Blake Lively may take bold risks with fashion, but when it comes to her hair, she prefers to play it safe. Known for her long, golden locks, the actor has kept her signature style throughout many of her most iconic roles — from Serena van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl to Bridget Vreeland in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
“I never changed my hair much. I have a look that I like, and it became quite distinct to me,” Lively told Harper’s Bazaar U.K. It’s not hard to see why. Her soft waves and sunny blonde color have become part of her public identity.
However, Lively has stepped far outside her comfort zone for select roles. In the 2020 thriller The Rhythm Section, she appeared almost unrecognizable. In one scene, she wore a jaw-length, bowl-cut wig in a dull, mousy blond shade. The cut featured uneven bangs and longer pieces framing her face, a dramatic departure from her usual glamorous look.
She also donned a second, even more drastic hairstyle in the same film — a shaggy black wig with choppy bangs and lifeless texture. The deep color drained her complexion, contrasting sharply with her usual sun-kissed glow.
Many fans were shocked by the change. One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “Oh my Blake, that does not look like you! Had to take a double look!!” But Lively explained that the transformation was part of the story. Speaking to Vanity Fair, she said, “The whole point is, she’s not supposed to look sexy. She’s a real human who’s experienced tragedy and is terrified. But it was fun to look completely different.”
Outside of film roles, Lively has rarely strayed from her trademark style. In 2017, she appeared with what looked like a trendy lob, but it was actually a carefully crafted illusion. Hairstylist Rod Ortega used pins to tuck her hair under, telling InStyle, “The reason it looks real is because the faux bob isn’t so helmet-y. It’s loose.”
Despite the occasional style switch, a real haircut seems unlikely. In a 2014 interview with Hello! (via Daily Mail), Lively explained, “Honestly I am a shy person and my hair is a safety net for me, so I love to have it down and full and relaxed.”
For Blake Lively, hair is more than a look — it’s a comfort zone. And while fans may be curious to see her switch it up more often, her classic blonde waves aren’t going anywhere.
