This ‘Stranger Things’ Star Looks So Different Now

Just a few days before the long awaited release of Stranger Things season two, Natalia Dyer did a very un–Nancy Wheeler thing. While we’re used to seeing the actress with a shaggy brown bob similar to the eighties-style waves Nancy wears on the show, Natalia has a new hairstyle that’s a far departure from what we’ve seen since she catapulted to overnight stardom. Think more slapping-Steve-in-the-face-and-shooting-a-Demogorgon badass than Barb’s timid “good girl” best friend. While her new cut still grazes her shoulders, she’s traded it in for brow-sweeping bangs, blunt ends—a trend taking off among celebrities—and a lived-in dirty blond hue that’s going by the name of “cream soda” as of late.

Like how the Upside Down happened or where Eleven’s been taking the Eggos Hopper leaves for her, we’ve got theories on why the sudden change. Around this time last year, she mentioned an interview with Glamour that her life has changed tremendously since the release of the show’s first season. “Living in New York, just getting stopped on the street often and having people talk about the show is crazy and wonderful. It’s great! But it’s definitely something to get used to,” she said. “People do recognize me. I walk around with sunglasses, and I think I’m hidden, but they see me.”

It’s possible that this hair change had some deeper roots—no pun intended—that were tied to wanting a less recognizable look. Or, hey, she’s got a busy press tour coming up and wanted something new. One thing we do know, on the red carpet for the show’s premiere, she told Glamour she’s definitely still getting used to the change: “Sometimes I wake up and look in the mirror and am like, ‘Whoa!’ I don’t know if I’m having more fun, but I’m having a lot of fun. So far so good.”

In the meantime, while we patiently await the show’s premiere tomorrow, we’ll leave you with this teaser about Nancy’s season-two look that Natalia revealed in our October 2017 issue: “I told the people in the show’s hair department, ‘Next season, I’m down. Perm my hair.'” TBH, not a crazy thing to ask for.

PS: Natalia isn’t the only one who changed her hair from Stranger Things. You’ve got to see what Eleven’s hair looks like now.

Related Stories:
-Why Shannon Purser A.K.A. Barb Had to Quit Her Movie Theater Job Because of Stranger Things
-This New ‘Stranger Things 2’ Clip Shows How Eleven Escaped the Upside Down
-The Final, Fright-Filled ‘Stranger Things’ Trailer Is Here