The most iconic hair looks in cinema From Leeloo's orange bob to Bella Baxter's long black hair

Hair is never just hair. In cinema, it often tells a story about a character before they even speak: a sharp cut can signal anger or a desire to close with the past, while a perfectly styled hairdo suggests the need to have everything under control. Then there are tousled, bleached, oxygenated locks, dye in every color imaginable that tell of rebellion, a desire for freedom, or simply authenticity. On the big screen, hair isn’t just about completing a look: it leaves an impression, influences, and becomes a visual reference for our visual boards. Here are some hair moments worth revisiting.

The most iconic hair in cinema

Leeloo in The Fifth Element

Leeloo, played by Milla Jovovich, sports one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable haircuts in film history: a fluorescent orange bob with visible blonde roots. More than just a look, it’s a true attitude. Her hair is pure energy, portraying an unconventional character and creating a strong visual identity impossible to confuse with anyone else. Behind this hair moment is the film’s hair department, including Sue Love, Lisa Tomblin, and Ward Stegerhoek, who helped define the characters’ aesthetics, including Leeloo’s look, achieved using wigs.

Louisa May Foster in The Trouble with Angels

Louisa May, the protagonist of The Trouble with Angels played by Shirley MacLaine, sports a voluminous pink mane. A decidedly unconventional choice, considering the film was shot in the 1960s. Certainly a hair look that borders on futuristic.

Gia Carangi in Gia

In the biopic about supermodel Gia Carangi, Gia, Angelina Jolie showcases super punk, spikey, messy red-and-black hair, far from any notion of polished glamour that would come later. A hair look that perfectly reflects Gia’s personality: rebellious, fragile, self-destructive, and against the grain.

Penny Lane in Almost Famous

Anyone who’s seen Almost Famous has coveted Penny Lane’s hair, and anyone who says otherwise is lying. Penny Lane, played by Kate Hudson, is the epitome of the free-spirited ’70s: soft, blonde curls that fall perfectly around her face. A hair moment etched in the minds of many.

Renn Woods in Hair

In Hair, Renn Woods sings Aquarius at the start of the film with a flower-adorned afro, a look that has inspired many contemporary stars, including Lana Del Rey in the “Love” music video. This hairstyle embodies the hippie aesthetic and ’60s counterculture, where freedom, self-expression, and connection with nature were core values.

Bella Baxter in Poor Things

In Poor Things, Bella, played by Emma Stone, has long black hair that becomes a key element of her personality. The look was created by Nadia Stacey, who, following the director’s instructions to use real hair, braided long extensions into Emma Stone’s hair. This also creates a strong contrast with Victorian-era fashion, where women were forced into perfect updos, immediately signaling that Bella does not follow social rules but is free and independent.

Babydoll in Sucker Punch

Babydoll, the protagonist of Sucker Punch, played by Emily Browning, plays entirely on contrast. Her platinum hair, styled in pigtails with a soft side bang, builds an apparently innocent aesthetic that amplifies the character’s dual nature: sweet and cute on the surface, but ruthless in action.