Reese Witherspoon's 12 Best Hair Looks Are the Epitome of Effortless Glamour

Loose Waves

Witherspoon wore gorgeous loose beach waves to the Golden Globes back in 2012. While the look is effortless, it also has a luxurious feel. James tells us that the key to achieving this look is creating volume. "Blow dry your hair with a medium round brush to create lift at the roots and apply a volumizing spray to provide hold without stiffness," he says. "Once each section has been blow-dried, let the hair set before using a barrel curler to curl each section. To finish, tip your head upside down and apply texture spray underneath and towards the root area to create separation."

Textured Bob

Here, Witherspoon shows us what a perfect choppy bob should look like. The side-swept parting gives the look a chic and classy twist. We also love that her hair hasn't been overstyled, so her beautiful bob can take center stage. When recreating Witherspoon's sharp cut, you'll need to keep the length at the front slightly longer than the back but with zero layers.

"The cut needs to be fairly blunt with some soft texture through the ends to allow movement in the hair," James says. To create effortless bends in your hair, use a flat iron and finish with a hairspray of your choice.

Bronde Waves

Witherspoon wore relaxed bronde waves at the Sing 2 premiere in 2021. While her wavy hair makes a bold statement, it’s been styled in such a way to keep the focus on her natural makeup and stunning outfit. To create this look, you’ll need a paddle brush, barrel curling iron, and hair serum to add shine.

Slicked Back

This is one of Witherspoon's bolder looks. The most important thing to consider when recreating this slicked-back look is the products you'll use. To achieve and maintain the wet look, use a gel and hair serum. "The serum will keep the hair looking wet while the gel will set the hair so it looks sleek but will also provide hold. For additional hold, use a firm hold hairspray," James says.

Bouncy Blowouts

Witherspoon has worn a number of bouncy blowouts on the red carpet through the years, and it’s clear why. The voluminous style flatters her face shape, especially when parted on the side. Aside from being elegant and voluminous, we love that this style works for all textures and lengths.

Classic Glam

At the premiere of Disney's A Wrinkle In Time, Witherspoon gave us a masterclass in classic, glamorous curls. "Curl your hair with a one-inch iron as [your curls will] need to be a bit tighter to recreate this look," Vorhees says. "After curling, run your fingers through your hair and tease the ends slightly, pushing the hair up to add volume throughout."

Straight and Sleek

While we love that Witherspoon has played it relatively safe with her hair, this look is a worthy exception. The actress' straight locks have been dyed a brighter blonde, and extensions appear to have been added to create volume. When using a flat iron to achieve this look, always use a heat protectant and finish with a serum for shine.

Side Bang Ponytail

At the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival, Witherspoon sported an effortless updo and accompanying side bangs. To achieve this look, you’ll need to start with the bangs first. Use a round brush to blow dry them in the direction you want them to lay before styling the rest of your hair. Voorhees suggests pulling extra fringe around your face and ears to soften the look a bit more.

Elegant Waves

Witherspoon's waves are incredibly chic. While loose beachy waves like this tend to have a casual feel, the shine on her hair makes it feel glossier and more polished. James tells us that the trick to achieving this look lies in using lots of shine-boosting products when styling—like Hair Proud Glass Hair Smoothing Shine Spray ($9).

Choppy Bob

If you’re looking for a playful and fresh style, take some inspiration from Witherspoon’s choppy bob. A contemporary take on the classic bob, this look can be elevated by opting for slightly heavier layering to create a shaggy, uneven texture. Add a few loose waves and bends to your hair to give the look an added edge.

Hollywood Glam

We love the Marilyn Monroe vibes coming from Reese's beautiful, ultra-polished waves. "Curl each section of hair away from the face so that the hair will sit nicely behind your ear," James says. "On the opposite side, create curls in the direction of the face so that when the hair is brushed out, it falls on the face like Reese's. After curling all the sections, allow the hair to cool down for at least 20-30 minutes."

Tousled Waves

When it comes to effortless styles, tousled waves will always be a popular choice because you won’t need to spend too much time on styling. Here, Witherspoon keeps things simple with some sexy, tousled waves that are a complete contrast to her chic red carpet look. You’ll need a dry texture spray to break up the waves and add lasting volume and movement to the look.