Jennifer Love Hewitt is basically a hair chameleon, but you probably already knew that. For years, we associated her with that ultra-shiny, chest-length brunette mane that defined the 1990s and early 2000s. It was the "it" hair of the Party of Five era—thick, bouncy, and seemingly untouchable. But if you’ve been looking at her Instagram lately, or caught her on the red carpet for the 2025 premiere of the new I Know What You Did Last Summer film, you’ve noticed a seismic shift.
The brunette is gone. Mostly.
Today, Jennifer Love Hewitt hair is all about a vibrant, multidimensional copper that her longtime stylist Nikki Lee has dubbed "Sunset Lover." It’s not just a color change; it’s a whole vibe shift that mirrors her evolution in her 40s. While some fans were shocked by the move from her signature chocolate tones, the truth is that Hewitt has been itching to go red for nearly a decade. She just couldn't because of "work stuff"—mostly the strict continuity requirements of playing Maddie Buckley on 9-1-1.
The "Sunset Lover" Transition Explained
If you’re trying to track the timeline, it wasn’t an overnight miracle. It was a strategic, multi-step process. Back in August 2023, she dipped her toes into the "Ariel hair" trend with a deep auburn bob. It was spicy. It was fall-ready. But it was also a bridge.
Fast forward to mid-2025, and the transformation went full throttle. Nikki Lee, the co-founder of Nine Zero One Salon in Los Angeles (the same hands that touch the hair of Selena Gomez and Hilary Duff), used a complex cocktail of Wella Professionals products to achieve the current look. It’s not a flat orange. Honestly, it’s more of a "red-gold" hybrid that catches the light differently depending on whether she’s under studio LEDs or the California sun.
🔗 Read more: Jeremy Renner Accident Recovery: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
The Actual Formula Used
For the hair nerds who want the specifics, Nikki Lee actually shared the "Sunset Lover" recipe. It’s a mix of Wella Koleston Perfect 7/0 and 7/34 with a "splash" of 7/43. They used 20-volume developer at the base and 30-volume on the mids to create that natural-looking gradient. To get that extra "oomph" and volume, she’s currently rocking Great Lengths extensions in a custom blend of shades 31, 72, 5, and 28.
Why 2026 is the Year of "Holiday Junkie" Red
As we moved into late 2025 and now early 2026, Jennifer took the color even further. She recently debuted a "Holiday Junkie Red"—a punchy, brighter version of her copper.
"I always go to the salon to see my girls and leave with my heart full and hair fabulous," she told her followers. It’s a bold move. Most celebrities play it safe as they age, sticking to "soft" highlights. Hewitt is doing the opposite. She’s leaning into high-saturation pigments that contrast sharply with her skin tone.
She's also been vocal about the "unrecognizable" comments she gets online. People love to critique how she looks now versus 1998. But here’s the thing: Jennifer Love Hewitt is 46. Her hair choices—the choppy bobs, the vibrant reds, the occasional "sunset" balayage—are her way of reclaiming her image. She isn’t trying to be the girl from Can’t Hardly Wait anymore.
💡 You might also like: Kendra Wilkinson Photos: Why Her Latest Career Pivot Changes Everything
Getting the Look Without the Celebrity Budget
You don't need a Nine Zero One budget to mimic this. However, you do need a stylist who understands "tonal depth." If you just go to a box-dye red, you'll end up with a flat, "cherry cola" mess that looks dated.
The Hewitt aesthetic relies on transparency.
- Ask for a "Sienna" base: This is a brownish-red that prevents the hair from looking too artificial.
- Request a Shinefinity Glaze: This is the specific Wella product Hewitt’s team uses to keep the copper from fading into a dull brass.
- The "Butterfly" Comeback: Interestingly, Jennifer mentioned she’s obsessed with 90s butterfly clips again. She even joked that wearing them to premieres might be "illegal" now, but she’s doing it anyway.
Maintenance is a Nightmare (Be Warned)
Red pigment is the largest molecule in the hair color world. It literally falls out of the hair shaft faster than any other color. To keep her hair looking like a "Sunset Lover" rather than a "Rusty Penny," Jennifer’s routine involves cold water rinses and constant glossing.
She also uses the Wella Professionals Ultimate Smooth Miracle Oil Serum. It’s about $25 and is the secret to why her hair looks reflective even when it's styled in those messy, "lived-in" waves we’ve been seeing lately.
📖 Related: What Really Happened With the Brittany Snow Divorce
The Evolution of the "JLH" Bob
We have to talk about the length. For most of her career, length was her security blanket. The big chop in late 2023 was a massive cultural moment for her fanbase. Since then, she’s played with the "lob" (long bob) and various layered iterations.
In 2026, she’s sporting more of a "shaggy" texture. It’s less about the polished, curled-under ends of the Ghost Whisperer days and more about air-dried, effortless movement. Stylist Dimitris Giannetos recently noted that 2026 hair trends are moving toward this "longevity" style—cuts that look good even as they grow out and fade slightly. Jennifer is leading that pack.
If you’re thinking about making the switch to Jennifer Love Hewitt-inspired copper, start with a consultation about your skin’s undertone. If you have cool undertones, you’ll want more of a "cherry" red. If you’re warm like Jennifer, stick to the "sunset" golds and ambers.
Next Steps for Your Hair Journey
To get the most out of a Jennifer Love Hewitt hair transformation, schedule a "gloss and tone" appointment between your full color sessions. This prevents the copper from turning orange-blonde. Also, invest in a sulfate-free shampoo specifically for redheads—Pureology or Joico's Color Infuse Red are solid professional-grade options that won't strip the pigment. Finally, if you're going for the bob, ask your stylist for "internal layers" to remove weight without losing the blunt-cut aesthetic.