What The Big Bang Theory's Melissa Rauch Looks Like Without Blond Hair (She's Unrecognizable)

"The Big Bang Theory" had a lot of memorable characters who each had their own quirky personality, and the show wouldn't have been complete without Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz, played by Melissa Rauch. Rostenkowski-Wolowitz is known for her squeaky voice and gorgeous blond hair, which she often wore in thick, loose waves around her face. The golden tresses weren't a big stretch for Rauch, as she wears her hair blond in real life as well, but we at Glam were curious to see what she'd look like as a brunette.

Melissa Rauch has had a complete transformation since her first appearance on "The Big Bang Theory" in 2007, but the one thing that has remained constant is her blond hair. With her fair complexion and light brows, it's hard to imagine her in any other shade, but once we used Photoshop to darken Rauch's tresses, we were amazed at how striking she looked. Hint: We definitely wouldn't be surprised if "The Big Bang Theory" fans don't recognize the actor at all with darker locks!

Melissa Rauch's blond hair matched her "The Big Bang Theory" character's perky and sometimes bossy personality, but when we worked our magic and switched her hair to a deep-brunette shade, she instantly looked like a completely different person. The "Night Court" actor's blond hair works with her skin tone, but the contrast of the chestnut shade brought out her features more. Of course, Rauch would have to darken her brows a bit to match, but she could also play around with bolder makeup looks like vampy matte lips, which are the epitome of the anti-clean girl trend, to complement a deeper hair color.

It's not surprising that Rauch looks stunning with dark hair, as brunette is her natural color. In 2021, she shared a childhood school photo on Facebook that revealed she was born with dark locks. "Right before the school photographer snapped this pic he said, 'Your bow is crooked.' I didn't register what he meant and thought it was another way of saying: 'Say cheese!' The look on my face is trying to figure out how to respond," she wrote. Rauch went on to say that although she was upset at how the picture came out, her mom assured her that the crooked bow made it all the more special. "She was right. May all your bows be crooked," she stated. While many loved her story, a surprised fan asked, "She [is] not blond?" We were shocked to learn that as well, as Rauch wears her blond hair so well that it was once an important part of "The Big Bang Theory."

During Season 8 of "The Big Bang Theory," it was revealed that Melissa Rauch's character, Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz, used to compete in pageant shows. In a video of her vying for the title of Miss California Quiznos in 1999, Rostenkowski-Wolowitz was seen wearing a sparkly pink dress with her blond hair piled high on top of her head. Following the episode, Rauch revealed to Glamour that she spent almost three hours in hair and makeup to look the part. "It took a village just to hold my head straight so I didn't tip over from the weight of the hair," she quipped. Despite the long prep, the actor shared, "I had a blast shooting it! I love me some big hair. We only did a few takes, excluding me practicing in my bathroom mirror, that is..."

While "The Big Bang Theory" is sadly over, fans can watch Rauch in the reboot of "Night Court," in which she's still rocking her signature golden hair as Judge Abby Stone, complete with blunt bangs of the Tumblr twee renaissance. Fans also got a flashback of "The Big Bang Theory" when Rauch posted an Instagram picture of her and Mayim Bialik together on March 7, 2025. "Reunited and it feels SO good. Don't miss the incredible @missmayim on a special Friday night airing of #NightCourt TONIGHT at 8:30/7:30c on @NBC," she announced. Rauch may have moved on from her "The Big Bang Theory" days, but she continues to make viewers laugh while sporting her gorgeous blond hair.

Now, for some throwback fun, check out the complete transformation of "The Big Bang Theory" star Mayim Bialik.