7 Celebs Who Look Totally Different Without Their Hair Extensions

Celebrities wearing hair extensions is nothing new, with many relying on them to bump up their volume and length for countless years. If you see celebs on the red carpet or on a magazine cover with luscious locks, chances are that they're wearing extensions. It's essentially Hollywood's best-kept beauty secret, and while some stars would never admit to it, others aren't afraid to admit that they need some help in the hair department.

In an October 2024 episode of her eponymous talk show, Drew Barrymore interviewed Pamela Anderson and was so inspired by her natural, no-makeup movement that she began taking off all of her clip-on extensions. The audience gasped as she flung the hair pieces over her shoulder, but the change wasn't too drastic for the "Poison Ivy" star, as she's naturally blessed in the hair department. However, when many other celebs reveal their unextended strands, they look practically unrecognizable.

From waist-long hair to short, natural curls, Taraji P. Henson is a chameleon when it comes to her looks. Over the years, the "Empire" star has rocked long hair at various times, and when she does, you can bet that she has on extensions. For example, she wore Hidden Crown Hair Extensions to the 2024 Emmys. However, in September that year, Henson was seen with a fresh cut featuring long, side-swept bangs and an undercut. She's since kept her hair short, and we're loving this rock-star look on her.

Selena Gomez has been known for her glossy, brunette locks since becoming a Disney Channel star, but little did fans know that not 100% of them were hers. In a 2015 YouTube interview with Gomez, content creator Lilly Singh boasted about her naturally long hair, which the "Ramona and Beezus" star confirmed. She then announced, "Mine, however, is very fake." It's certainly refreshing to hear a celebrity admit that they regularly use extensions.

With her bone structure, Chrissy Teigen can rock any hairstyle, but she looks like a completely different person when sporting long or short strands. In December 2020, she went back to the '90s with the most iconic haircut of all time: The Rachel. "New hair who this, it's me obviously i don't get it," she quipped on Instagram. However, just five days later, she wowed fans with long, beachy waves, which she clearly achieved with the help of extensions. Perhaps Teigen realized that The Rachel should be firmly kept in the '90s.

It's well-known that Jennifer Lopez has been using hair extensions for as long as fans can remember, and she's even used them to fake bangs. However, she does give her scalp a break every now and then when she's not performing or walking the red carpet. In July 2023, the "Let's Get Loud" singer shared a series of pictures on Instagram to celebrate her birthday, and her normally cascading hair only reached past her shoulders. Lopez also forgoes extensions when she wears her hair in an updo and, instead, shows off her gorgeous natural waves, giving her a timeless, Old-Hollywood look.

Khloé Kardashian is another celeb who's been open about her use of extensions when she wants to go longer and fuller. Back in 2016, she wrote on her now-defunct website, "I love to play with lengths, so I have lots of variety in my extensions" (via Us Weekly). She also shared her simple tips for taking care of hair extensions, which included washing them with shampoo and conditioner and then finishing them off with a blow-dry. When she takes a break from weaves, Kardashian is known to rock a chic lob, which is one of her best hairstyles to date if you ask us.

Katy Perry has had a stunning hair transformation over the years, and fans never know what style they'll see her in next. She looks amazing in anything from a short, blond pixie to straight, ebony tresses that trail down the length of her back. Fans who want to emulate Perry's long locks can grab the same extensions the "Woman's World" singer wears from Glam Seamless. In August 2024, the company wrote in an Instagram post, "Spotted: @katyperry in @glamseamless extensions! Katy is wearing shade Jet Black 1."

A part of Jessica Simpson's signature look is her long, iconic blond hair, which she doesn't always love. In August 2020, she posted a selfie of herself with shoulder-length locks that looked naturally thick and healthy without the help of extensions. "This is blurry, but good Lord I love to be extension free," she wrote on Instagram. These days, Simpson is back to her super-long tresses, and we wouldn't be surprised if she went back to wearing extensions. After all, a celeb's gotta do what it takes to be red-carpet ready at all times.