Ellen DeGeneres Debuts Gray Hair Transformation After Return From U.K.

Ellen DeGeneres stepped out in Los Angeles without her signature blonde pixie cut months after her reported move to the United Kingdom with wife Portia de Rossi.

By Gabrielle Chung Jan 14, 2025 10:55 PM
| Updated Jan 15, 2025 12:06 AM
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Watch: Ellen DeGeneres Reveals New Gray Hair Transformation After Return From U.K.

Ellen DeGeneres is back on her old stomping grounds.

Two months after making headlines with her and wife Portia de Rossi's reported move to England, the former talk show host was spotted stepping out in Montecito, Calif., where the couple had sold off multiples homes last year.

While the seaside town is familiar territory for Ellen, she looked almost unrecognizable with gray hair during the Jan. 14 outing. However, the comedian stuck to her casual style, sporting a dark pullover, blue jeans and white sneakers.

So, does this stateside sighting mean Ellen is making a return to Hollywood? Not quite.

“This is the last time you’re going to see me,” she told the crowd in July during a comedy show in Santa Rosa, Calif., per SFGate. "After my Netflix special, I’m done."

And in her For Your Approval special, released in September, the comedian addressed her fallout from the public spotlight amid allegations of a toxic work environment at The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

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Get a Glimpse Inside Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi’s New Life in England

"I got kicked out of show business," the 66-year-old quipped. "You can't be mean and be in show business. No, they'll kick you out. No mean people in show business."

Since then, Ellen and Portia—who have been married since 2008—reportedly moved to rural England. In November, they were spotted out in Burford, a small town northwest of London, with friend Natalie Imbruglia.

As seen in an Instagram video posted by the "Torn" singer, the longtime couple enjoyed drinks together at The Farmer’s Dog, a local pub owned by Top Gear alum Jeremy Clarkson.

JISH / BACKGRID

"The way a good pub night should be," Natalie wrote in a joint post with the bar. "Acoustic set, a few drinks, great friends."

During the intimate night out, Ellen was also seen rocking noticeably darker locks—a departure from her signature golden pixie cut. But, as the Finding Dory star once explained, she hasn't always been a blonde.

“When you have short hair, you have to color it often, 'cause my hair grows really fast," Ellen explained during a 2019 episode of her eponymous talk show. "I'm constantly coloring it, so it always looks different when you watch the show. Some days it's a different tone."

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

And sometimes, the dye job can take a toll.

“My hair was falling out," she recounted of a particular hair fiasco. "Like literally, I would touch my head and hair was falling out. I think my hair was so embarrassed, it didn't want anything to do with my head and said, 'I'm getting out of here.'"

But Ellen isn't the only celeb who has changed up their hair color in recent times. Keep reading for more jaw-dropping transformations.

Sami Sheen

The daughter of Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards shared her at-home hair dying journey, including its many missteps, on TikTok and raved about the results.

“I've been wanting to do this to my hair for years now," she said, "and I'm so happy that I finally did it.”

Carrie Underwood

Trading in her signature golden locks, the country music star wrote on Instagram in August 2025, "Well, the last time I saw my natural hair color, I was probably about 12 years old, but I thought it might be time to give it a second chance."

Jason Momoa

In July 2025, the actor shaved off his beard for the first time in six years to film Dune: Part Three, which required him to rock a clean shaven look to reprise his role of Duncan Idaho.

Kelly Clarkson

The American Idol winner debuted a shorter hairdo in a July 2025 The Voice promo, trading her signature blonde waves for a shorter, darker bob style.

Chris Pratt

The actor debuted a bearded look, which he sports on season two of The Terminal List, in June 2025.

Finn Wolfhard

The Stranger Things star changed up his trademark shaggy hairstyle in May 2025 by debuting a buzzcut at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Tokyo, Japan.

Sebastian Stan

The Marvel actor said goodbye to Bucky Barnes' signature long hair in April 2025, showing off a shaved head at the Los Angeles premiere of Thunderbolts*.

JoJo Siwa

In March 2025, the "Karma" singer debuted her rainbow mohawk at the GLAAD Media Awards. 

Emily Ratajkowski

In a March 2025 TikTok video, the model called this 'do with shaggy bangs the "worst haircut of my life."

Gypsy Rose Blanchard

The Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup star debuted a short bob in March 2025, more than two months after giving birth to her and fiancé Ken Urker's first child, daughter Aurora Urker.

Whitney Rose

The formerly blond Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star debuted a red bob on Watch What Happens Live in January 2025.

Hailey Bieber

The model debuted lighter locks in September 2024, a month after giving birth to her and Justin Bieber's first baby, son Jack Blues Bieber.

Lily Collins

The Emily in Paris star debuted her dramatic transformation at the world premiere of her new horror movie, MAXXXINE, in June 2024. 

"Changing my hair always brings out different sides of my personality and I love playing around," Lily told Vogue. "This cut and color feels bolder and yet somehow lighter. And completely more me—right now."

Katie Holmes

While attending Chanel's Tribeca Film Festival Artists dinner in June 2024, Katie debuted a subtle, yet striking transformation of rich caramel balayage highlights that were blended throughout her brunette tresses.

Kylie Jenner

The Kardashians star debuted a platinum blonde look and a bob haircut after rocking waist-length strands for quite some time.

"Did someone say they missed king kylie," Kylie teased in the caption of her June 8 Instagram post, to which her sister Khloe Kardashian cheekily replied, "I did! I did!!!!!!"

Lisa Rinna

The former Bravo star debuted a platinum blonde look during 2024 Paris Fashion Week Haute Couture.

Priyanka Chopra

The Heads of State star debuted a drastic haircut—a shoulder-grazing bob—while attending a Bulgari event in Rome i May 2024. 

Jessica Biel

In May 2024, the actress chopped her hair into a bob that many fans on social media said reminded them of one of the looks she sported as Mary Camden on the '90s series 7th Heaven.

Megan Fox

The Transformers actress returned to her dark brown tresses and debuted a sassy bob in May 2024, a month after she dyed her hair blue to enter what she dubbed her "Jedi era."

Dannielynn Birkhead

At age 17, the daughter of the late Anna Nicole Smith debuted a new lob hairstyle overnight during 2024 Kentucky Derby weekend, which she attended with dad Larry Birkhead.

Demi Lovato

The singer debuted a lighter, shorter 'do in April 2024.

Kelly Osbourne

The Fashion Police alum debuted a blonde bombshell hair transformation May 8.

Kim Kardashian

Back to blonde: Kim debuted a new platinum 'do in April 2024.

Rihanna

The Fenty Beauty founder debuted a bright blonde hair transformation April 17 while celebrating her latest Fenty x Puma collection in London.

Delilah Belle Hamlin

The model debuted a bleach blonde pixie cut at the FRAME event April 4.

Megan Fox

The Jennifer's Body star traded in her bubblegum pink tresses for a baby blue bob, which she debuted April 2.

Zendaya

Less than a month afer chopping her hair into a long bob, Zendaya debuted a honey blonde transformation at the Challengers premiere March 26.

Elle Fanning

The Great star ushered in spring with a fresh cut, as she debuted a long bob March 25.

Rachel McAdams

The Mean Girls alum swapped out her signature blonde hair for a dark brunette transformation on March 18.

Bre Tiesi

The Selling Sunset star looked completely unrecognizable after debuting a dramatic blonde transformation March 16.

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