Mariska Hargitay, 61, Just Broke This Beauty Rule—and Looks Incredible Doing It

Mariska Hargitay traded in her detective uniform this week and looked more glam than ever. The “Law & Order: SVU” star turned heads at France’s Cannes Film Festival, where she debuted a documentary about her mother, Jayne Mansfield, titled “My Mom Jayne.” In addition to her NYPD detective gear, Hargitay usually sports mid-length, wavy brown hair with golden highlights in the popular show. But at Cannes, her ultra-long strands stole the show.

There’s this old-fashioned beauty “rule” that says women of a certain age should cut off their long hair to a more mature pixie, bob or—at most—mid-length chop. We hear from women all the time about the pressures to do just that, sometimes because of thinning hair concerns, dryness and brittleness that’s a part of aging. But that’s a woman’s choice, and these silly rules are meant to be broken. Just ask Mariska Hargitay, who wore her hair longer than ever on the red carpet.

Mariska Hargitay’s Hair Transformation

LAURENT HOU/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images
The new look is courtesy of hairstylist Chris McMillan, who likely added some temporary extensions for the night. But first, colorist Cassie Cohen ensured Hargitay’s color was fresh for the red carpet and complemented her stunning Carolina Herrera gown.

“Mariska has naturally beautiful hair, both texture and color-wise, which provides the perfect canvas for enhancing her look by adding dimension and some highlights,” Cohen tells Parade. “For her latest color, our goal was to create a rich dimension that complements her signature Chris McMillan haircut. We’re especially drawn to warm caramel tones for her—they enhance her complexion and make her eye color stand out.”

Cohen placed “extra pops of highlights” through the ends of her hair. “This adds brightness and a touch of playful contrast, giving the overall look a vibrant, sun-kissed finish,” she says. The technique ensured Hargitay’s hair stays healthy with all the changes. “When applying her single-process color, I take special care to avoid overlapping previously lightened areas,” Cohen continues. “This ensures the highlights stay fresh, bright and healthy-looking.”

If you’re looking to get a similar look at home, talk to your colorist about choosing the right highlights for your undertone. And only chop off what you want to get rid of! The choice is yours. “For Mariska’s color formulation, I used a custom blend of professional-grade products,” Cohen says. “Wella Koleston Perfect provides reliable gray coverage and a beautiful base tone. For the highlights, I use Clairol lightener to achieve a clean, controlled lift. I finish with Redken Shades EQ glosses to tone and refine the color, adding shine and seamless blending throughout.” Gorgeous!