The 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 11, 2026, served as the ultimate stage for a hair debut that sent social media into a tailspin. Joe Keery, the man whose gravity-defying locks earned him the moniker “The Hair” during his tenure on Stranger Things, stepped onto the Beverly Hilton red carpet with a radical new look: a full head of bleach-blonde highlights. No longer the chestnut-haired Steve Harrington, Keery has officially entered a new era of personal style that bridges the gap between his screen persona and his flourishing musical identity as Djo. As “Magazine World” explores, this transformation was more than just a change in color—it was a definitive signal that Keery is ready to shed his past and embrace a post-Hawkins future with a suave, high-fashion edge.
A New Vision in Louis Vuitton
Keery’s sartorial choices for the evening perfectly complemented his bold new hair color. The actor and musician opted for a custom Louis Vuitton ensemble that prioritized clean lines and a sophisticated color palette. He wore a crisp, cream-colored blazer that provided a luminous contrast to his lightened locks, paired with classic black trousers and polished dress shoes. The choice of a light-colored jacket served to draw the eye upward, ensuring that his blonde transformation remained the focal point of his silhouette.
The outfit was expertly styled by Chloe Hartstein, who has become a frequent collaborator in Keery’s fashion journey. By leaning into the structural elegance of Louis Vuitton, Keery moved away from the more casual, vintage-inspired aesthetics of his early career. Accessories were kept intentional and minimal: a pair of Persol sunglasses tucked into his pocket added a touch of “off-duty movie star” cool, while the lack of a tie lent the look a modern, relaxed energy. It was a masterclass in “New Hollywood” formalwear, balancing the formality of the Globes with a distinct, personal flare.
The Evolution of “The Hair”
For fans of Stranger Things, Keery’s hair has always been a character in its own right. After years of maintaining the signature 80s-inspired coif, this bleach-blonde shift represents a “visual exhale.” Following the wrap of the show’s final season, the transition feels like a deliberate break from the character of Steve Harrington. While Keery had previously experimented with frosted tips during the Season 5 premiere in November 2025, the full-blonde look at the Golden Globes marks a complete commitment to this new aesthetic.
The reaction online was immediate and deeply divided, with some fans praising the “main character energy” of the look and others mourning the loss of his natural brown tones. Regardless of the mixed reviews, the haircut achieved its primary goal: it commanded the conversation. In an industry where the red carpet is often a sea of predictable choices, Keery’s willingness to experiment with his most famous asset proves that he is not afraid to take risks. He has traded “babysitter-turned-hero” vibes for a look that feels more aligned with his status as a chart-topping indie-pop star.
Djo and the Music-Fashion Nexus
The timing of this blonde era is no coincidence. Off-screen, Keery’s musical project, Djo, has reached unprecedented heights. His track “End of Beginning” recently climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, making him a rare multi-hyphenate who commands respect in both Hollywood and the music industry. The blonde hair feels intrinsically tied to this “Djo energy”—it’s a look that feels at home on a festival stage or a Parisian runway (as evidenced by his recent appearance at the Louis Vuitton Men’s Fall/Winter 2026 show in Paris just days after the Globes).
During the ceremony, Keery took the stage as a presenter alongside Charli XCX to announce the winner of Best Original Song. The pairing was a stroke of genius, uniting two of the year’s most culturally relevant figures in a moment that fans quickly dubbed “Djorli.” Standing next to the “Brat” singer, Keery’s blonde hair and ivory blazer fit perfectly within the avant-garde, trend-setting atmosphere of the 2026 awards season. It was a night that solidified his place not just as a talented actor, but as a central figure in the modern pop culture zeitgeist.
Looking Toward a Post-Hawkins Future
As the 2026 awards season progresses, Keery’s blonde transformation will likely be remembered as one of the most significant “rebranding” moments of the year. By successfully navigating the transition from a beloved TV character to a high-fashion muse and global music sensation, he is setting a new blueprint for young actors. The Golden Globes was simply the starting point for this “blonde era,” which shows no signs of slowing down as he continues to make waves at fashion weeks across Europe.
What remains clear is that Joe Keery understands the power of the visual. Whether it’s through the lyrics of his songs or the color of his hair, he is constantly evolving and inviting his audience to come along for the ride. He has proven that he can survive the “Upside Down” and emerge on the other side looking sharper, brighter, and more confident than ever. For Joe Keery, the end of the beginning has truly arrived, and it is dazzlingly, unapologetically blonde.
