Keri Russell’s Glamorous Hair Evolution in Photos (Including That Famous Chop!)

From her long flowing curls to the drama around her ‘Felicity’ season 2 haircut, take a look back at how the actress’ hair has changed over the years

Keri Russell may be known for her acting skills, but it’s impossible to think of her without mentioning her iconic curls.

Along with Jennifer Aniston‘s “The Rachel” haircut on Friends and Danielle Fishel‘s impressive Topanga locks, few actresses were as synonymous with their hair in the ‘90s as the Felicity star.

Russell has had many mane moments over the years, from über-long locks before her days as Felicity Porter kicked off in 1998 to the sleek blowouts she wore in later years.

However, not many haircuts caused as much pandemonium as the curly pixie that came on season 2 of the WB drama.

“It’s such a typical college-girl story,” Russell told Entertainment Weekly at the show’s ATX Television Festival reunion panel in June 2018. “The guy breaks up with her, and then she goes and cuts her hair, and it’s really bad.”

The infamous chop was so controversial that it caused ratings to drop.

Felicity creator J.J. Abrams told The New York Times in December 2000, “We take full responsibility for the idea of cutting her hair. …People revolted against the look and the show. She’s so gorgeous, we thought, ‘Who cares how long her hair is?’ The answer came back pretty quickly.”

Russell’s hair grew; though, the “hysteria,” as she described it, over the shorn locks has lasted for many years.

Since then, she’s had plenty of time to do, well, whatever she wants with her hair, including rocking her natural curls, sleek buns and silky straight hairstyles.

“People like to talk about my hair. I don’t know what to say,” she told PEOPLE in October 2025. “People care about my hair.”

From her breakthrough on Felicity to attending the Actor Awards in February 2025 as a nominee for her performance on The Diplomat, take a look back at the evolution of Russell’s hair on-screen and on the red carpet.

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Curls for Days

When Russell’s career first began, she had already made a memorable mark on TV thanks to her voluminous, tight corkscrew curls. This photo from 1994 sees the actress, then in her late teens, not long after she finished up her stint on The Mickey Mouse Club and appeared in 1992’s Honey, I Blew Up the Kid.

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Beach Waves

The California-born actress kept her hair curly and long for years to come. In 1996, she adopted a more beachy-blonde look while starring on the short-lived Aaron Spelling drama Malibu Shores.

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Breakout Curls

Of course, when she kicked off her tenure as Felicity Porter on Felicity in 1998, her classic curls were front and center, albeit a few inches shorter.

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The Big Chop

In a move that rocked Felicity fans, Abrams had Russell chop off all her hair on season 2 following a breakup.

Russell has talked about the decision, telling W magazine in July 2017 that she was fully on board.

“I said, ‘Yeah, of course,’ “ she told the publication of her response to Abrams’ idea. “And so we did it … and then there was like this crazy backlash.”

Her hair was widely discussed in the media and the subject of much debate, and she said people would approach her on the street to share their opinions about it.

“It was an awkward haircut, but even then I didn’t care. Like, I loved it,” the Emmy-nominated actress said. “I thought it was so true and great. I did not expect all the hysteria.”

Russell added, “It just kind of grew out and was bad. I looked like a Chia Pet for a good few years. And then it was fine, but I have nice shoulders. And you know what, I feel like it was so the right move, and I’m really glad they did it.”

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Soft Glam

As Russell said, her hair grew back! Though we’re pretty sure Chia Pets were never this glamorous.

The short locks also likely made red carpets, like this 2000 Teen Choice Awards one, easier to prep for.

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Going with the Flow

During season 4, Russell’s hair had grown out more, and she started playing with blown-out styles.

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Back to Basics

However, the curls were not gone forever. After Felicity wrapped in May 2002, her classic look was on full display that September at the BCBG Spring 2003 fashion show in N.Y.C., though perhaps slightly looser than in years prior.

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Red-Carpet Curls

Russell showed off a bouncy variation of her wavy locks at the 2005 premiere of The Upside of Anger.

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Mission: Throwback

While promoting Mission: Impossible III in 2006, Russell’s hair harkened back to season 1 of Felicity.

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A New Chapter

Another chop! While not as dramatic as her Felicity-era cut, Russell sported a noticeably shorter hairstyle, sans the curlicues, in 2008.

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French Flow

Ahead of The Americans‘ 2013 premiere, Russell wore her hair in loose waves swept to one side during a photocall in Cannes, France.

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Dark Days

Not only did she change the length of her hair, but Russell also appeared to go a few shades darker, save for her highlighted ends, at the 2019 premiere of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in London.

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Leading Lady

In later years, Russell has opted to keep her hair styled straight, as seen at the 2023 premiere of her Netflix drama The Diplomat.

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Timeless Look

At the 2024 Golden Globes, which marked the 25th anniversary of her 1999 Best Actress win for Felicity, the mom of three wore her hair pulled back into a low bun.

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Sleek and Chic

Russell combined multiple past looks when she walked the red carpet at the 2025 Actor Awards, wearing her hair both blown out and over to one side.

That same year, she had a meta moment on season 3 of The Diplomat when her character, U.S. Ambassador Kate Wyler, snaps at her Secret Service agent, who is meant to be her double and look like her from behind.

“It’s not like I don’t wash it. I do. And I comb it,” Kate tells the agent, whose hair is an overly tousled mess from behind, a clear dig at Kate’s supposedly unkempt ‘do. “It’s a style. That style is: not looking like you spend hours [doing your hair], because some people have more important things to do. It’s not: couldn’t get the top up on the convertible.”

Russell “loved” the scene’s perfect nod to the real-life discourse about her hair, telling PEOPLE, “Oh my God, I love it. I think it’s great.”

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