Dakota Johnson's Beauty Evolution
When you’re born the daughter of Melanie Griffith, and your step-dad just so happens to be Antonio Banderas, it’s pretty much a guarantee that you’ll grow up feeling super cozy in the spotlight. Toss an instant cinematic hit like Fifty Shades of Grey, which racked in more than $500 million at the box office, and its steamy sequel, and it doesn't seem exactly shocking that Dakota Johnson quickly climbed the ranks in the Hills to become a Hollywood legend herself. You can blame Dakota’s rise to fame on her unassuming charm, but we’d also like to pin it to her all-American beauty aesthetic that often errs on the natural side — though, to be fair, Dakota’s gone for some pretty daring styles in recent years and managed to nail every single one of them. Did we mention that she’s even gone from brunette, to a rich shade of red, to bright blonde, and back to brunette again?
Check out some of her best looks to date for yourself, and prepare to be blown away — not unlike you were when leaving the theater after Fifty Shades.
1/23See some of the actress's best beauty moments to date.
2/23August 2003
You have the 2000’s to thank for the black, military-style hat Dakota’s rocking over her two adorable pigtail braids. Fresh-faced as ever, Dakota’s look is surprisingly low-maintenance.
3/23November 2008
Dakota’s practically unrecognizable with a caramel-colored bob, but her silky strands are enough for us to give ourselves another spritz of shine spray, stat.
4/23November 2011
A few years later, Dakota switches her hair color up again, appearing with significantly lighter strands and the signature red lip we now know and love.
5/23August 2012
Bronze goddess alert! Dakota’s sunkissed cheeks bring out the emerald hues in her eyes — and her shadow color.
6/23October 2012
Dakota’s brow-grazing fringe and soft waves are enough to convince us to consider the scissors.
7/23November 2013
This look is a serious departure from Dakota’s usual laidback style. Her scraped-back updo and smoky makeup register fairly high on our scale of chicness.
8/23September 2014
Back to blonde! Dakota opts for pink lips and minimal makeup to complement her bright new hue.
Steve Granitz9/23January 2015
Dakota keeps it pretty and simple for the 2015 Golden Globes, debuting soft waves and messy bangs. Pink lips that are just a hint of a shade darker than her natural pout give her IRL appeal.
10/23February 2015
Anastasia, is that you? Dakota looks every bit her onscreen counterpart with straight hair and face-framing bangs. She tops it all off with a raspberry lip to fully bring the drama.
11/23May 2015
Dakota fully commits to the chop with a blunt new bob(!). In honor of Vogue’s annual Met Gala, she styles her hair extra messy but keeps her cat eye super sleek.
12/23September 2015
It’s clear that Dakota has left her long-hair-don’t-care days way behind her — perhaps for good — with this straight, sophisticated bob and subtle highlights.
13/23September 2015
Dakota turns the volume way up on her hair with mussed-up curls, but its her gunmetal gray eyeshadow that steals the show.
14/23September 2015
Dakota’s giving us serious Audrey Hepburn vibes with her bangs pushed to the side. Clean skin and a bright red lip seem the perfect way to finish off this look.
15/23October 2015
Move over, Christian Grey. It’s our turn to swoon — over Dakota’s covetable half-up, half-down style.
16/23November 2015
The jury is still out, debating whether Dakota’s dark lip or the white liner she used to make her eyes pop is the best part of this look. Stay tuned for the final decision…
17/23February 2016
If there’s one beauty lesson Dakota has learned over the years, it’s that she looks damn good in a classic red lip. Her shiny pout even rivals the shininess of her strands.
18/23February 2016
Dakota sticks to a pretty, peachy palette for the premiere of her film How To Be Single, rocking an apricot-colored lipstick and matching shadow on the red carpet.
19/23February 2017
If you haven’t seen the full details of Dakota’s braid all over Instagram, find a pic ASAP. Her intricately woven style practically left us weak in the knees. Not to mention, we’re loving her new dark hair color.
Photo: Getty Images20/23February 2017
Dakota’s always held a top spot in the half-topknot game, but this mod take on the style was one of her best yet. Pared-down makeup (do we spy a hint of a cat eye?) completed her look.
Photo: Getty Images21/23February 2017
Unlike her onscreen alter ego, Dakota indulges in a little glam time, opting for a messy bun and larger-than-life lashes that perfectly bring out the blue in her eyes.
Photo: Getty Images22/23February 2017
On the red carpet, Dakota laughingly said she wasn’t wearing any makeup. But given how long her lashes look — and how perfectly tinted pink her lips appear to be — we’re pretty positive it was just a joke. She chose a polished half-updo to offset the high collar of her silky gown.
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