Kate Hudson Couldn't Look More Different With Short, Dark Hair

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Kate Hudson made a name for herself sporting luscious blond hair, so when she chopped it off and dyed it brunette in 2021, we barely recognized her. The actor took a stunning leap from long to short hair when she shaved her head for the movie "Music," directed by Sia. "My little one and Sia both took clippers to it, yeah. It's funny because when you're doing it for a role you don't think about it because you're just ready for it. You're like, 'Let's do this!' And then when it was done, it was like: 'Oh, my head's shaved!' I was like, 'Oh my God!" she recalled on "Lorraine." The "Fools Gold" star also admitted she really liked having short hair and enjoyed her partner touching her head.

But it's hard to ignore how different she looked. When the star began posting snaps if her new look on Instagram, just like us, her followers were floored by her drastic 'do. "You look gorgeous with this hair cut ! Only a few can do it ! Wow !" wrote one fan. Another told her, "You look so NATURALLY lovely," and a third even commented, "Your best look." The super short cut highlighted her gorgeous bone structure, and the darker hue gave her a more understated vibe (even though her natural shade is a red, dirty blond).

Speaking on the "Rachael Ray Show," Hudson admitted she found ditching her signature long, blond tresses liberating, which makes sense because bold buzzcuts can often serve as a beauty reset. "I didn't realize that it would've been as much of an awakening as it was ... I mean, I know that you hear that, but there is something about letting go of all that old energy that feels pretty amazing," she said.

Though Kate Hudson can clearly rock any hair color and style, the short, brunette 'do was only temporary. The "Almost Famous" actor grew out her tresses after filming "Music" and later told Refinery29 she prefers her locks warm blond. "I have so much red in my hair. My natural colors are a dirty red blonde. I have a lot of copper," she shared of her natural hue. Hudson also revealed she's a fan of hair pieces when she wants to change up her look or add length. "I love extensions. My hair is super healthy but it's probably there [gestures to shoulder]. I just change it with extensions when I want to or need to," she said. To keep her hair looking and feeling its best, she uses Joico Defy Damage Protective Shampoo, Joico Defy Damage Protective Conditioner, and Joico Defy Damage Protective Masque.

But, as much as the star clearly loves blond hair, she may be willing to try brunette again one day. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she let fans choose her hair color after letting her natural strands grow out. In an Instagram Story, she shared a photo of her darker roots and wrote (via Us Weekly), "Looks like I'm almost a brunette..." She then posted another snap of her locks alongside a poll and asked fans to vote between, "au naturale" or "blond 'er up!" However long and whatever color though, Hudson can rock it all.