Better After Breakup: Top 7 Onscreen Post-Split Makeovers

Carrie Bradshaw, Peggy Olson and more characters got hot looks after splitting with their fictional significant others

By Nicole Adlman Aug 11, 2013 4:00 PMTags
Sarah Jessica Parker, HairZumaPress / Splash News

Sometimes, nothing beats the breakup blues like a good ol' I'm-new-again makeover. This mantra proves true for many of our favorite onscreen characters, who leave their pre-split appearances behind for more daring post-breakup looks.

Some of the most memorable onscreen post-breakup transformations include Sarah Jessica Parker, who became Carrie Bradshaw again for the movie adaptation of Sex and the City. After the wedding-that-wasn't debacle with series-long love Big, Bradshaw ditched her golden highlights for subdued brunette locks. 

Other ladies in the lose-your-man, change-your-hair arena include Quinn Fabray (Dianna Agron), who went goth after a series of disappointing (and baby-producing) high school relationships in Glee's third season. Kate Winslet's character in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Clementine, showed different hair colors throughout the movie to reflect periods of her relationship (and breakup) with Jim Carey's Joel.

In That '70s Show, Donna (Laura Prepon) went from her memorable redheaded look to a new blond ‘do after a botched engagement.

Jeffrey Thurnhur/Bryon Cohen/WB

Some ladies took a few (or more) inches off post-split, like Mad Men's Elisabeth Moss and Felicity's Keri Russell, from the former WB's character-namesake show. Moss's character, Peggy Olson, retired her school girl ponytail for a powerful short bob after a failed fling with Pete. Felicity Porter's curly pixie cut (after her relationship with on-and-off boyfriend Ben fell apart) changed the course of the series, throwing the once-hit show into a ratings decline.

Which onscreen character had the best post-breakup makeover? Sound off in the comments!

PHOTOS: Better After Breakup