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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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President Donald Trump has once again sparked discussion about his hair after appearing to debut a noticeably darker look while arriving in New Jersey over the weekend.
Photographs taken as Trump stepped off Air Force One at Morristown Municipal Airport on September 4 appeared to show the president's hair looking significantly darker than the blond shade that has long been a defining part of his public image.
The apparent change comes just one month after Trump's hair became the subject of widespread online discussion, when side-by-side images from New Jersey and Las Vegas prompted speculation about differences in its thickness and volume. At the time, hair experts told Newsweek that styling techniques, hair fibers and coloring could all affect how dense hair appears in photographs.
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The latest images have fueled fresh social media conversation, with users focusing less on volume and more on what appears to be a darker brown tone than Trump's usual blond hairstyle.
The latest discussion is only the newest chapter in a decades-long fascination with one of the most recognizable hairstyles in American public life.
From New York real-estate developer to reality television star and presidential candidate to commander in chief, Trump's distinctive blond comb-over has remained a defining feature of his public image, while also generating persistent speculation and commentary about how it is styled and maintained.
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Why Trump's Hair Looks Different
In the September 4 photographs, Trump's hair appears considerably darker than the light blond color typically associated with his public image, leading some to believe he may have dyed his hair.
Dina Kales, owner of hair restoration company The Top Shoppe, similarly said color treatment can dramatically affect how dense hair appears in photographs.
"Freshly dyed hair looks darker and creates the illusion of fuller hair," Kales told Newsweek in August. "Once the gray begins to grow in, the lack of pigment in the regrowth can cause the hair to look thinner or patchy."
The newly debuted darker look comes after last month's speculation on the volume of the president's hair, causing people to speculate about wigs and hairpieces. Though hair experts say there are several possible explanations for why his hair appeared noticeably fuller.
Eva Proudman, a consultant trichologist and founder of UK Hair Consultants, said Trump's hair appears consistent with age-related hair loss that affects many older men.
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"Trump clearly has androgenetic alopecia, male pattern [hair loss]," Proudman told Newsweek. "Male pattern hair loss affects 80 percent of men in the age group 70 to 85."
Just days before the Las Vegas event, windy conditions at Morristown Municipal Airport in New Jersey lifted Trump's hair as he walked across the tarmac, exposing more of his scalp in footage that quickly went viral. Those images circulated widely online before the fuller-looking appearance in Nevada fueled new discussion.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email for comment.
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The Making of an Iconic Trump Look
In the 1980s, photos of the younger Trump reveal a full head of hair and a side-swept style that eventually evolved into the trademark look seen today.
As Trump's profile grew during New York's real-estate boom, so did public interest in his appearance.
By the late 1980s and early 1990s, his hair had become more sculpted and recognizable, with a sweeping style that would remain largely unchanged for decades taking shape.
While many public figures change their appearances dramatically over time, Trump's hairstyle has become part of a carefully maintained personal brand. Even before entering politics, it was nearly as recognizable as his name.
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'The Apprentice' Years Put Trump's Hair Further in the Spotlight
Trump's hairstyle further became part of popular culture during his years hosting NBC's The Apprentice, which debuted in 2004.
For millions of viewers, the reality show offered an introduction to Trump's distinctive look. The bright blond color and carefully arranged comb-over became so familiar that it was frequently referenced in television comedy, magazine profiles and celebrity gossip coverage.
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Speculation about whether Trump wore a wig or hairpiece had become a recurring topic in the tabloid press, though the future president consistently rejected such claims.
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Presidential Campaigns and More Hair Scrutiny
Trump's hair became a point of more scrutiny during his first presidential campaign in 2015 and 2016.
As his rallies drew national attention, photographs from every angle sparked renewed tabloid discussion about the hairstyle.
Trump repeatedly maintained that the hair was his own and even addressed the speculation publicly.
During a 2016 appearance on The Tonight Show, he famously allowed host Jimmy Fallon to tousle his hair on live television amid years of rumors.
In 2018, footage circulated of Trump's hair flapping in the wind as he boarded Air Force One, prompting late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to joke at the time, "This is why Darth Vader had the good sense to wear a helmet."
In one of the rare occasions that Trump publicly joked about his hair, he interrupted a speech at the 2018 Conservative Political Action Conference to acknowledge his closely watched hairstyle. Looking at a giant video screen showing his image, Trump remarked, "I try like hell to hide that bald spot, folks. I work hard at it."
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Why Trump's Hair Has Been the Subject of So Many Rumors
Questions about Trump's hair have persisted for decades, and the subject will likely continue to occupy a unique place in American political culture.
Over the years, commentators, biographers and television personalities have speculated about everything from hair transplants to cosmetic procedures and elaborate styling techniques.
In 2023, New York City-based cosmetic surgeon Gary Linkov shared that he thought the president had undergone five separate hair-transplant surgeries, though none of those have been confirmed and Trump has brushed off such theories while continuing to sport the same recognizable style.
What Experts Say About Trump's Hair
Proudman said it would be normal to expect some thinning in a man of Trump's age.
"As we age our hair also ages and for everyone becomes slightly finer," Proudman said. "In a man of Trump's age I would expect to see some thinning and/or loss."
Addressing the photographs that sparked online discussion, Proudman said a variety of styling techniques could create the appearance of increased volume.
"The second picture makes the quiff look thicker and fuller," she said. "This may be clever use of hair fibers that attach to the natural hair to give it a thicker, less fine and see-through appearance. It could also be due to it having been colored. The better pigment in the hair, the thicker it looks and the more the light refracts to show less scalp."
While she said a hairpiece could not be completely ruled out from photographs alone, Proudman added: "My bet would be on hair fibers, color and styling products."
Update 9/7/26, 3:53 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang
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