'70s Singer Bonnie Raitt Looks Different Without Her Signature Red Hair

Legendary singer Bonnie Raitt might be well-known for her talent in singing and songwriting, but she also rocks a signature look that's hard to miss. For decades, Raitt has rocked red hair with a few white strands at the front part. She looks fantastic with this style, so it's no wonder that Raitt hasn't changed it in a long time.

But it actually isn't the only hair color that she's had during her life. At one point early in her career, for a short time, Raitt had slightly reddish-brown hair, which is likely her natural hair color. And — like many celebs who look different with their natural hair color — it's a bit jarring to see her with such a different look. She was photographed with this hair color during a performance at the Greek Theatre in California in September 1977, a few months after the release of her sixth studio album, "Sweet Forgiveness." The brown coloring of her hair was made even more obvious thanks to the bright red long-sleeved shirt she wore as she strummed her guitar.

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Compared to the bold red color fans know and love, the more subdued brown hue is a surprising look for Raitt. In fact, with just a casual glance, fans of the "Something to Talk About" singer might not even recognize the '70s heartthrob. Raitt started dyeing her hair red in 1981 as she completely embraced the white streak, which is actually a natural feature. 

Because of Bonnie Raitt's red hair and white streak, you can easily spot her in a crowd anywhere. And although Raitt frequently dyes her hair red, the white streak is actually not dyed. In fact, the small section of hair naturally turned white when she was young and just starting her music career. Luckily, it only made the singer more interesting to fans. 

Raitt talked about her signature streak in an interview with Parade, with the songwriter declaring, "The silver-white streak is natural." She went on, noting that it first started growing in when she was only 24, and fans can spot it on her early album covers. But as she moved into the 1980s, she decided to fully embrace it. She told the publication, "By 1981 it was expanding and my red was fading, so I started dyeing my hair [around the streak]." Sharing a little background about the hair and whether it runs in the family, Raitt explained, "No one else in my family has it. I've been told it means you've been kissed by an angel."

According to MedicalNewsToday, the white or silver streaks that some people develop in their hair are actually caused by poliosis. The publication notes that the condition is "due to a lack of a pigment called melanin in the hair follicles." It isn't harmful on its own, but it can be associated with other health conditions. While well-known examples of people with poliosis usually have it in their hair, it can manifest in any hair on the body.