Glamour

Hair

Michelle Yeoh Debuted a Blonde Old Hollywood Bob at the Wicked Premiere

Her castmates were just as surprised as we are.

Of all of this year’s trending winter haircuts, the Old Hollywood bob continues to reign supreme. Case in point: Michelle Yeoh and her super-glamorous take on the trend.

The Everything Everywhere All at Once star didn’t just cut her hair, though: Much like fellow beauty icons Beyoncé and Kendall Jenner, Yeoh leaned in and went for a bold new hair color too.

The Oscar winner showed off a whole new look, complete with voluminous old money blonde hair, at the Los Angeles Premiere of Wicked at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on November 9. Fans are certainly surprised by what seems to be a brunette-to-blonde transformation, but we’re not alone in that. Apparently, so were her Wicked castmates!

In a now viral video on X.com (formerly known as Twitter), Yeoh’s Wicked costars can be seen reacting to her daring new look. While posing on the red carpet, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Jonathan Bailey catch a glimpse of Yeoh and their jaws practically hit the floor. Grande puts her hand over her mouth, exclaiming, “Blonde!” Meanwhile, Erivo can be heard saying, “It looks amazing!” and Johnny Bailey shouts, “Michelle!” and seemingly starts to clap.

Obviously, we couldn’t agree more—and we love that the cast clearly became close while working together on set. But back to the hair.

“We’re seeing a resurgence of Old Hollywood and vintage-inspired haircuts because there’s a craving for timeless elegance and glamour,” Helen Reavey, celebrity hairstylist, certified trichologist, and founder of Act+Acre, tells Glamour. “With the fast pace of trends today, many are drawn to these iconic styles that evoke a sense of nostalgia and sophistication. It’s versatile and polished while still standing out."

While the Old Hollywood bob is having a moment, it’s not the first history-inspired hair trend of the year: In March, Glamour reported that big hair was making a comeback, as inspired by icons like like Brigitte Bardot, Donna Summer, Dolly Parton, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, and Cindy Crawford.

“A lot of people are looking for more versatile styles that can be easily adapted for different occasions, and longer bobs and midlength cuts offer more styling options,” says Reavey. “It’s a great in-between length—short enough to feel fresh but long enough to be styled in curls or waves. As we head into cooler months, people also want the flexibility of pulling hair back or layering it under scarves and coats."

Feeling inspired? Here’s what to ask for at the salon. “The haircut is a long bob with or without bangs and long layers for volume and movement,” says Amy Abramite, creative director and stylist at Chicago’s Maxine Salon. “While the haircut shape is important, the heat styling is where the vintage glamour is created.”

“It’s velvety, ultrafemme, and touts high end luxury,” Abramite continues. “It looks glossy, feels silky, and comes with an expensive price tag, just like the woman who’s wearing it.”

As for styling? “The look can be created with a blow-dryer and a round brush, hot rollers, Velcro rollers like Trademark Beauty Velcro Rollers, or a curling iron,” she says. (Patterson recommends the Ion Luxe Cordless Curling Wand “for bouncy waves for days.”)

“Section the hair and use a large-barrel curling iron or hot rollers to create soft, structured waves,” Reavey says. “Brush through the curls gently using a boar-bristle brush to give the waves a smooth finish. You can always add a lightweight curl spray like Act + Acre Cold Processed Curl Defining Spray to enhance the waves and add a defined, glossy look without weighing down the hair.” Finally, finish with flexible hairspray for a touchable hold.