Inside Tommy Dorfman’s Blonde Hair Transformation for the Met Gala 2022

Tonight, Tommy Dorfman made her debut at the Met Gala 2022. Riffing on this year’s theme, the actress harkened back to the Gilded Age by putting a modern twist on the era’s dress in a deep green rubber dress with cut-out details and golden embellishment in collaboration with Christopher Kane.

Her beauty look hit similar notes with a soft-focus glow inspired by 19th-century portraits, her makeup artist Shayna Gold creating flushed lips and cheeks with MAC Powder Kiss Liquid Lipcolour in Date-Maker and MAC Powder Blush in Burnt Pepper, respectively. Then there was her wispy updo crafted by hairstylist Blake Erik, which was accessorized with an ornate gold crown and artfully-placed Fred Leighton comb, each from the 19th century. If you noticed Dorfman shining brighter, it wasn’t just her luminous complexion and array of aureate accessories, but her fresh blonde hair color.

It was all about bringing Dorfman “back to her roots,” says New York colorist Jenna Perry, the pro behind the star’s newly bleached lengths. “I was so excited because it’s been a while since I’ve done a blonde makeover,” she continues. Last week, the pair met up at Perry’s East Village studio and, after three and a half hours, her new sandy blonde–inspired by Dorfman’s natural flaxen as a child—was complete. “Tommy’s hair was a light brown shade that wasn’t heavily processed at all, so it made for an easy transformation with balayage,” says Perry, who painted Dorfman’s entire head with balayage highlights, shifted her base for a seamless effect, and glossed it with a few layers of golden blonde tones.