The most famous redheads of all time (natural or not) have one thing in common: Their hair color makes a statement. And this year seems to be the year of the bold, fiery hair color.
The trend has gained traction in recent years, with everybody from the Hadids and Kendall Jenner to Zendaya and Pamela Anderson all transitioning to variants of red for a quick and spicy season before returning to their natural shades.
These days, the switch to ginger or copper is less of a bid for transient warmth and more of a natural choice supported by an evolving palette of colors (cowboy copper, cinnamon cookie butter, the names go on and on). But though redheads’ breadth is something new, the iconic color is not—and the mane shade has always been worthy of attention and individuation.
As the rarest of the natural hair tones, red is effortlessly eye-catching, its iterations reminiscent of glowing embers, exposed brick, or a finely aged glass of Bordeaux. And the personalities famous for their fiery manes are equally memorable. From Lucille Ball’s gingered coifs to Halle Bailey’s Little Mermaid locs, these redheads prove that the hue has major staying power.
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Gigi Hadid
At the 2021 Met Gala, Gigi Hadid channeled Jessica Rabbit with her retro look. Hairstylist Esther Langham styled Hadid's long hair into a thick, high-slung ponytail with a crystal-embellished Prada logo barrette.
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Riley Keough
Red looks good on Riley Keough. The actor famously opted for the fiery shade for her role in Daisy Jones & the Six, and it easily tops the list as one of her best looks.
Photographed by Annie Leibovitz, Vogue, August 20143/70Jessica Chastain
“I’ve never dyed my hair,” Jessica Chastain told Vogue in its August 2014 issue. Here, Chastain joins other famous redheads in a photoshoot celebrating the hair color.
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Lynn Yaeger
To call Vogue contributing editor Lynn Yaeger's vibrant red hair iconic is an understatement. The blunt bob, which Yaeger told Into the Gloss that she dyes and cuts herself, has become the writer's signature look for years. For upkeep, she said dyes it every four weeks.
Photo: Courtesy of RCA Records5/70David Bowie
For his fifth studio album, “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars,” David Bowie not only adopted a new alter ego but a completely new look, too. The 1970s marked David Bowie's red hair era. Spiked and styled into a mullet-like shape, Bowie's red hair sits in the hall of fame of most iconic rock star looks of all time.
Photo: 20th Century Fox/Photofest6/70Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge (2001)
Give us a Baz Luhrmann production any day, but Nicole Kidman as Satine in Moulin Rouge holds a very special place in our hearts. Kidman's fiery red hair and decadent costumes are just as—if not more—memorable as the dreamy musical numbers.
Photo: Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images7/70George Gower, Elizabeth I, 1588
Arguably the most famous depiction of Queen Elizabeth I, the Armada portrait shows Elizabeth in all her glory. It symbolizes her defeat of the Spanish Armada, but also showcases her regal, bright red curls.
Photo: Courtesy of ABC8/70Wilma and Pebbles of The Flintstones
Styled in a top knot and curled bangs, Wilma and Pebbles have been serving chic red hair since the Stone Age.
9/70Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman (1990)
Though Julia Roberts' natural hair is dark blonde, she's most known for her luscious red hair. And the shopping scene on Rodeo Drive with her cool girl curls and cutout dress? Iconic.
Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Getty Images10/70Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis in Thelma and Louise (1991)
Everyone's favorite redhead outlaws, Thelma and Louise are the ultimate partners in crime.
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Marcia Cross
A natural redhead, Marcia Cross wears her signature shade bold and fiery. Our personal favorite red hair era is her Desperate Housewives days, but the actor never goes wrong in the hair department.
Photo: Rex12/70Bette Davis
Bette Davis is more known for her ash blonde hair, but this rare photo of the Old Hollywood great in 1938 shows the actor in strawberry red waves.
Photo: Mary Evans/Warner Bros. Turner Entertainment/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection13/70Judy Garland and Billie Burke in The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Judy Garland and Billie Burke showcased different shades of red hair in the classic film. While Burke had naturally reddish-blonde hair, Judy Garland was actually naturally brunette and wore auburn extensions while filming.
Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images14/70Rita Hayworth
Early in her career, executives convinced Rita Hayworth to dye her naturally dark hair red. The result was a fiery shade that many still reference to this day.
Photographed by Irving Penn, Vogue, May 195515/70Suzy Parker
Model and actor Suzy Parker was a Vogue mainstay in the 1950s. Of her many covers, this one shot by Irving Penn has her strawberry red hair peeking out of a striped towel draped over her head in classic Old Hollywood makeup for a glam beach shot.
16/70Gustav Klimt, Lady with Hat and Feather Boa, 1909
This portrait marked Klimt's few experiments with darker tones and shades of black, which he rarely used in his other famous works. The subject's red hair provides a nice contrast against the dark hat and boa for a mysterious and alluring vibe that we can't stop thinking about.
Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros.17/70Tina Louise in Gilligan’s Island (1964)
Tina Louise played Ginger Grant on Gilligan's Island, where she wore her red hair in the quintessential '60s bouffant.
Photo: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images18/70Ann-Margret
Ann-Margret's role in the classic musical Bye Bye Birdie cemented her status as a 1960s star. Fun fact: the actor's signature red hair is not natural. The idea to dye it red came from Sydney Guilaroff, the first stylist to get styling credit in film.
Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox19/70Raquel Welch in One Million Years B.C. (1966)
Though Raquel Welch's role in One Million Years B.C. only consisted of a few lines, this scene of her wearing a deer skin bikini and long red hair made her the ultimate '60s pin-up girl. This movie poster went on to become one of the most popular ones to date.
Photo: KMazur/WireImage20/70Axl Rose
Axl Rose has one of the best discographies and hair in rock music. The lead singer of Guns N' Roses is known for his long ginger strands, which he's worn blown out, teased, with bangs, and countless hair accessories for the most fun looks.
Photo: Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images21/70Lucille Ball
We can also credit Lucille Ball's signature red hair to hairstylist Sydney Guilaroff. Ball went from her natural brown hair to a more vibrant hue for her most memorable roles, including I Love Lucy.
Photo: Sergio Gaudenti/Kipa/Corbis22/70Sonia Rykiel
Sonia Rykiel's signature red bob with blunt fringe is forever etched in our memories whenever we think of the beloved designer. The first show after Rykiel's passing in 2016 showcased models wearing the same flame-color hair in her honor.
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Ice Spice
A change from her signature ginger afro, Ice Spice wears her bright red hair sleek and long.
Photo: Universal Pictures/Getty Images24/70Molly Ringwald in The Breakfast Club (1985)
The queen of John Hughes' iconic teen films, Molly Ringwald is revered as a redhead—even if it isn't her natural hair color. It's impossible to pick a favorite moment of the actor with her signature hairdo, but The Breakfast Club ranks high.
Photo: Buena Vista Pictures/ Courtesy: Everett Collection25/70Jessica Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Cartoon or not, Jessica Rabbit is one of the biggest on-screen sirens in recent history. We love the drama of the long blue opera gloves, body-hugging strapless dress, and the Old Hollywood glam red hair.
Photo: Walt Disney Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection26/70Ariel in The Little Mermaid (1989)
We can't talk about famous redhead cartoons without talking about The Little Mermaid. Ariel's red hair is long, luscious, and so striking.
Photo: Mark Seliger/ABC via Getty Images27/70Claire Danes in My So Called Life (1994)
Claire Danes not only won her first Golden Globe for her role in My So Called Life, but she also gave us one of her most iconic looks as angsty teen Angela Chase. Nothing defines the '90s like her rounded red lob.
Photo: New Line Cinema/Photofest28/70Julianne Moore in Boogie Nights (1997)
As Amber Waves in Boogie Nights, Julianne Moore not only gave one of her most iconic performances (the role earned her an Oscar, SAG, and Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actress), but also served up '70s red hair inspo.
29/70Amedeo Modigliani, The Woman with Red Hair, 1917
Artist Amedeo Modigliani is known for his portraits and mixing different artistic styles together. One of his most famous pieces of work, The Woman with Red Hair is the perfect example of his signature portraits and striking subjects.
