Julia Roberts and Cher are bringing back this hair colour everyone thought was over
Think platinum blonde was firmly in the past? Two high-profile appearances in New York have just upended that assumption. Julia Roberts and Cher both showed up wearing the same ultra-light hair colour at the same event, and the signal is hard to ignore.
One event, two head-turning hair moments
It was at the New York Fashion Week launch on Thursday, 10 September 2026 that both stars stole the spotlight. They were at Moncler for the opening of the brand’s largest flagship store in the world, a prestigious setting that only amplified the impact of their respective hair choices.
Julia Roberts arrived noticeably lighter than usual. Her shade, a very pale blonde with ashy undertones, is a radical departure from the red tones that have long been her signature. Ever since her breakout role in Pretty Woman, her auburn hair has been inseparable from her image. Yet Roberts has always loved to experiment: California blonde, golden blonde, platinum blonde, she has never shied away from changing up her hair colour.
Cher, meanwhile, was also sporting platinum blonde, a shade she has been wearing for over a year now, marking a clear break from the long dark hair that defined her for decades. Seeing both women in the same room with such similar shades gives this trend a particular resonance.
Platinum blonde: a hair colour that had been left behind
For several seasons, natural tones dominated salons. The clean girl era had ushered in understated, close-to-natural shades, pushing platinum blonde into the category of dated looks. Many associated it with the 2000s, a chapter of hair fashion that seemed well and truly closed.
Yet sometimes two appearances are all it takes to revive a trend. When personalities as different as Julia Roberts and Cher simultaneously choose the same hair colour, industry professionals start paying attention. It is no longer an isolated coincidence, it is a pattern taking shape.
What to consider before taking the plunge
Before booking a colourist appointment with a photo of either star in hand, it is worth understanding what this hair colour actually demands. Platinum blonde is one of the most high-maintenance colour choices out there. Here are the key points to keep in mind:
- Achieving such a light shade generally requires bleaching beforehand.
- This process can weaken the hair fibre, especially when repeated.
- Regular colourist appointments are essential to maintain the tone.
- Repairing treatments need to be built into your routine to keep hair healthy.
- Managing yellow or brassy tones is an ongoing part of life with this colour.
These demands are not a reason to give up on the idea. They simply invite you to approach this hair colour change with clear eyes, factoring in the time and upkeep it genuinely requires.
A trend worth watching before you commit
Platinum blonde making a comeback does not mean it suits every situation. What the appearances of Julia Roberts and Cher illustrate above all is this shade’s ability to command a red carpet. Its visual impact remains undeniable, and its presence at an event as widely covered as New York Fashion Week 2026 lends it a renewed legitimacy.
That said, admiring this hair colour on celebrities and wearing it day to day are two very different experiences. The upkeep demands, the potential weakening of the hair, and the regular trips to the colourist make this a considered decision. Platinum blonde is well and truly back, but it deserves to be approached with as much care as it requires.
