Ellen DeGeneres's Natural Hair Color Isn't Her Signature Blonde

Ellen DeGeneres may be one of the most recognizable blondes in entertainment, but she just gave fans a much-needed reminder that her signature shade is not natural. In a May 2025 Instagram video of the comedian attempting to mow her lawn on a riding mower, Ellen gave followers a rare peek at her natural hair color — and the reaction was swift.

The video shows a clear departure from her usual icy blonde and showcases a soft, dark brunette, prompting fans to flood the comments in support. Many were surprised by how dark her real hair is, while others praised the authentic look and called it refreshing.

DeGeneres has maintained her blonde hair in various lengths over the years, but OK Magazine noted that it was in the summer of 2009 that she debuted the platinum pixie cut, a style that became as much a part of her identity as her dancing and dry wit. She joins a list of iconic blondes, like Britney Spears, who have naturally darker hair than their public image suggests. Though she didn't mention whether she plans to go fully, permanently brunette anytime soon, fans seemed thrilled to see a more unfiltered version of the comedy icon. It may have just been a glimpse, but it offered a reminder: even celebrities have a natural shade hiding under the dye.

Ellen DeGeneres has never shied away from discussing the quirks of her short blonde pixie, and she is refreshingly candid about its upkeep. "When you have short hair, you have to colour it often, cause my hair grows really fast," she said on an episode of her show "Ellen" in 2019, noted Times of India. That recurring need for maintenance once resulted in a colour mishap, where she shared on her show, "I could not even pinpoint what colour it was, it was like orange and pink and purple. I had the Pride flag on me." Echoing the perils of chemical treatments, she added, "My hair was falling out. Like literally, I would touch my head and hair was falling out. I think my hair was so embarrassed, it didn't want anything to do with my head and said, 'I'm getting out of here.'" 

Ellen's perspective underscores the hard truth behind seemingly effortless style. Despite the occasional colour catastrophe, she was able to call experts who knew their way around different types of hair dyes to come to the rescue. According to Allure, a "gentle dye application technique and foils" saved the day. This incident is a reminder that short hair may seem simple, but it demands devotion, frequent salon visits, and a willingness to bounce back from beauty blunders.