You’ve seen the photos. Anya Taylor-Joy gliding down a red carpet looking like a high-fashion ghost or a lost Targaryen princess. Her hair is usually that blinding, almost translucent platinum blonde that seems too perfect to be real. People obsess over it. They pin it to mood boards. They bring pictures of it to their stylists and then wonder why their own hair feels like straw three days later.
But here’s the thing about anya taylor joy hair—it’s a total chameleon act. She isn’t actually a natural platinum blonde. She’s not a natural redhead either, despite what The Queen’s Gambit might have you believing.
Honestly, the sheer amount of processing her hair goes through is kind of terrifying if you’re a fan of hair health. Yet, it always looks glossy. There’s a strategy behind the bleach, and if you’re trying to replicate that specific "ethereal" vibe, there are some hard truths you need to know about the maintenance involved.
What color is Anya Taylor-Joy's hair, really?
Let’s clear up the biggest misconception first. Anya is a natural blonde, but not the "white-as-a-sheet" blonde she sports now. She’s more of a dark or "dirty" blonde naturally. You can see this in her early roles, like The Witch (2015). Back then, her hair had a much warmer, sun-kissed honey tone. It was pretty, sure, but it didn't have that "otherworldly" edge she’s famous for today.
She’s spent years bouncing between extremes.
She went chocolate brown for the IWC Gala in 2016. She rocked that iconic copper-red bob for her role as Beth Harmon. She even did a jet-black "Pulp Fiction" inspired bob recently that sent the internet into a tailspin. But the icy blonde? That’s her signature. That’s the "brand."
The transition from natural to "icy"
Moving from a level 7 or 8 dirty blonde to a level 10+ platinum is a brutal process. It requires a lot of patience and a very expensive colorist. Her longtime collaborator, Tracey Cunningham (who is basically the goddess of celebrity hair color), has shared that they use a specific mix of Schwarzkopf Professional IGORA VIBRANCE toners to get that pearly finish.
They don't just slap bleach on and hope for the best. It’s a delicate dance of lifting the color without snapping the strands.
The "Queen's Gambit" red was a lie (sorta)
We have to talk about the red. For a solid year, everyone thought Anya Taylor-Joy was a natural ginger. The copper she wore in The Queen's Gambit was so perfect for her skin tone that it felt authentic.
It wasn't.
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That was a wig. A very, very expensive, high-quality wig.
Choosing a wig over dying her hair red was a genius move. If she had dyed her natural blonde hair that deep copper, getting back to her signature platinum would have been a nightmare. Red pigment is notoriously stubborn. To go from red back to icy blonde, you’d have to bleach the hair so aggressively it would likely fall out. By using a wig for Beth Harmon, she protected her "canvas."
How she keeps her hair from falling out
If you’ve ever bleached your hair, you know the struggle. It gets dry. It breaks. It loses its "bounce." So how does anya taylor joy hair look so healthy when it’s clearly being pushed to its limit?
Basically, she’s a devotee of bond-builders.
Tracey Cunningham has gone on record saying she uses Olaplex religiously on Anya. Specifically, they use the Olaplex 4-in-1 Moisture Mask and the No. 3 Hair Perfector. Before a big event, Anya will often let a treatment sit in her hair for hours.
The product graveyard
It’s not just one brand, though. Her stylists, like Gregory Russell, use a mix of high-end stuff to keep the frizz at bay:
- Pureology Soft Finish Hairspray: Used during her SNL hosting gig to keep things sleek but touchable.
- Philip Kingsley Elasticizer: This is a cult-classic pre-shampoo treatment she’s mentioned in interviews. It adds "stretch" back to brittle hair.
- David Mallett Hair Serum: For that "red carpet" shine that doesn't look greasy.
- Silk Pillowcases: A total non-negotiable for bleached hair to prevent breakage overnight.
Why her hair works with her "Spring" features
There’s a lot of debate in the "color analysis" community about whether Anya is a "True Spring" or a "Bright Winter."
Because she has very pale, high-contrast skin and striking eyes, she can pull off colors that would wash most people out. The white-blonde works because it matches the "value" of her skin. If she had a lot of warmth or redness in her face, that icy hair would make her look sick.
Instead, it makes her look like a sculpture.
The practical reality of the "Anya Blonde"
Thinking about going this light? Take a breath.
Anya has a team. She has Gregory Russell and Tracey Cunningham on speed dial. For us mere mortals, maintaining that level of blonde is a part-time job.
- Water Quality Matters: Bleached hair is like a sponge. If you have hard water (lots of minerals), your hair will turn orange or muddy in two weeks. You basically need a shower filter.
- Purple Shampoo is a Trap: People over-use it. If you use it every wash, your hair will turn a dull, dusty purple-grey. Anya’s team alternates between hydrating shampoos and toning masks to keep the color "crisp" rather than "purple."
- The "Low Heat" Rule: You can't blast platinum hair with a 450-degree flat iron. It will literally melt. Her stylists use tools like the Olivia Garden Ceramic + Ion dryer on lower settings to preserve the integrity of the hair.
Actionable steps for your own hair journey
If you’re chasing the Anya Taylor-Joy hair aesthetic, don't just run to the salon with a photo of her Furiosa press tour look.
Start by building up the strength of your hair. Use a protein treatment like K18 or Olaplex for a month before you even touch bleach. When you finally go for the color, ask your stylist for a "lived-in" platinum or a "scandi-blonde" technique. This leaves a tiny bit of your natural root, which makes the grow-out much less painful.
Invest in a heavy-duty leave-in conditioner. Something like the Pureology Style + Protect Shine Bright Taming Serum is great for mimicking that glassy finish Anya always has.
And seriously, buy the silk pillowcase. It’s the cheapest way to stop waking up with a "nest" of broken blonde hairs on your pillow.