Reese Witherspoon Returned to Her Elle Woods Roots—Literally

Twenty-five years ago, Legally Blonde premiered and a spell was cast. "I could stay / Forever as I am / On this perfect day," stated the prophecy, which came via Hoku's "Perfect Day." That's exactly why Reese Witherspoon is still as sparkly as she was in 2001. (Not that I don't think Lexi Minetree will do a great job with the role, but Witherspoon really is the Elle Woods. Forever and always.)

On Wednesday, June 23, the 50-year-old showed up on the red carpet (why oh why was it not PINK) for the premiere of Elle, the new show she's executive producing about her iconic Legally Blonde character's origins.

For the big night, she wore a beautifully crafted, sheer pink lace custom gown by Monse (no half-loop stitches on China silk here). Her makeup was dewy, and that blonde hair? Again, nothing has changed.

"The moment I saw the beautiful Nexxus packaging in the perfect shades of pink, I knew we had to bring that same fresh, modern energy to the red carpet, creating a celebratory and effortless look that perfectly complemented tonight’s Elle Premiere," shared celebrity hairstylist and Nexxus brand partner Lona Vigi, who tackled Witherspoon's locks for the evening. Ahead, the artist tells us all about it.

The Inspiration

Vigi tells Byrdie that Witherspoon "definitely wanted to channel the classic 'Elle Woods' vibe for this press tour, embracing all shades of pink to nod to her iconic Legally Blonde character."

And thank goodness for that, right? We love Reese as Reese, but if an opportunity to be Elle presents itself...

"We wanted a look that felt strong, beautiful, and confident but didn’t take away from the spectacular gown," adds the artist. "Because the dress features so much intricate texture, my goal was to keep the hair clean, smooth, and modern so it wouldn't compete with the wardrobe."

Reese Witherspoon's Sleek Hair

This isn't UCLA, baby—New York humidity was out in full force for the evening. Still, Witherspoon's side part and long strands stayed perfectly sleek.

"New York humidity and rain are famously brutal for an outdoor red carpet, so I love collaborating closely with the styling team to ensure her look stood up to the elements. The gown itself is spectacular—very lacy, whimsical, and romantic, so we came together to ensure the hair would perform beautifully and stay flawless under pressure," Vigi added.

Her trick was to apply Nexxus Slick Stick Stronghold Hair Wax to Witherspoon's hair with a toothbrush.

"Swiping a thick wax stick directly onto the head can make clean hair look instantly greasy; the toothbrush ensures only the stray baby hairs are coated," she explains.

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Get the Look

With Witherspoon's hair freshly cleaned and still slightly damp, Vigi started the look off with Nexxus Keraphix Repair Liquid Crystallizer.

"This product is incredibly versatile because you can apply it to damp or dry hair," she explains. "I distributed two pumps evenly from the mid-lengths to the ends. It builds strong, damage-resistant hair while instantly cutting frizz and adding intense shine without weighing the hair down.

Next, she blow-dried Witherspoon's entire head using a round brush—"the key step for creating the perfect balance of volume and smoothness." Then came a large-barrel curling iron, which she worked through the hair to smooth out strands while introducing some soft elegance.

"To lock the style in place all night long, I used Nexxus Maximum Hold Hairspray," adds the artist. And for the final red-carpet touch? That aforementioned toothbrush trick. As Vigi says, "This creates a completely clean, camera-ready finish that keeps the entire look perfectly in place."

Vigi's top tip for anyone looking to get the look at home is to use the right products.

"You don’t want to weigh down the hair or leave it greasy," she says. "Starting with the right base—like the Nexxus Keraphix Repair Liquid Crystallizer will prep you for the style and finishing with the Nexxus Maximum Firm Hold Hairspray and Stronghold Wax will keep flyaways under control."