They went blonde, they went pink, they went rogue. Or shall we say Vogue? In 2024, the style notes ran the gamut, as we flitted between the throng of aesthetics that commanded the zeitgeist. Consequently, each of these style moments were completed by their accompanying beauty notes; bayonetta make-up for the office siren trend; and then the indie sleaze blast to the past that served like the partner-in-crime to brat summer. How the beauty cognoscenti played with the various aesthetics was a joy to follow and all but when it came down to it, the real fun lay elsewhere—specifically, when we sensed an internet-breaking celebrity transformation in our midst.
Considering this was the year method dressing took on a life of its own, it was even better when certain celebrity transformations were tied to a specific press tour. Take Zendaya’s preppy blonde switch for the Challengers circuit, for example. Or the strewn, textured mullet that Kristen Stewart wore through the Love Lies Bleeding season. Most recently? It’s been Timothée Chalamet with his committed attempts at cosplaying Bob Dylan on the red carpet during promotions for A Complete Unknown.
Beyond a fleet of actors proving their dedication to the craft however, there were also plenty of other fresh mane debuts which drew eyes from all over the globe. Whilst Lily Collins struck out in cool girl style in her razored bob, Cocona of XG definitely had her fans in a chokehold as she boldly shaved her head real time, in the group’s ‘Woke Up’ music video. Elsewhere in the K-pop sphere, Jennie certainly caused a stir when she teased some sultry pink tresses for her ‘Mantra’ comeback. Indeed, whilst some lasted for all of 24 hours, others heralded a cultural reset. Behold, a compendium of the most memorable celebrity transformations we witnessed in 2024.
1 / 18
Rihanna
It came as fast as it went. To support partner A$AP Rocky’s new Puma collaboration, Rihanna debuted a luscious head of strawberry blonde—right before her rumoured appearance at the Met Gala 2024. Alas, she never appeared on the steps of the Met, and any other hopes of seeing this shocking hue on the mega star again went up in smoke.
2 / 18
Gwendoline Christie
There was nothing like it. The cultural reset of the year? John Galliano’s final turn at Maison Margiela—and the doll-like transformations dreamt up for the models by one Pat McGrath. One of whom just happened to be esteemed actress, Gwendoline Christie.
3 / 18
Kylie Jenner
There’s no denying that the first bubblegum pink transformation of the year really went to Kylie Jenner. Add some favourable natural lighting and her knack for well-angled selfies, it remains a hair look that’s hard to forget from the early days of 2024.
4 / 18
Lily Collins
Whilst most actors might opt to doll up akin to their on-screen character, Lily Collins took an unconventional route for her Emily in Paris Season 4 press tour. Only this new razor-cut bob was superbly Parisian chic, in a way that Emily would never be able to pull off.
5 / 18
Hanni
When NewJeans launched their summer comeback, Hanni’s fresh bob cut and micro bangs were all the K-pop set were talking about for a good while.
6 / 18
Rebecca Ferguson
We don’t say this often, but the Reverend Mother was mothering indeed. For the Dune:Part Two press circuit, she channeled punk edge—with her graduated mane, complete with micro braids and all.
7 / 18
IU
Earlier in the year, IU’s fans revelled in the singer-songwriter’s fresh baby pink mane—a transformation she committed to specially for all of one weekend: at the Gucci men’s fall/winter 2024 show in Milan.
8 / 18
Jennie
Though we never got to see it come to full fruition, we’ll keep on dreaming. Ahead of her ‘Mantra’ solo drop, Jennie teased us all with some wet strawberry-stained tresses. But she had us fooled–for blonde Jennie won out in the end.
9 / 18
Zendaya
The Carrie Bradshaw reference, the preppy chic swerve, the blonde bangs. It was all falling into place for this perfect red carpet moment on the Challengers press tour—but of course, if anyone could have pulled it off, it would be method-dressing queen Zendaya.
10 / 18
Jacob Elordi
The one that divided the Internet? Jacob Elordi choosing to grow out his beard and moustache for a black tie turn at the Marrakech Film Festival.
11 / 18
Kristen Stewart
Flitting between a wet, textured mullet or coifs that brim with casual insouciance, Kristen Stewart’s hairdos for the Love Lies Bleeding was simply oozing with androgynous sensuality.
12 / 18
Cocona of XG
Almost unheard of, there’s no denying that Cocona of XG pulled a stunt that most would never have imagined possible. For the ‘Woke Up’ music video, the Japanese rapper served up her mindblowing flow whilst shaving her head real time.
13 / 18
Megan Thee Stallion
Blue hair, don’t care. For her ‘Neva Play’ MV featuring RM of BTS, Megan Thee Stallion showed she meant business by sporting the same hair tone as her animated avatar—and it was certainly a look to remember.
14 / 18
Seulgi of Red Velvet
The wispy pixie cut was certainly covetable all over again when the likes of Red Velvet’s Seulgi carried it with effortless cool girl ease.
15 / 18
Kendall Jenner
Back to brunette. And a bob. It was all ‘feel the breeze in your hair’ for Kendall Jenner over the past few months—who debuted a fresh bob whilst she was out and about.
16 / 18
Timothée Chalamet
Let’s just say he became one with Bob Dylan on this press tour. It was a playfully fun time on the press tour for A Complete Unknown, where Timothée Chalamet took his role very seriously and even attempted to recreate entire looks by the legendary singer—like this 2003 Sundance Film Festival tribute.
17 / 18
Soyeon of (G)I-DLE
Summer girl group comebacks are a thing the K-pop set always looks forward to, and even more so when it’s accompanied by an equally fun transformation that screams summer. This year’s winner certainly went right to (G)I-DLE’s leader, Soyeon, who dyed her hair a shocking orange for the group’s ‘Klaxon’ comeback.
18 / 18
Hyunjin of Stray Kids
As if it were planned all along, Hyunjin surely knew what he was doing when he debuted this buzzcut on the red carpet at the SBS Gayo Daejeon 2024—and on Christmas, no less.
