We’ve all got that one image of Madelyn Cline burned into our brains. You know the one—Sarah Cameron, the "Kook Princess" of the Outer Banks, with those sun-kissed, honey-blonde waves that look like they were literally spun from salt water and North Carolina sunshine. It became her signature. It launched a thousand Pinterest boards. But honestly? That blonde icon isn't the "real" Madelyn.
If you look at her early work or catch her on a rare off-season red carpet, you’ll see the truth. Madelyn Cline dark hair is actually her natural state. She’s a true brunette, and the story of how she transitioned from her deep, chocolate roots to the platinum heights of Netflix fame is a chaotic journey of DIY mistakes, hair trauma, and a very expensive road to recovery.
The Secret History of Her Natural Roots
Most fans don't realize that before she was dodging treasure hunters in the marsh, Madelyn was rocking a deep, dark brown. If you go back and watch her brief appearance in Stranger Things (Season 2, playing Tina), she’s sporting those natural brunette locks. It gives her a completely different vibe—edgier, maybe a bit more grounded.
She actually admitted in a 2024 interview with Cosmopolitan that she had never touched her hair color before Outer Banks. She was too scared. She didn't want to spend the money. But when the show happened, the producers weren't even sure they wanted her to be blonde. They sent the whole cast to the salon to get "sunkissed," and Madelyn walked out feeling like she had "streaks of peanut butter" in her hair.
What did she do? She did what any panicked teenager would do. She went to CVS, bought a bottle of Sun-In, and soaked her head in it.
"I just made my hair really light so that the next time I went to the salon, they just have to tone it down from brassy," she shared.
It worked, sort of. It created that warm, honey-brown shade we saw in Season 1, but it was the start of a long battle with hair health.
Why the Brunette-to-Blonde Transition Was "Tragic"
By the time Season 3 of Outer Banks rolled around, Madelyn had gone full platinum. And she hated it. Well, she hated what it did to her hair. Peroxide is a beast, and even with the best stylists in Hollywood, going that light from a natural dark brown takes a massive toll.
She’s been very vocal about how much she regretted the bleach. She described her Season 3 hair as "tragic" and literally said she wished she could "time-travel and slap herself" out of the stylist's chair. This is the part of the celebrity beauty world we rarely see. We see the glossy finished product, but behind the scenes, her hair was "killed" by the chemicals.
This is why, in more recent years, we’ve seen her leaning back toward her roots. The Madelyn Cline dark hair era isn't just a style choice; it’s a health choice. Lately, she’s been rocking what she calls "bronde"—a mix of her natural dark roots growing out with some strategic honey-blonde highlights. It’s a lot more low-maintenance and, frankly, looks way more sophisticated.
The 2025 Shift: Darker and Shorter
As of late 2025, Madelyn has been distancing herself from the "surfer girl" aesthetic. With major roles in films like the I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot and the romantic epic The Map That Leads to You (starring alongside KJ Apa), she’s been playing with more mature looks.
We’ve seen her on red carpets with much richer, darker tones. Her longtime stylist, Marc Mena, has been instrumental in this. He’s the one who gave her the famous "beach bob"—a blunt-cut lob that allows her natural brunette color to take center stage at the crown while keeping the ends just bright enough to catch the light.
Why the Dark Hair Works Better for Her
- Skin Tone: Her natural dark hair makes her hazel-brown eyes pop in a way that the bright blonde sometimes washes out.
- Texture: Darker hair usually retains more moisture and shine. After the "bleach disaster," the brunette tones make her hair look thick and healthy again.
- Versatility: It’s easier for her to transition between different acting roles without needing an 8-hour salon session.
Madelyn’s Real Hair Care Routine (The Weird and the Working)
If you're trying to replicate her look, you have to understand that it's a process of recovery. She doesn't just wake up with that "undone" texture.
Surprisingly, she once admitted to trying mayonnaise as a hair mask. Probably don't do that. It smells terrible and is a nightmare to rinse out. Instead, she and Mena rely heavily on products like the Maria Nila Pure Volume Mousse and Invisidry Shampoo to get that airy, ethereal volume without the grease.
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When she's going for that darker, richer brunette look, the key is the "smudge root." It keeps the transition from her natural color to any highlights looking seamless. It’s basically the "cool girl" way to grow out your hair without looking like you missed an appointment.
How to Get the Madelyn Cline Brunette Look
If you're heading to the salon to move away from blonde and closer to that Madelyn Cline dark hair vibe, don't just ask for "brown."
- Ask for a "Bronde" base: You want a medium-to-dark brown that matches your natural level.
- Request a Root Smudge: This is the secret to her low-maintenance look. It blends your natural color into the dyed parts so you don't get a harsh line.
- Keep the face-framing pieces light: Even when she goes dark, she usually keeps two "money pieces" or very subtle highlights around her face to brighten her complexion.
- Go for the "Beach Bob": If your hair is damaged from bleach, do the big chop. Madelyn's bob hits right around the clavicle and uses long layers in the back to keep it from looking like a "mom" haircut.
Honestly, the biggest takeaway from Madelyn’s hair journey is that your natural color is usually what suits you best. She spent years trying to be the "perfect blonde" for a role, only to realize that her hair was at its healthiest and most beautiful when she embraced her brunette roots.
If you’re thinking about going darker, take it slow. You don't have to go jet black overnight. Start with a gloss or some lowlights to see how the darker tones sit against your skin. And please, for the love of everything, stay away from the Sun-In.
Next Steps for Your Hair Journey
- Check your natural level: Look at your roots in natural sunlight to see if you have warm or cool undertones before picking a brunette shade.
- Invest in a "bond builder": If you’re transitioning from bleach like Madelyn, use a product like Olaplex or K18 to fix the internal structure of the hair.
- Consult with a pro on "The Chop": If your ends are fried, a mid-length bob is the fastest way to make your hair look expensive and intentional again.