How Ina Garten Landed On Her Iconic Haircut & Why She'll Never Change It

Ina Garten has her signature hairstyle, and she's not in the market for any other. From her beginnings as a chef through her brand, Barefoot Contessa, to becoming a bestselling cookbook author, Ina Garten has made a name for herself in the food industry in more ways than one. After reflecting on her life journey with People, she shared a story about her signature haircut, carrying with it a lesson in comfort that other women should pay attention to. In the interview, when asked about her go-to hairstyle, she explained how falling in love with it prompted her to style her hair differently. 

"I got this haircut in 1974. I had long hair. A friend had gotten hers cut into a bob, and I loved it, so I went to her hairdresser. It was a young man who was French, Sylvain Melloul. He cut my hair like that, and I've never changed it ever since," Garten explained during the interview. She went on to mention that she doesn't ever change her hairstyle, even after so much time, because of how comfortable she is with it. This story is a strong example of the importance of taking risks, because you might just end up with your signature hairstyle.

Ina Garten brought a sense of liberating freedom into her late 60s and beyond, refusing to listen to society's take on her appearance, and the decision to keep her signature haircut is only part of her story. Garten has also been vocal about embracing self-care and taking every moment as it comes. When asked in the same People interview what other things she wants to do in life, Garten said she doesn't make long-term plans. "It's funny," she said, "I don't make long-term plans. I do what I do as well as I can, and things come along, and I say no to most of them." Clearly, the famous chef knows the value of appreciating the good things in life, and not stressing about what else is out there.

Now in her 70s, Ina Garten is proof that a child-free life can still be so rewarding. Since she doesn't have children, most of Garten's attention has been devoted to maintaining a healthy and happy marriage to her long-time husband, Jeffrey Garten. Through making this decision, she's set the example of living life on her own terms, showing other women that you don't have to conform to society's rules — you can make your own guidelines on how you want to live. Between smaller and larger life decisions, living a carefree life is achievable when you start with intentionality, hone the power of saying no, and stick to your guns.