You’ve seen her as the ice-cold platinum chess prodigy. You’ve seen her with that haunting, long blonde mane that seems to stretch for miles on every red carpet from Cannes to Marrakech. But lately, the internet has been doing a collective double-take. Anya Taylor-Joy dark hair sightings are becoming the new normal, and honestly, it’s messing with our heads in the best way possible.
The transition from that ethereal, almost-silver blonde to a deep, moody brunette isn’t just a simple salon trip. It’s a total vibe shift. It’s the difference between a high-fashion forest nymph and a gritty, noir-action hero. While she’s naturally a light/dirty blonde, she’s spent years leaning into the high-contrast "Bright Spring" or "Bright Winter" aesthetic that made her famous. But the darker tones? They bring out something completely different in her features.
The Gorge and the Rise of the Brunette Anya
The big catalyst for the most recent buzz was the first look at her upcoming film The Gorge. Starring alongside Miles Teller, Anya plays a character named Drasa, an elite sniper. In the stills released by Apple TV+, she isn’t the fair-haired girl we know. Instead, she’s rocking a slick, dark, functional look that feels incredibly grounded.
It’s not just a wig for a role, either. It’s a calculated aesthetic choice. Fans on Reddit and X have been losing it over how much "heavier" and more intense her gaze looks when it isn’t framed by light-reflecting blonde. When you have eyes that large and expressive, a dark frame acts like a spotlight.
Why the dark hair matters for her career:
- Breaking the Typecast: It moves her away from the "otherworldly" or "ethereal" labels that critics love to throw around.
- Action Star Energy: Darker hair often signals a "tougher" character in Hollywood shorthand—think Furiosa vibes without the bald cap.
- The "Pulp Fiction" Comparison: Her recent British GQ shoot featured a jet-black bob with micro-bangs. People immediately started screaming "Uma Thurman," and they weren't wrong.
That Viral Black Bob: Real or Not?
Let’s clear something up. A lot of people see the photos of her in a short, inky-black bob and think she’s pulled a "Dua Lipa" and committed to the change. Most of the time, especially for high-fashion shoots or specific film sets like Lucky or The Gorge, she’s working with high-end lace fronts.
Her longtime hairstylist, Gregory Russell, is a literal wizard with extensions and wigs. He’s the one behind those gravity-defying Cannes updos and the sculptural red carpet moments. For the British GQ spread, he crafted a custom bobbed wig that looked so seamless people were calling their colorists before the magazine even hit the stands.
Honestly, it’s kind of impressive. She can go from a hip-length blonde "air-dry girl" (her words!) to a 1920s gothic flapper in the span of a lunch break.
The Natural Color Debate: What Is She Actually?
There’s a lot of misinformation out there about Anya’s "real" hair. No, she isn’t a natural redhead like Beth Harmon. She’s also not naturally the paper-white blonde she’s been sporting for the last three years.
Anya Taylor-Joy is naturally a dark blonde.
If you look back at her early roles, like in The Witch (2015), you see her natural, mousy, light-brownish-blonde hair. It’s beautiful, but it doesn't have the "star power" contrast of the platinum. During the 2020 lockdowns, she even joked in interviews about her dark roots growing in, saying she looked like she was balding because the contrast between her natural ash-blonde roots and the dyed platinum was so stark.
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Why Dark Hair Suits Her (Even If You Love the Blonde)
Color analysts on TikTok and Reddit have been fighting for years about whether she’s a "Soft Summer" or a "Bright Spring." Some say the platinum washes her out and makes her look "sickly" or "vampiric." Others argue it’s exactly that "sickly" look that makes her so unique.
But when she goes dark—specifically a rich, cool-toned brunette—her skin tone actually warms up. It stops looking like translucent porcelain and starts looking like healthy marble.
- Eye Contrast: Her dark brown eyes pop significantly more.
- Bone Structure: Deep colors highlight the sharp angles of her cheekbones and jawline.
- Versatility: It allows her to wear colors (like deep oranges and muddy greens) that usually clash with the yellow-toned blondes.
Maintaining the Look (Even If It's Temporary)
If you’re looking to copy the Anya Taylor-Joy dark hair vibe, you have to be careful. Going from light to dark isn't just "putting brown on top." If you have bleached hair like she does, your hair is "empty" of pigment. If you just slap a dark dye on it, it’ll turn a muddy, swampy green.
Her colorist, Tracey Cunningham, uses a specific process to keep her hair healthy. They use tons of Olaplex (specifically the 4-in-1 treatment) to ensure the cuticle doesn't just snap off after years of being platinum. Whether she’s going for a "Pearly Blonde" at the Golden Globes or a "Rich Brunette" for a film, the health of the hair is the only reason she can switch so often without ending up with a buzzcut.
What’s Next for the Anya Aesthetic?
We’re likely going to see more of this dark-haired Anya throughout 2026 as The Gorge and other projects roll out. She seems to be enjoying the anonymity that comes with it. In a leather jacket and a dark bob, she can actually walk through a park without being immediately recognized as "The Queen's Gambit girl."
If you're thinking about making the switch yourself, start with a demi-permanent gloss rather than a permanent dye. It gives you that Anya-level shine without the "oh no, what have I done" commitment.
To truly channel the look, focus on the "Anya Essentials":
- Keep your eyebrows a shade or two darker than the hair for that high-fashion "editorial" look.
- Invest in a high-shine serum. Dark hair only looks "expensive" when it reflects light like a mirror.
- Don't be afraid of the "micro-bang." It’s a bold choice, but if you have a forehead that can handle it, it’s the ultimate style move.
The era of the "Platinum Princess" might be taking a backseat to the "Brunette Badass," and honestly? We’re here for it. It's proof that you don't have to stick to one signature look to be iconic. You just have to be willing to change the frame to show off a different part of the picture.
If you’re ready to try the look, your first step is booking a "toning session" or a "gloss" rather than a full color change. This allows you to see how the darker pigment reacts with your skin tone before you commit to the deep chocolate or jet-black shades Anya is currently rocking. Take a screenshot of the The Gorge trailer—not her 2021 red carpets—if you want the most current version of this trend.