and fiery bob Mila wore in The Fifth Element," says Fitzsimons. "The precision cut and vibrant color perfectly pair with the sci-fi angle of this film."
To get the look, Fitzsimons suggests starting with a precise bob snipped to accentuate the jawline. “There’s a lot of texture and definition, which leans more editorial,” he says. “For an everyday iteration of this, opt for a French girl chop and style with texture and shine sprays.”
Angelina Jolie, Girl, 'Interrupted'
Angelina Jolie's frizzy, baby-banged blonde in Girl, Interrupted is artfully, almost strategically, unhinged.
Rita Hayworth, 'Gilda'
“Rita Hayworth’s hair in Gilda is pure Old Hollywood glam,” effuses Fitzsimons. “Hayworth’s perfectly tousled curls are styled in a deep side part, which helps to amplify that effortless volume. To maintain the volume, opt for a soft hold hairspray to keep the curls shape while also allowing them to have movement.”
Halle Berry, 'B.A.P.S.'
The hair in this film deserves more attention. Period.
Cameron Diaz, 'There's Something About Mary'
Cameron Diaz's There's Something About Mary bob is a '90s dream, cut to rounded, face-framing, and polished perfection. A chop that can look amazing even when finished in less-than-desirable hair products is a forever kind of style.
Janet Jackson, 'Poetic Justice'
"Janet Jackson’s iconic box braid style in Poetic Justice was really a moment, which led to braids truly becoming her signature look," says Fitzsimons.
Rachel McAdams, 'Mean Girls'
While Gretchen's hair may be full of secrets, Regina George's pin-straight bleach blonde is immediately recognizable, an embodiment of the era's interpretation of status and popularity.
Kirsten Dunst, 'Marie Antoinette'
Kirsten Dunst's journey throughout Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette is reflected by her hair, which grows in height and intricacy throughout the film.
Penelope Cruz, 'Vanilla Sky'
Penelope Cruz's long brunette mane in Vanilla Sky is memorable whether worn loose or raked into a tousled updo. “This is a dreamy straight blow dry with classic curtain bangs,” says Matos. “Another example of less is more when it comes to hair in movies.”
Carrie Fisher, 'Star Wars'
Behold! The original space buns.
Michelle Pfeiffer, 'Scarface'
Michelle Pfeiffer’s banged bob in Scarface is the mother of all polished bobs. “This is a classic round brush blowout and one of my favorite looks for short hair,” says Matos. Volume and shine are essentials for this style, and Matos suggests reaching for Rita Hazan’s Lifting Spray and Smoothing Crème for maximum gloss and swing.
Audrey Hepburn, 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'
Holly Golightly's tiara-topped bouffant is a beacon of sophistication, glamour, and the power of playing dress-up.
Kate Winslet, 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'
Kate Winslet's hair in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is an external representation of her inner world: an ever-shifting riot of unnatural, vivid, and undone colors. The atomic orange (pictured) and rooty cerulean are perhaps the most synonymous with her character, Clementine, and make a case for going fantasy-hued instead of blonde.
Grace Jones, 'A View to a Kill'
“In A View to a Kill, Grace Jones is seen wearing her signature flattop look, cut cropped close to the sides as a high fade," says Fitzsimons. "This androgynous look, while leaning masculine, also complemented her bone structure and facial features so well! The key to this look is maintenance with a barber and using a strong hold spray to maintain the structure of the look.”
Demi Moore, 'G.I. Jane'
Demi Moore's G.I. Jane hair (or lack thereof) is among the most popular prototypes for the cool-girl buzz cut that has gained popularity over the past decade. Getting the look is simple: all you have to do is shave your head.
Alicia Silverstone and Stacey Dash, 'Clueless'
Cher and Dionne are stronger as a team, and the same can be said of their hair. In every scene in which the two are featured, the duo's lengths—a blonde blowout and box braids—eat up their surroundings.