Photo: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures30/70Milla Jovovich in The Fifth Element (1997)
Milla Jovovich plays humanoid Leeloo in The Fifth Element. With her chic angled red bob with matching fringe, Leeloo may be one of the few robots we trust (and like).
Photo: Sony Pictures Classics/courtesy Everett Collection31/70Franka Potente in Run Lola Run (1998)
To say Franka Potente's transformation in Run Lola Run was extensive is putting it lightly. Potente once told Vogue that it took eight tries to bleach her naturally dark hair white before they sourced a very specific shade of red from London to get it that signature hue.
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Vivienne Westwood
Vivienne Westwood is known for her fiery shade just as she is for her immaculate punk-inspired designs. Her signature shade was a vibrant mix of strawberry and orange.
Photographed by Bruce Weber, Vogue, June 200133/70Karen Elson
In a shoot with Bruce Webber for Vogue's June 2001 issue, singer Karen Elson wears her red hair in a curled lob.
Photographed by Annie Leibovitz, Vogue, April 201134/70Rihanna in Vogue in 2011
In Rihanna's 2011 Replica Handbag Store cover, the singer and Fenty Beauty founder wore her bright red hair in voluminous Old Hollywood glam curls.
Photo: James Devaney/FilmMagic35/70Prince Harry
A natural redhead, thanks to what many believe comes from his mother's side of the family, Prince Harry's signature shade is a lovely dark auburn. It appears to be a strong gene as both his children have inherited the gene.
Photo: Angelo Pennetta, Vogue, May 201336/70Florence Welch
In a 2013 shoot for Vogue, Florence Welch wore her signature fiery shade in a medium-length cut and full bangs.
Photo: Courtesy of SZA37/70SZA
Wearing her naturally voluminous and textured hair, SZA showed off a bright orange hairdo back in 2014.
Photographed by Annie Leibovitz, Vogue, December 201438/70Amy Adams
For her 2014 Vogue cover, Amy Adams wore her hair in a deep and vibrant fiery shade.
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Cynthia Nixon in Sex and the City (2000)
Asking ourselves if we were a Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, or Miranda (the goal is really a healthy mix of all four of them IMO) is a moot point. Cynthia Nixon as the smart and headstrong Miranda Hobbes not only gave the best tough love Carrie needed, but she also served the best minimalist chic looks with her short red pixie cut.
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Sophie Turner
Though a natural blonde, Sophie Turner has played many famous fictional redheads, including Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones and Jean Grey in X-Men: Apocalypse and X-Men: Dark Phoenix.
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Halle Bailey
To get ready to play everyone's favorite mermaid, Halle Bailey went copper with her protective braids in the live adaptation of The Little Mermaid.
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Zendaya
In 2018, Zendaya walked the steps of the Met Gala channeling patron saint Joan of Arc. Here, she wore her fiery red hair in a wavy blunt bob with fringe bangs.
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Julia Fox
Julia Fox has worn many shades, but her red hair era remains top tier.
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Dua Lipa
We loved Dua Lipa's red hair era. Here, she opted for a darker shade and made cherry cola the new “It Girl” hair color of the moment.
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Hari Nef
Hari Nef went copper cinnamon in 2022 with a bob cut and fringe while filming Barbie. “This hair transformation is kind of a radical bid that I could make to my own body and my own appearance at this moment,” Nef told Vogue. “I’ll keep it for as long as it feels like me. I don’t have an agenda.”
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Grace Coddington
Fun fact: Grace Coddington's signature red shade was an idea that came from legendary photographer Steven Meisel. “I was working with Steven…and he kept saying, ‘You should really make your color more distinctive.’ His boyfriend at the time, Benjamin, used to be a hairdresser, so he said, ‘Benjamin can color your hair for you and see how you like it.’ So one night we went to Garren's salon, and Benjamin did the color for my hair. And I thought, ‘Oh, this is kind of great.’ So from then on, I've been coloring it red,” Coddington once told Vogue.
