Leighton Meester Kicked Off Spring With a Dramatic Hair Transformation

Believe it or not, Gossip Girl hasn't been on the air since *2012*. We'll probably never stop talking about it or freaking out when Leighton Meester wears a headband, but it's important to regard her for things other than The CW at this point in time.

Also: we have to allow her to have other hair inspirations! When it comes to color, she's obviously moved on from the brunette/blonde binary that is Blair and Serena. In fact, there's a new princess on her vision board. Instead of Upper East Side royalty, she's gone Ariel.

Leighton Meester's New Auburn Hair

On Sunday, February 23, the 38-year-old appeared at the 2025 SAG Awards with her husband, Adam Brody, and a brand-new head of auburn hair. Striking a balance between red and brown tones (with a little bit of gold thrown in for good measure), the color was less true-red animated princess and more real-life Disney princess Lindsay Lohan. Or our new favorite redhead, Severance's Britt Lower.

California-based Amy Huson was the colorist behind the locks, which Clariss Anya Rubenstein side parted and styled into soft, vintage curls that tumbled over one shoulder to solidify the Little Mermaid comparisons. You may notice Meester's bangs were nowhere to be seen—the magic of a good hairstylist and some strong, strong product.

Leighton Meester's Ethereal Glam

Because she can never fully let Blair go (and why would you?), Meester chose an Elie Saab gown for the ceremony—the same designer who made her iconic character's blue wedding dress. This time, the intricately embroidered gown was sleeveless and olive green, paired with a matching scarf.

Stylist Ilaria Urbinati accessorized the dress with a pair of pearl and diamond earrings by Mikimoto, while Meester's go-to makeup artist Bethany McCarty applied a peach-y, monochrome look that further highlighted that perfect hair color.

"It takes a lot for me to not look at Adam Brody, but this hair has me captivated," commented a fan on Rubenstein's Instagram post recapping the event.

Exactly.