Whoever believes that a hair transformation can’t change your life, hasn’t met factory worker Norma Jean Dougherty. In 1950, Norma purchased herself a bottle of peroxide dye before heading to a screen test. Entering her bathroom a natural curly-haired redhead, Norma emerged as the most iconic blonde of all time: Marilyn Monroe. Yep, you read right, Marilyn Monroe’s natural hair colour is red.
It’s a move we’ve since seen replicated time and time again, with many of our favourite A-listers becoming best-known for a hair colour that isn’t their natural one (one of the most surprising being Scarlett Johansson). And this, people, is how we all have such deep trust issues.
Why did Marilyn Monroe dye her hair blonde?
One thing we know for sure is that it wasn’t due to a lack of attention. Speaking to Life, Marilyn once said, “I had this long walk to school, it was just sheer pleasure,” reminiscing on her high school years. “Every fellow honked his horn and the world became friendly.”
However, on the advice of a modelling agency, Marilyn made the switch to blonde in a bid to help her career. A move that we can all agree paid off.
How can we replicate Marilyn’s hair?
Luckily for us, hair dye has come a long way since the ’50s when harsh, potentially scalp-burning peroxides were used sometimes twice a week to maintain a bright and creamy shade.
Thanks to products like Color & Soin ($19.95 at color-soin.com.au), we can now colour our hair at home with a formulation that’s free from ammonia, silicone, resorcinol, parabens and sodium laureth sulfate, leaving our hair soft and shiny. A luxury we don’t believe Marilyn’s hair would have had.
Did you know Marilyn Monroe wasn’t a natural blonde?
I didn’t know that!
Me either.
same here
I had no idea she was a red hair. Looked so good on her, too!
Doesn’t it ever!
yes I think she would have been a sta with red hair just the same
same here she can rock it
I thought most people knew this about Marilyn?
well not me
I knew and find those pictures the most stunning of her.
I would have thought mousy brown
That’s what I thought!!
I thought that, too!
same here. Or maybe a dark brown
I didn’t realise she was a red head – I thought she was a brunette! How mixed up was I!
She would have been just as stunning no matter what colour hair she had.
Totally agree HelenP5
same here
Oh yes, she was just stunning.
Agree, she was amazing no matter her hair colour.
agreed all the way
I always thought she had brown hair.
yes, she definitely looked bleached.
hmm i guess you have a good eye i was fooled ahah
I knew she wasn’t blonde but am surprised about the red hair.
I was too -We could all see her hair was bleached but a shame to hide that beautiful red
same here
Ooo I always thought Marilyn’s natural hair was light brown, but she was a redhead… nice
she’s still pretty tho
I didn’t know that -She is stunning with red hair and may have achieved the same attention then with red hair
yes like rita hayworth
I had no idea!
Marilyn Monroe looked just as beautiful a Red Head being a Blonde certainly made her Famous. So many Hollywood Celebrities have gone the other way going from Natural Blondes to Brunettes.
Wow, I just assumed she was a brunette for some reason. She looks great with blonde and red hair. just stunning!
She was really an icon. Out on her own. What a sad life. Much too young to die and leave this world..
I honestly thought it was brown, so this is actually surprising!
I didn’t think anyone would’ve thought that her blonde hair was natural?
so true
so very natural when she was young
I didn’t know. I thought it was her natural hair.
Red is such a pretty colour
As a suicide-blonde, she made it iconic.
I didn’t know her natural hair colour was red and I think the red looked lovely on her too.
I knew she wasn’t a natural blonde, but didn’t know she was a redhead.
She looks gorgeous with either colour.
yes you’re right
I had no idea she wasn’t blonde. I think her natural hair suits her way more! It’s beautiful
She was gorgeous with any hair colour.
I didn’t think it was possible NOT to know Marilyn wasn’t a natural blonde. Next thing we know they’ll announce Marilyn is not her real name! :o)