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. 

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