Roseanne Barr’s New Look at 71: Long Blonde Dreads or Just a Wig?
Roseanne Barr never shies away from making headlines, and her latest hair transformation has gotten people talking. At 71, she appeared on social media wearing long, platinum blonde dreadlocks or so it seemed. But was this a permanent change, or just another of her bold styling moments? I dove into the details so you can decide for yourself.
What We Saw: Blonde Locs, Dreads & Braids
When Roseanne dropped a video on Instagram promoting her upcoming shows at Cap City Comedy Club in Austin, Texas, she stunned fans with what looked like long blonde dreadlocks intertwined with braids. She paired the look with a pink top and a baseball cap.
The appearance sent fans into a frenzy. Comments ranged from cheers: “Love the hair Rosie!” to critiques “Why does she have locs?” Conversations around “style,” “identity,” and “cultural appropriation” bubbled up quickly.
Is It Real or a Wig? Snopes Checks In
Here’s the kicker: the long blonde locs weren’t permanent. According to fact‑checks, Roseanne was wearing a wig in that video.
Snopes reported that her team confirmed the hair was a wig, not her natural or permanently styled hair. So while the look was bold and attention‑grabbing, it was more performance than new “everyday” Roseanne.
Past Hair Choices: Roseanne’s Evolving Style
Roseanne has always toyed with dramatic style changes. A few years ago, she debuted a cropped pixie cut, showing off her natural hair after years of longer, gray locks.
Back in 2011, she also posted a photo with real dreadlocks showing she’s tried this look before. But even then, many fans wondered if that was permanent or just for fun.
What People Are Saying: Praise, Criticism & Cultural Talk
Appreciation & Support
A lot of fans loved the look. Comments like “You go girl!”, “That hair is fire”, and “Rosie, this suits you!” flooded social media feeds. Many said she looked youthful, edgy, and bold.
Concern & Critique
But not everyone was on board. Some raised concerns about cultural appropriation whether Roseanne, a white comedian, wearing locs or dreadlocks borrowed from Black culture crosses a line.
Other fans were simply surprised. They wondered why she opted for such a dramatic hairstyle, even if temporarily.
Why This Wig Move Matters
- Image & Branding
Roseanne has long been a polarizing figure, with her persona deeply tied to outrageousness and unpredictability. A wig like this keeps up that brand attention-grabbing, slightly shocking, pushing boundaries. It’s part of her showmanship.
- Conversation Starter
This look got people talking not just about her hair, but about race, culture, aging, identity. Sometimes the point isn’t to stay subtle; it’s to stir up dialogue. And Roseanne is no stranger to that.
- Flexibility
Because it’s a wig, she can explore the look without committing permanently. She can switch back to natural, cut, color, or whatever next. That flexibility is key. Changing your hair radically when you have a public platform can cost you image, relationships, or endorsements wig or not.
The Age Factor: Style at 71
Roseanne is 71, and many fans pointed out how impressive her willingness to experiment still is. Society often expects older people especially women to “tone down,” but she’s going the opposite direction. That’s bold. That’s what she’s known for.
She shows that age isn’t a limit on self-expression. Wearing something surprising at 71? That’s stepping into power, unapologetically.
Cultural Appropriation: The Bigger Conversation
Wearing locs or decorative braids isn’t just fashion it carries cultural and historic weight. Critics argue that when individuals outside of that culture adopt those styles, it can feel disrespectful or dismissive of the heritage.
Roseanne’s appearance reignited that debate. Some say she’s appropriating; others say people should be able to wear what they like. It’s messy. And that’s part of the discussion.
What Roseanne’s Team Has Confirmed
Yes, the video was real, and she was genuinely wearing long blonde dreadlocks and braids in that clip.
It was later revealed to be a wig. So her natural hair is not changed permanently for this look.
Fan Reactions: Truth and Memes
Roseanne’s wig moment inspired memes, surprise, admiration, and criticism. Many people celebrated the bravery of trying something new. Others questioned authenticity or cultural sensitivity. Still more just remarked, “Hey, she’s still making waves.” That might be exactly what she wanted.
Comparisons with Other Celebrities
Roseanne isn’t the only older public figure to experiment with unconventional hairstyles. A‑list celebs like Madonna, Lizzo, and others have pushed boundaries in their 50s, 60s, even 70s.
Roseanne’s wig move fits a bigger cultural moment age and aesthetics are becoming more fluid. It’s less weird, more accepted, more expected that people redefine their look even later in life.
What It Says About Roseanne Today
This hair reveal says several things about her current place in the public eye:
She’s still very much curious and bold.
She’s aware of her controversial reputation and leans into it.
She’s using style and image as a form of self‑expression, political messaging, and attention.
