Taraji P. Henson Debuts Orange Hair Transformation With Risqué Red Carpet Look

Taraji P. Henson is getting ready for the changing seasons with her new hairstyle. 

The Color Purple star swapped her dark tresses for a vibrant orange ‘do perfect for fall with her daring look at the New York City premiere of Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Sept. 4. 

Taraji arrived on the red carpet in a white deep-plunge Retrofete dress adorned with crystals. The long-sleeved mini dress also featured a spread collar and risqué slit on the side. She accessorized the look with silver Aquazzura heels and silver jewelry from Jacob & Co. 

But the pièce de résistance for the 53-year-old’s look? Her asymmetrical orange pixie with a shadow root that complemented the new color perfectly.  

The Hidden Figures actress is always down to show off a new style. After all, she’s dazzled fans with long, voluminous curls, towering braiding updos and bold bobs. Because for Taraji, hair is a large part of who she is. But, like other Black women, she didn’t see that when she began her career in the industry in the early aughts. 

"There wasn't any representation," she told InStyle in April 2021. "Not like what we see now."

"Growing up in D.C., we took our hair very seriously," she told Allure in March 2020. "I was in a salon every week getting a different hairstyle. I understood hair, and I started doing my own at a really young age." 

But finding a hairstylist onset was an uphill battle when the Oscar nominee began acting. Eventually, her success made it easier to receive those resources. 

"At this point in my career, I don't have to always show up to set with my hair already done," Taraji noted. "When nobody knew who I was, I had to take whatever [hairstylist] they gave me." 

"Once I figured out [the hair thing] was an issue and I started rising in my career, I realized that I was just going to have to start fighting for the stylists I want," she continued. "And that's what I started doing. The bigger my name got, the more people were like, 'Just give her what she wants.'"

 But she knows it's an undue burden for Black women, who often need to advocate for a stylist. 

"But you've got to grow to that," Taraji explained. "A lot of times, we as Black women have to wear a mask, or swallow how we really feel, or take whatever is given to us. And it just drives me nuts because you can't tell me or our culture what's best for us."

But nonetheless, it was her move to Hollywood that helped her embrace her hair due to the city’s climate. As she put it, "I learned to fall in love with my hair in L.A."

Keep reading for more celebrity hair transformations. 

The Emily in Paris star debuted her dramatic transformation at the world premiere of her new horror movie, MAXXXINE, on June 24. 

"Changing my hair always brings out different sides of my personality and I love playing around," Lily told Vogue. "This cut and color feels bolder and yet somehow lighter. And completely more me—right now."

While attending Chanel's Tribeca Film Festival Artists dinner on June 10, Katie debuted a subtle, yet striking transformation of rich caramel balayage highlights that were blended throughout her brunette tresses.

The Kardashians star debuted a platinum blonde look and a bob haircut after rocking waist-length strands for quite some time.

"Did someone say they missed king kylie," Kylie teased in the caption of her June 8 Instagram post, to which her sister Khloe Kardashian cheekily replied, "I did! I did!!!!!!"

The former Bravo star debuted a platinum blonde look during Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture.

The Heads of State star debuted a drastic haircut—a shoulder-grazing bob—while attending a Bulgari event in Rome on May 20. 

In May 2024, the actress chopped her hair into a bob that many fans on social media said reminded them of one of the looks she sported as Mary Camden on the '90s series 7th Heaven.

The Transformers actress returned to her dark brown tresses and debuted a sassy bob in May 2024, a month after she dyed her hair blue to enter what she dubbed her "Jedi era."

At age 17, the daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith debuted a new lob hairstyle overnight during 2024 Kentucky Derby weekend, which she attended with dad Larry Birkhead.

The singer debuted a lighter, shorter 'do in April 2024.

The Fashion Police alum debuted a blonde bombshell hair transformation May 8.

Back to blonde: Kim debuted a new platinum 'do in April 2024.

The Fenty Beauty founder debuted a bright blonde hair transformation April 17 while celebrating her latest Fenty x Puma collection in London.

The model debuted a bleach blonde pixie cut at the FRAME event April 4.

The Jennifer's Body star traded in her bubblegum pink tresses for a baby blue bob, which she debuted April 2.

Less than a month afer chopping her hair into a long bob, Zendaya debuted a honey blonde transformation at the Challengers premiere March 26.

The Great star ushered in spring with a fresh cut, as she debuted a long bob March 25.

The Mean Girls alum swapped out her signature blonde hair for a dark brunette transformation on March 18.

The Selling Sunset star looked completely unrecognizable after debuting a dramatic blonde transformation March 16.

The Fashion Police alum ditched her signature purple hair after six years, tinting it an icy silver in March 2024. 

The Dune actress debuted a shoulder-grazing bob at Essence's Black Women in Hollywood Awards March 7.

The Anyone But You star made a showstopping appearance at Miu Miu's fall/winter 2024-2025 show during Paris Fashion Week. For the March 5 event, she unveiled a dramatic long bob haircut.

To prepare for her upcoming role as  Jean Seberg, the 29-year-old debuted a bleached blonde pixie cut.

The Princess Diaries alum unveiled fringe bangs at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards.

The star debuted a bangin' new style at the premiere of her friend Nicola Peltz Beckham's film Lola in February 2024.

The "On the Floor" singer made a dramatic hair change, as she debuted a chin-grazing bob cut at Schiaparelli's haute couture spring/summer 2024 show on Jan. 22.

In January 2024, a month after her prison release, the now-influencer shared a pic of herself sporting a shorter 'do.

Kylie Jenner traded in her dark locks for a pink 'do in January 2024.

In January 2024, the Dancing With the Stars personality shared a video of herself cutting her own hair. "Out with the old energy," she wrote, "and in with the new."

The Underworld actress took the plunge and went full blonde, while also debuting a short bob haircut.

The Daisy Jones & The Six actress debuted jet-black hair on Nov. 2.

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