This Lily James hair color transformation will make you do a double take

No trace of Pam Anderson in sight!

 Lily James attends 'The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society' World Premiere at The Curzon Mayfair on April 9, 2018 in London, England
(Image credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage)

That Pam Anderson blonde is long gone! Lily James' hair color is a complete about-face from her latest role. 

We've been seeing a rise in #Pamcore and a resurgence of 90s hairstyles thanks to Pam & Tommy, but it appears the actor at the center of it all is keen on doing away with platinum blonde. 

Shortly after the series' Hulu premiere, Lily James’ Oscars 2022 look deviated from the Baywatch babe completely: she rocked a light-pink ensemble with equally light earthy pink tones. Her long, brown locks were not quite waves but were blow-dried to bouncy perfection. 

Gregory Patterson, celebrity stylist and DIY expert for Sally Beauty, previously told My Imperfect Life that 2022 hair trends would include a rise in warm colors, like James' do for the Academy Awards. 

"Think rich cognac, butterscotch blondes and warmer tones at all levels and shades," he said. 

Lily James arrives on the red carpet outside the Dolby Theater for the 94th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, USA.

(Image credit: Getty Images / P. Lehman/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Now, however, the star is making her own rules, and we're definitely here for it.

All about that Lily James hair color transformation

While promoting The Pursuit of Love in Beverly Hills, California on April 25, James hit the red carpet with a bold, new look—dark-brown strands. Her new color practically borders on pitch-black, and truthfully, it can be a bit hard to tell the difference between the two. 

It's definitely a surprise, considering celebs like Kendall Jenner, Sophie Turner, Florence Pugh and Barbie Ferreira have all opted for red as of late. And, in true Rue fashion, Zendaya's auburn bob got seemingly everyone talking. 

But James decided not to follow the crowd. You'd assume a darker hue would be a fall or winter go-to, yet she makes the color work perfectly for the springtime, especially thanks to her soft, shimmery neutral makeup pairing. And, we cannot forget to mention her barely-there water waves.

lily james at a pursuit of love event in california in april 2022

(Image credit: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Amazon Studios)

What do you think of the star's latest dark new look? Personally, we'll be home attempting to recreate this look for ourselves.

Danielle Valente
Digital News Writer

Need a TV show recommendation? Maybe a few decor tips? Danielle, a digital news writer at Future, has you covered. Her work appears throughout the company’s lifestyle brands, including My Imperfect Life, Real Homes, and woman&home. Mainly, her time is spent at My Imperfect Life, where she’s attuned to the latest entertainment trends and dating advice for Gen Z.


Before her time at Future, Danielle was the editor of Time Out New York Kids, where she got to experience the best of the city from the point of view of its littlest residents. Before that, she was a news editor at Elite Daily. Her work has also appeared in Domino, Chowhound, and amNewYork, to name a few. 


When Danielle’s not writing, you can find her testing out a new recipe, reading a book (suggestions always welcome), or rearranging the furniture in her apartment…again.