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Seriously, it was difficult to pare down.
Since exploding onto the scene as Joey Potter (Dawson’s Creek’s literal girl next door) in the late ’90s, Katie Holmes has been a beacon of all-American beauty. Should you need physical evidence, just take a look at her hair. Holmes made her debut with a mane of medium-length brunette, and as the years progressed, so did her styling choices—though always with certain qualities in mind. A sense of approachable softness tends to feature, as does the sort of careless refinement often associated with French girl beauty standards. And though length, shape, and texture may change, Holmes remains true to varied shades of brunette.
Throughout the course of her decades-long career, Holmes has become something of a fashion darling, a mainstay within the front rows of Michael Kors, Ulla Johnson, and more. Holmes is currently collaborating with French clothing brand A.P.C., the joint collection celebrating Holmes’s longtime dedication to the brand along with her own iconic sophistication. Her style side has only furthered her approach to beauty, lending to out-of-the-box, experimental styles (often the work of hairstylist DJ Quintero) that somehow remain true to her overarching aesthetic. From long, thinned-out ’00s layers to sophisticated pixies, beach waves to bouncy blowouts, Holmes’s take on hair serves as a “how-to” for anyone eager to iterate on their tried-and-true beauty look.
Read on for a selection of Holmes's endlessly elegant hair moments.
Updo Era
Holmes dominated the pop culture space in the late ‘90s, and this intricate updo is the ultimate embodiment of the time period—and the sort of styles making a comeback today. A subtle segmenting at the crown transforms a simple topknot into something a touch funkier.
Y2K Taper
The new millennium found everyone embracing layers (see: “The Rachel,” as popularized by Jennifer Aniston). Katie Holmes’s take on the classic cut is all about face-framing layers snipped tapered and thin, along with the era’s requisite highlights.
Long Layers
Holmes is often associated with medium-length brunettes, so a lengthening is always worthy of note. A variety of layers (chin-skimming to extra-long), a deep side part, and gently curled ends put a playful and glamorous spin on the girl next door beauty.
Elegant Updo
Post-Oscars parties call for elegance, a mandate that Holmes meets with a super-slicked French twist and a decadent barrette. The choice feels both fun and refined, descriptors that apply to several of the looks on this list.
Full-Fringe Pixie
A pixie becomes an insouciant shag when finished with a full fringe. This chic, abbreviated style was among a series of shorter stints, a more mature departure that Holmes carries with ease.
Feathered Blowout
The actor's take on a bombshell blowout owes something to the ‘70s. A soft, feathered finish and blended bohemian bangs offer the sort of sumptuous volume sought after in the present tense.
Low-Slung Updo
A loosely pinned, low-slung updo communicates effortless grace. This style features a frame of flyaways and partial tucks that further its nonchalant nature. Consider this your answer for day-to-night summer styling.
Combed Crown
Holmes is not one to shy away from a dramatic look, and she knows how to make it her own. This combed-back blowout keeps the focus on Holmes’s face while adding lift and volume, the longer and straight interpretation of a contemporary take on Jackie O’s signature style.
Ironed Maiden
An extra-long ‘00s ironed mane isn’t an obvious choice for the actor, who generally tends toward softer looks. But for a futuristic appearance at the Met Gala, Holmes debuted down-to-there lengths, and the result was striking, stylized, and a reminder of the power of hyper-polish.
Piecey Bangs
Fringe isn’t necessarily a part of Holmes’s regular rotation, but these bangs deserve a mention. Full yet wispy, the lash-skimming snip is balanced by similarly piecey texture at the ends.
Triple Knot
This Star Wars-inspired look is an unexpected stunner. Rather than a simple single topknot, Holmes opted for a trio, each section pulled into a neat yet unfinished twist. Though the moment could read costumey, Holmes's styling and carry-off transform the style into something wholly wearable.
Air-Dried Waves
An easy way to make aesthetic waves? Embrace your own. Whether borne of her own texture or the result of a braided hairstyle, Holmes’s soft, full-bodied waves get their polish from a deep side part and a glossy finish.
Clean Knot
Sometimes the most noteworthy hairstyles are also the simplest. This raked-back knot finished at the nape of the neck, hair scraped off of the face for a simple and luxurious look—an ideal answer to wash day hair.
Pretty Plait
A side braid is better with a side bang. The actor’s long, simple plait plays well with a coif of fringe parted to frame her face.
Boho Lengths
Holmes is in her free-spirited era, volleying between easy blowouts and curtain bangs and long, rumpled waves, each look communicating an earned identity of fashionable ease.