What was Elvis Presley's natural hair color?

Born a natural blonde, Elvis Presley began dying his hair black from a very early age. Because of this only one photo of him with his natural hair color exists – and it is framed on the wall of Graceland.

Since he was a teenager, he started dying it with shoe polish as a cheap alternative to hair dye. Back in those days, cosmetics were an expensive luxury only a few could really afford.

Later in his life, Elvis opted in for a signature mix of hair dyes: Miss Clairol 51D and Black Velvet / Mink Brown by Paramount. Due to this, every single photo you will see of him features super-dark black hair.

He was so obsessed with keeping his hair black that he even made Priscilla Presley dye her hair before their wedding.

More Info: countrymusicfamily.com

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22 Comments

Frank Cowell

Would have been good to state the age. My brother was blond until the age of two and then his hair colour changed to black (naturally).

Dave Timmons

Not blond, turned sandy brown in adolescent years.

dkcenich

WRONG! Elvis Presley's natural hair color was a sandy shade of brown, sometimes described as "mousy."

Vimala Padmaraj

BLOND OR BLACK I LOVE ELVIS - ANY COLOUR.

Lorna Lake

Everything I've ever read said blond as a young child but turning sandy brown in his teens ... I love FACTS!

Omar Mung

I’ve seen photos of Elvis and his hair was clearly a light brown color. Perhaps Mr. Conner should take his disinformation and jump in a lake.

Dale Dash

wrong. i read many times it was sandy brown

Player

Many blonde babies have sandy brown hair when they are no longer babies.

Ben

Elvis is really good looking probably because of genetics. Once in every million. Elvis has a twin brother. Jesse Garon Presley.

earlepg

Born blonde then relatively quickly changing to a sandy brown. Which color is truly considered the "natural color" of the hair. i have seen this occur a few times with friends and relatives.

Julie Domaille

I thought he was supposed to be part native American so how did he end up being a blonde? Just as well he got rich, smell of boot polish would not make him popular with the ladies, however much his pelvis works

Elsy O. Stromberg

Strongly disagree- he was blonde as a kid, but sandy brown later. Not just one picture of his natural color- I have a 45 record cover of him with brown hair.

dmarkc

For some reason, questioners on this site tend to choose those with optional answers. This one depended on his age (not given) to give a specific answer. Not researched very well.

Steve Tingle

Read somewhere that after he died his hairdresser had to touch up some of the light bits of his hair with boot polish as he didn't have hair dye with him - but from the description it seems he would have been used to it.

Townsend Shawn Betty

Dave Timmons , you are right

Barb Schmidt

younger than his daughter, so not completely before my time, so went with pics you cant miss seeing, so got wrong, though many children's hair can start out as more blond and turn darker as they become teens and not with this question, may have seen pic of when had more of brown shade, just dont know if said mem is real or just seeing couple others posted comments that make me think rem ... oh well ... have a wonderful day/night where ever and when ever may see this and or read too for that matter.

Louella Wilson

As quoted above "Born a natural blonde"! By the way, he was blue eyed. Hard to believe that he was a blue eyed blond at any stage of his life. I was surprised when I read about it a few months ago.