The Story Behind Anne Burrell's Hair

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Anne Burell is a name that is fairly well-known within the culinary world, but even those that don't have an invested interest in cooking would likely have no problem recognizing the Food Network star. According to her website, the longtime "Worst Cooks In America" host had a self-described "pumped-up personality" that, like her decision to sport vibrant cow-girl skirts instead of traditional chef's pants in the kitchen, set her apart from others in her field. Her Food Network family was sure to highlight her spirited personality following her sudden death in 2025. However, what really made chef Burrell easily identifiable to foodies and non-foodies alike were her platinum blond locks, which she typically fashioned in a spiky style. 

"I've never been anything other than a blond my whole life," she said once during an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (via "Anne Burrell") and further proved by sharing a throwback photo from her ballet-dancing days to Instagram in 2021. Her signature, gravity-defying 'do, however, wasn't always the norm. "It all started when, as a kid, I had horrible hair," the cookbook author explained at an event in 2012 (via The Daily Meal). "It was the pin-straight and it looked like my mom put a bowl over my hair to cut it." But as with most people that grew up in the 70s and 80s, Burrell looked to one of the era's biggest stars for inspiration for her locks.

After being stuck with braces and a hairstyle a-la Dorothy Hamill, chef Anne Burrell knew she needed a change. "I want Farrah Fawcett hair," she recalled telling her mom. As you can see, the actress's voluminous, feathered style clearly had some influence on Burrell's look, though ultimately, she took matters into her own hands. "I just started getting creative with my hair and it never stopped. It keeps growing and growing."

Over time, Burrell had her hair routine down-pat. According to the "Rachael Ray Show," her infamous style starts with a hearty dose of hair spray — Big Sexy Hair, to be more specific — which she then combs through her short tresses. Next, the chef blowdries her hair to achieve "troll doll consistency" before using her hands to shape it into her desired style. Finally, Burrell does one more spritz of hairspray to keep her look intact, and there you have it. The simple, four-step process chef Burrell used to achieve her signature look which, by the way, she swore she'd been rocking before her hair-twin, Guy Fieri. "I had it first. Guy Fieri copied me!" she claimed at the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival in 2012. We'll take your word for it, Anne!