Dakota Johnson’s Dirty Blonde Hair Look: New Photo

Dakota Johnson did not go fifty shades darker when it came to her recent hair transformation.

But the Verity actress did lean into a lighter look for the 2026 TIME100 Gala on April 23, swapping her usual dark locks for a slightly dirty blonde hairstyle—marking one of her lightest hair colors in years.

Inspired by the blonde locks of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, Dakota’s subtle transformation included a lightening of her roots to a cashmere-colored brown and adding pops of blonde highlights throughout—a style that has since been coined “the Bessette Blonde.”

Her longtime colorist Tracey Cunningham used Schwarzkopf Professional’s Foiled Cashmere technique to create the “dirty blonde” look, according to a press release from the brand. 

The 36-year-old’s hairstyle also featured a layered cut as well as her signature wispy bangs.

Though Dakota’s hair transformation mostly slid under the radar, it’s far from the first time that she has changed her ‘do. In fact, the Fifty Shades of Grey star previously chopped off her hair and debuted a short bob in 2015.