For more than a decade, Jessica Chastain's copper-red hair has been one of the most recognisable looks on any red carpet. On October 8, 2026, at the Los Angeles premiere of Other Mommy, it was gone. The Oscar winner arrived with a gleaming blonde bob styled in rounded, bouncy curls, a look Good Housekeeping compared to Marilyn Monroe and British Vogue called a "dramatic" swap.

Our cover photo shows the look she is leaving behind: the long red waves she wore at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2025. The difference is striking.

A change that happened in stages

Chastain did not go blonde overnight. Good Housekeeping noted that she was spotted last month at the US Open with a softer strawberry-blonde shade. The Other Mommy carpet was the finished version's red-carpet debut: a brighter blonde cut to a jaw-skimming bob.

Going in stages is how colourists usually handle a big move away from red, since red pigment is hard to lift cleanly in one session. It also gave fans time to get used to the idea before the big reveal.

The Monroe curls, explained

WWD credited the hair to stylist Renato Campora, who gave Chastain a slight side part and bouncy curls. Good Housekeeping spoke to a stylist who said the look is easier to recreate than it seems. The method:

- Apply volumising mousse through the lengths of towel-dried hair.

- Blow-dry with a medium round brush, sweeping the front section away from the face.

- Curl sections in the same direction with a medium-barrel tong.

- Let the curls cool fully, then brush through for the soft vintage effect.

- Finish with a light-hold hairspray and a little hair oil for shine.

The key, the stylist told Good Housekeeping, is not leaving the curls too defined: "that's what gives you that soft, expensive-looking Old Hollywood finish." It works on a bob because the rounded shape also makes hair look thicker.

Lime Monse, straight off the runway

The outfit was just as new. WWD reported that Chastain wore a look from Monse's spring 2027 ready-to-wear collection, which debuted at New York Fashion Week in September. It was a lime-green satin minidress with a straight neckline, sleeveless cut, draped fabric and asymmetric knots at one shoulder and the opposite hip, plus a curved hemline.

She did not copy the runway exactly. WWD noted that she swapped the show's lace-up flats for strappy metallic Christian Louboutin pumps, which brought out the dress's warm tones. Makeup artist Kristofer Buckle added bold, lined eyes, and Elizabeth Stewart styled the look with Jordan Grossman.

Acid lime against new blonde is a confident pairing. Bright green tends to make warm hair look richer, and the sharp eye kept the vintage curls from looking costume-like.

Why going blonde from red is having a moment

Chastain's move goes against the season's trend. As Good Housekeeping put it, just as everyone was ready for rich, deep autumn shades, she went the other way. Our recent coverage has followed the darker trend, including "Sophie Turner's Espresso Brown Hair" and "Billie Eilish's Strawberry Blonde Hair," and Chastain's platinum-gold is the clearest counterpoint so far.

Thinking of going from red to blonde?

Chastain's change is a reminder that this kind of colour move is a process. Colourists generally recommend:

- Lifting gradually over several appointments, as Chastain appeared to do with her strawberry-blonde stage.

- Using a bond-building treatment during lightening to protect the hair.

- Toning to a warm, buttery blonde rather than icy platinum if your skin has warm undertones.

- Cutting off damaged lengths, which is one reason a bob suits a big colour change.

Expect regular toning appointments to keep the brassiness from the old red from coming back.

FAQ

Did Jessica Chastain go blonde?

Yes. She debuted a blonde bob at the Other Mommy premiere in Los Angeles on October 8, 2026, after a strawberry-blonde stage at the US Open.

Who did Jessica Chastain's hair?

WWD credits stylist Renato Campora.

What dress did Jessica Chastain wear to the Other Mommy premiere?

A lime-green satin minidress from Monse's spring 2027 collection, with Christian Louboutin pumps.

How do I get Jessica Chastain's Old Hollywood curls?

Use volumising mousse, a round-brush blow-dry and a medium curling tong. Let the curls cool, then brush them out softly.

Cover photo: Harald Krichel / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0