They say you should never make a major beauty change right before your wedding—chopping your hair, starting a new skincare routine, or drastically changing your color is strictly off-limits. Yet Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy nearly broke that rule the day before her highly publicized wedding to John F. Kennedy Jr.
Last summer, I spoke with colorist Brad Johns after the first images from Ryan Murphy’s Love Story series—which follows Bessette and Kennedy’s relationship—were released to a strong public reaction. Johns was the go-to colorist of the 1990s. When he opened his namesake salon on Fifth Avenue, it had just eight chairs and attracted both fashion icons like Kate Moss and Christy Turlington and actual royalty. During our conversation, he shared how he perfected Bessette-Kennedy’s signature “child at the beach” hair color using his own chunking technique, something the two of them “worked really hard to get right.”
But, he added, that look almost didn’t make it to her wedding. “The day before her wedding, Carolyn came in to see me at the salon,” Johns told me over the phone. “I didn’t know anything about the wedding. I loved her, and she was my friend, but I didn’t know him. She sat down and told me, ‘we have to change my color.’”
He was stunned—especially when she followed with, “I want to go black.” His reply was brief and clear: “I told her, ‘I’m not doing that.’”
Bessette-Kennedy admitted she was nervous, explaining, “‘something big was happening and I want to look different.’” Still, he held his ground.
When photos from the wedding eventually surfaced, Johns was glad he had refused. “I called Carolyn and said, ‘How do you think you would have looked in that Narciso dress with a black bun?’” he recalled. “She was relieved and said she trusted me.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Carolyn BessetteKennedys prewedding hair consideration designed to answer questions from general curiosity to more detailed historical interest
General Beginner Questions
1 What is this story about
This is a wellknown anecdote from the wedding of Carolyn Bessette and John F Kennedy Jr The day before their secret 1996 wedding Carolyn famous for her sleek blonde hair seriously considered cutting it all off into a very short pixie cut
2 Why did she want to cut her hair right before her wedding
The exact reason isnt publicly known but its widely interpreted as a lastminute desire for a dramatic personal change or a statement of individuality on the cusp of a very public life Some suggest it was nerves or a wish to control her image in her own way
3 Did she actually go through with the haircut
No she did not Her hairstylist Sally Hershberger reportedly talked her out of it and she was married with her signature long blonde hair
4 Who was her hairstylist
Her hairstylist was the renowned Sally Hershberger who created Carolyns iconic sleek blonde look
5 What was her actual wedding hairstyle
She wore her hair down in its signature stylelong straight and centerpartedwith a simple ivory silk crepe dress by Narciso Rodriguez The look is considered a landmark in minimalist bridal fashion
Advanced Detailed Questions
6 Why is this such a famous story in fashionpop culture history
It highlights the tension between personal identity and public expectation Carolyn was a private person entering Americas most famous family The contemplated haircut symbolizes a rebellious modern impulse against traditional bridal norms making her relatable and iconic
7 What does this story say about her personality
It suggests she was independent spontaneous and valued her own aesthetic over convention even at a major moment It shows a desire to define herself on her own terms
8 Has any other famous bride done something similar
Yes brides making bold beauty changes just before their wedding is a recurring theme A famous example is actress Halle Berry who cut her hair very short just days before her 1993 weddinga decision she later said she regretted