Desperate Housewives Star Marcia Cross Looks So Different Without Her Signature Red Hair
Throughout Marcia Cross' decades-long career, she's become known for her signature fiery red locks. It was likely the detail about her that "Desperate Housewives" fans noticed first. As of this writing in 2026, Cross is 64 years old and she hasn't dropped her signature shade. What may surprise you, however, is that Cross once rocked a much lighter hair color and looked so different because of it.
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This photo of her was taken around 1996, and instead of her usual deep shade of copper red, she had a much lighter strawberry blond hue that really suited her. Cross still had her signature red hair previously in 1995, and it seems 1996 was the year she decided to switch things up. The reason for trying out a fresh color at the time is unknown, but Cross was filming "Melrose Place" then and it's possible she wanted to try something new. The best part? It flattered her skin tone so well and looked very natural.
While speaking about other stars with a similar hair color, celebrity colorist Tiffanie Richards told Allure in 2023 that there's a secret to that. "Having a good mix of gold within a strawberry color allows it to appear more natural, while leaving a bit of the original color at the root area," she said.
Marcia Cross' hair changed significantly again after dealing with cancer
Marcia Cross' journey with cancer was heartbreaking, but she's a survivor who now aims to raise more awareness around it. Sadly, after undergoing chemo treatment, she admitted to experiencing hair loss in a 2018 Instagram post. "So grateful and happy to be alive but sad that my hair fell out and is about 1 inch long now and looks cra cra," she captioned the post. "Anyone else have #hairloss due to #cancer? Talk to me. I feel you."
Cross later told L'Officiel in a 2026 interview that chemo wasn't the direct culprit of her hair loss, and it was something else entirely. " ... one day I posted a photo of my hair and the frustration with losing it and didn't really think it through," she explained. "I didn't lose my hair because of chemo; I lost it due to a condition called telogen effluvium — which can cause shedding due to an emotional shock that forces active hair follicles into a 'resting phase.'"
As of 2026, it's great to see Cross has made a full recovery and her gorgeous red locks are as luscious as ever. While Cross has remained pretty mum about what she does at home to maintain her vibrant color, we do know that she's worked with celebrity colorist Tracy Hill to achieve her signature shade of red over the years (per Hair & Beauty by Martin).