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Emma Stone
Though red is not her natural shade, Emma Stone has become synonymous with the fiery shade. Here, she wears a deep copper tone that's super pretty.
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Linda Evangelista
Linda Evangelista's short hair inspired its own cut, the Linda. We especially love it paired with a fiery red shade that makes her look even more striking.
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Evan Rachel Wood
Evan Rachel Wood is another blonde-turned-redhead that we love. She has gone back and forth between her natural color and this copper shade, and while we're not picking favorites, the red hair is one we think highly of often.
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Lindsay Lohan
One of our favorite natural redheads, Lindsay Lohan has worn different variations of the shade. Here, she goes for a bright auburn shade in super long waves.
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Beth Ditto
Former lead singer of indie rock band Gossip Beth Ditto is known for her bright orange hair and super fun eye looks. This purple and black combo provides a moody contrast to her fiery strands.
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Sara Grace Wallerstedt
Here, model Sara Grace Wallerstedt wears her strawberry blonde hair long in loose waves. It's light, ethereal, and an instant add to our mood boards.
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Tyra Banks
Tyra Banks' red hair era was unmatched. Here, she wears her fiery shade in an angled bob.
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Natasha Lyonne
Whether in her natural curls or straightened for a sleeker look, Natasha Lyonne's deep auburn shade is always stunning. And we always live for the fringe.
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Kirsten Dunst
For her role in Spider-Man, Kirsten Dunst dyed her natural blonde hair to the classic Mary Jane red.
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Tilda Swinton
Tilda Swinton is one of the beauty chameleons who can pull off any hair color—and this bright red shade is no exception.
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Bryce Dallas Howard
A trait she shares with her director father Ron Howard, Bryce Dallas Howard is a natural redhead. Here, she wears a warm red with brown undertones for a more neutral tone of the shade.
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Isla Fisher
Another natural redhead, Isla Fisher wears her signature shade in a super long cut.
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Christina Hendricks
Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris in Mad Men served both an incredible performance (Joan and the women of Sterling Cooper & Partners ran that place) and enviable ‘60s style. Hendricks’ bright red hair was often styled in retro updos and loose waves.
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Madelaine Petsch
Here, Madelaine Petsch wears her red hair long with layers for added depth and dimension.
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Kate Mara
Kate Mara's natural hair is red and here, she wears it with dark roots at the top and brighter ends for a two-toned effect.
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Anna Kendrick
Anna Kendrick's signature red hair has an orange ombré with her darker roots transitioning into lighter strands towards the ends.
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Chappell Roan
At the 2025 Met Gala, Chappell Roan channeled the glitzy disco era with sparkly makeup and teased out long red hair.
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Phoebe Dynevor
Though Phoebe Dynevor dyes her hair often, she is a natural red head. Here, she keeps her signature shade and wear it in a deep cool-toned cinnamon shade.
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Megan Fox
In 2023, Megan Fox debuted a departure from her signature dark strands with copper hair.
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Megan Thee Stallion
At the 2025 Met Gala, Megan Thee Stallion stunned with a sculptural high ponytail and pearl accents.
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Vincent Van Gogh
Housed in the Museé d'Orsay is Vincent Van Gogh's “Self-Portrait,” which is believed to be the last painting he did of himself. Using light dabbings strokes to create his profile, Van Gogh's red hair is shown as short and light, providing a stark contrast to the dark background.
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Drew Barrymore
Here, Drew Barrymore wore a red chestnut shade with beach waves for that effortless glam.
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Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt in Titanic
It's hard to define Kate Winslet's storied career with one role, but Rose is very special. With her rebellious streak and a love story for the ages (we're holding off on door-gate), Rose's character arc is as bright as her long red curls.
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Geri Halliwell
Geri Halliwell, a.k.a. Ginger Spice, is known for her fiery hair. When the Spice Girls first came into our lives, Halliwell wore a bright cherry red with blonde highlights for a bold look.
Have a beauty or wellness trend you’re curious about? We want to know! Send Vogue’s senior beauty and wellness editor an email at beauty@vogue.com.
