Machine Gun Kelly and the color blonde are basically a package deal. Even when he’s rocking a neon pink mohawk or that weirdly fascinating two-tone Cruella vibe he brought to the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards, everyone eventually expects him to circle back to the bleach. He calls himself the "Blonde Don" for a reason. It’s his reset button.
It’s not just about a bottle of peroxide, though. Honestly, if you look at the timeline of MGK's hair, it’s like a visual diary of his mental state and his music. When he’s feeling raw and punk, it’s messy and platinum. When things got heavy—like during that 2024 period where he blacked out half his torso in ink—the hair usually shifts to match the chaos.
The Evolution of the MGK Blonde Hair Aesthetic
Back in 2012, Colson Baker (his real name, if you're new here) didn't have this thick, luscious mane. If you scroll back to the Lace Up era, his hair was actually thinning quite a bit. Experts like Dr. Gary Linkov have famously dissected his hairline, suggesting he likely had a couple of hair transplants around 2013 and 2014 to get that "rockstar" density.
It worked.
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Once he got that sorted, he leaned hard into the bleach. He moved away from the "rapper with a buzzcut" look and started embracing the "90s grunge god" aesthetic. It’s a specific kind of blonde—usually a level 10 platinum that borders on white. You’ve seen it. It’s that messy, "I just woke up in a tour bus" texture that guys everywhere have been trying to copy at home (usually with disastrous results).
Why the 2026 Trends are Circling Back to Him
The funny thing is, looking at the 2026 hair trends, MGK's signature look is actually more relevant than ever. Stylists like Louise Rusk are calling for "Ethereal Platinum" this year—a high-maintenance, almost glowing white blonde. That’s been Kelly’s bread and butter for a decade. He was ahead of the curve, or maybe he just stayed in one place long enough for the trend to loop back around to him.
That Time He Went Pink (and Why He Came Back)
We have to talk about the Tickets to My Downfall era. That was the big shift. He ditched the blonde for a hot pink that matched his guitar and, eventually, his fiancée Megan Fox's hair. It was a whole vibe. But pink is a nightmare to maintain. It fades into a weird salmon color after three washes.
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When he finally transitioned back from pink hair to platinum blonde, it felt like a return to form. It’s a cleaner look. It makes those massive blackout tattoos on his arms and chest pop way more than a neon color would. Contrast is everything in his current "redesigning the anatomy" phase.
The Maintenance Nightmare
Let’s be real for a second: you can’t just do this at home. MGK’s blonde hair is the result of serious professional work. To get that white-blonde without your hair snapping off like a dry twig, you need bond protectors. We’re talking hours in a chair, probably some 20-volume developer, and a whole lot of purple toner to kill the brassy yellow.
He’s been seen rocking a "blonde man bun" recently, especially in early 2025 after some public ups and downs. It’s a more "adult" version of the look. Still edgy, but a little more "I own a nail polish brand" and a little less "I'm going to jump off this stage."
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How to Get the MGK Look (Without Ruining Your Life)
If you're sitting there thinking about going full "Blonde Don," you need a plan. Don't just buy a box of bleach from the drugstore. Your scalp will hate you.
- Find a specialist. You need someone who knows how to handle "alternative" styles. This isn't a standard highlight job.
- The "Dirty" Secret. The best MGK hair looks aren't freshly washed. Use a sea salt spray. It gives that piecey, grit-heavy texture.
- Toning is God. Platinum blonde stays platinum for about a week before it tries to turn yellow. Get a professional-grade purple shampoo.
- Embrace the Dark Roots. Part of the MGK aesthetic is the slight regrowth. It makes it look intentional and less like a "perfect" Hollywood dye job.
People love to hate on him, but you can’t deny the influence. From his early days of balding to becoming a global hair icon, the journey is actually pretty wild. Whether he’s rocking the two-tone black and blonde or the pure icy platinum, he’s proved that hair is just another canvas for him.
If you’re planning on going blonde, start deep-conditioning your hair now. You're going to need the strength. Also, maybe don't get the blackout tattoo to match unless you're prepared for the 2026 levels of commitment he puts into his skin. Stick to the hair first. It's easier to change if you hate it.