Anya Taylor-Joy Natural Hair: What She Actually Looks Like Without the Bleach and Wigs

You’ve seen her as a ginger chess prodigy. You’ve seen her as a platinum-blonde Targaryen-style queen on the red carpet. Honestly, at this point, it’s hard to remember what she actually looks like when she rolls out of bed. Anya Taylor-Joy natural hair has become something of a myth in Hollywood, mostly because she is the industry's favorite chameleon.

She isn't a natural blonde.

That might come as a shock if you only know her from The Menu or her recent Dior campaigns. But if you dig back into her early career—think The Witch or her childhood photos—the truth is much darker. Literally.

The Truth About Anya Taylor-Joy Natural Hair Color

Anya is naturally a brunette.

Specifically, she has a deep, cool-toned dark blonde to light brown base that she’s spent the better part of a decade hiding under high-lift bleach. When she first hit the scene in Robert Eggers' The Witch back in 2015, we saw a glimpse of her more organic look. It was a mousy, ashy blonde-brown that perfectly suited the grim, colonial setting.

But then The Queen’s Gambit happened.

Suddenly, the entire world thought she was a redhead. That copper bob became so iconic that fans were genuinely disappointed to find out it was a wig. Not just any wig, mind you—a custom-designed piece by hair stylist Daniel Parker, who wanted a "fiery" look to match Beth Harmon’s internal intensity.

People get obsessed with celebrity hair because it feels like a window into their "real" self. For Anya, her natural hair is almost a protected secret. She’s admitted in interviews with Vogue and InStyle that she enjoys the "shield" that different hair colors provide. When she’s platinum, she’s "Anya the Movie Star." When she’s brunette, she’s just Anya.

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Why She Switched to Platinum (and Stayed There)

Maintaining that icy, almost-white blonde is a nightmare. Anyone who has ever sat in a salon chair for eight hours knows the struggle. So why does she do it?

It’s about the "alien" aesthetic.

Anya has those incredible, wide-set eyes and a bone structure that looks like it was carved from marble. Dark hair grounds her. It makes her look human. Platinum hair, however, makes her look ethereal. It elevates her into that high-fashion, high-fantasy realm where she clearly feels most comfortable.

Her long-time stylist, Gregory Russell, is the architect behind those waist-length blonde manes. He’s gone on record saying they use a mix of very careful lifting and high-quality extensions to keep her hair from literally snapping off. Because let’s be real: you cannot go from the dark Anya Taylor-Joy natural hair color to "Snow White" blonde without some serious chemical intervention.

The Damage of Constant Transformation

You can't talk about her hair without talking about the toll.

Anya has been candid about how much her hair has been through. During the filming of Emma, her hair was styled with heat daily. Then came the bleach. Then came the wigs, which require your natural hair to be braided down tight, often leading to tension and breakage.

There was a moment around 2022 where eagle-eyed fans noticed her hair looked significantly shorter and thinner when she wasn't wearing pieces. That’s the reality of the industry. It’s not all magic; it’s mostly a lot of Olaplex and prayers.

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Wigs vs. Natural Growth

In Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, things got even more intense. While she didn't shave her head (much to the chagrin of some Method acting purists), she had to tuck her Anya Taylor-Joy natural hair under complex prosthetics and grease-covered wigs.

• The Witch: Closest to her natural, un-dyed state.
• The Queen's Gambit: 100% wig.
• Last Night in Soho: A mix of bleach and 60s-style hairpieces.
• Dune: Part Two: Extreme platinum extensions.

The constant switching is why she’s rarely seen without a team of professionals. If she tried to do this at home with a box of Clairol, she’d be bald by Tuesday.

How to Get the Anya Look (Without Killing Your Hair)

If you're looking at Anya and thinking, "I want that," you need to be realistic. Most of us don't have a Dior budget or a 24/7 stylist.

If your goal is to transition from a darker natural shade—similar to that original Anya Taylor-Joy natural hair color—to her signature platinum, you have to go slow.

1. The Consultation: Don't just walk in and ask for "Anya Blonde." Ask for a strand test. If your hair is already compromised, that level of lift will destroy your cuticle.
2. The "In-Between" Phase: Anya spent years as a "dirty blonde" before going full-blown icy. Embrace the bronde.
3. The Investment: You’ll need a purple shampoo that actually works (like Fanola or Kerastase) and a bond builder.
4. The Extension Secret: Almost every red carpet look she does involves "filler" extensions. They add the density that bleach usually takes away.

It's also worth noting her texture. Naturally, her hair seems to have a slight wave, but it’s quite fine. Fine hair takes color quickly but also breaks easily.

The Cultural Impact of the "Anya Blonde"

There is a reason her hair is a constant topic of conversation. In a world of "clean girl" aesthetics and "quiet luxury," Anya Taylor-Joy’s hair is loud. It’s high-contrast. It’s a statement that says she isn't interested in looking like the girl next door.

But there’s a quiet movement among fans who miss the brunette.

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On Reddit forums and fashion blogs, there’s a vocal minority begging her to return to her roots. They argue that the dark hair makes her eyes pop even more. They’re not wrong. Dark hair creates a frame for the face, whereas platinum can sometimes wash out people with her fair complexion. She pulls it off because of her styling, but the "natural" look has a warmth that the "starlet" look lacks.

Maintaining the Health of Bleached Hair

If you are committed to the bleach life, you have to treat your hair like a delicate silk fabric. Anya’s team likely uses heavy protein treatments and moisture masks.

• Avoid Heat: Whenever she’s not filming, she’s likely air-drying.
• Scalp Care: Bleaching to the root is caustic. Scalp oils and serums are non-negotiable to prevent chemical burns and flaking.
• Trim Relentlessly: You cannot save dead ends. To keep hair looking as long and lush as Anya’s, you have to cut off the damage.

Actionable Steps for Your Own Hair Journey

If you want to channel your inner Anya, stop looking for a "quick fix."

First, identify your starting point. Look at your childhood photos. That is your baseline. If you have that same ashy-brown Anya Taylor-Joy natural hair starting point, you’re in a great position to go blonde, but you need to do it over three or four sessions.

Second, embrace the "wig life." If you want to try a radical color—like her Queen's Gambit red—buy a high-quality lace front. It saves your natural strands from the trauma of permanent dye.

Third, focus on shine. The reason Anya’s hair looks so good, even when it’s fried from bleach, is the gloss. Use a clear hair gloss treatment every four weeks. It fills in the gaps in the hair shaft and reflects light, giving you that "movie star" finish.

Lastly, remember that what you see on Instagram or the big screen is a finished product. It’s the result of lighting, post-production, and hours of professional labor. Your "natural" hair doesn't need to be red-carpet ready every day. Even Anya has bad hair days; we just never see them.

Start by swapping your regular pillowcase for a silk one. It reduces friction, prevents frizz, and keeps whatever hair you have—natural or bleached—looking significantly smoother by morning.

Next Steps for Success:

• Determine your hair porosity before committing to a major color change; high porosity hair (common in natural brunettes) absorbs bleach fast but loses moisture even faster.
• Schedule a "gloss-only" appointment at your salon to see how your natural color looks with added shine before you decide to bleach.
• Invest in a high-quality bond-repair treatment like Olaplex No. 3 or K18 to prep your hair for the chemical stress of becoming a "Hollywood blonde."