It’s no secret Reese Witherspoon and her daughter Ava Phillippe basically look like twins. From their sweet smile to iconic blonde locks, the genes are strong in this pair—but Philippe just changed one major feature to distinguish herself from her mom.
Earlier this week, Philippe took to Instagram to debut the new ‘do, officially entering her dark hair era with the appropriate caption, “time to see how the other half lives.” Though Philippe traditionally rocks her mom’s signature blonde hue, this stark change is drawing attention and endless compliments—including a comment from Witherspoon that said the look was “a whole mood.”
“This looks like a nice neutral brown that incorporates more neutral tones than anything else,” says Kim Kimble, celebrity hairstylist and creator of the Kim Kimble Hair Collection. “It’s a really beautiful medium brown color and doesn’t lean towards light or dark.”
Seems like we’ll be able to tell the two of them apart much easier now! In love with Philippe’s brunette locks and want to try a walk on the dark side for yourself? Read on below for details on how to get the look.
How to Go Brunette
Phillippe’s gorgeous shade of brown was created by celebrity hairstylist Tucker Goodwine, who posted on Instagram a before and after photo series that further highlights the transformation. Not all of us can just casually walk into a celebrity stylist’s salon, so when you make your appointment with your local colorist, be sure to ask for something neutral that isn’t too warm or ashy. This will help to compliment skin tone and complexion, while also giving the blonde girls a great way to have a change while bringing moisture and shine to dull hair.
“If you’re starting with a blonde base and want to achieve this look, your stylist would typically apply two rounds of gloss,” says R+COLOR EducationDirector Renée Valerie. “The first, with warm tones, which sets the foundation for your desired shade, while the second refines and perfects the color.” If you want to get a bit more granular with your stylist, Valerie recommends asking for a mix of R+COLOR Stellar colors in shades like Beehive 6.3-G, Pony 7.03-NG, or Moon Shadow for a similar effect.
And don’t forget to show up to your salon with inspiration pics—we’ve heard from countless stylists that seeing visual images of your desired look helps them to better understand expectations and goals. Time to get to screenshotting!