Professional dancer Sharna Burgess has captured public attention once again, returning to the rigorous spotlight of Dancing With the Stars for its landmark 35th season. Her reentry into the television ballroom following a five-year hiatus has been accompanied by a striking visual evolution, most notably her return to her signature deep red hair. This aesthetic shift marks a homecoming of sorts, aligning her outer presentation with the fiery persona she famously brings to the competition floor, where she is currently partnered with Bachelor Nation alumnus Tyler Cameron.
The transition from light blonde to her iconic crimson hue was unveiled to audiences in late September through social media channels. Burgess addressed the demanding maintenance required for such a dramatic color correction, emphasizing that her choice of shade is far more than a superficial styling update. For the 41-year-old dancer, mother to four-year-old Zane with fiancé Brian Austin Green, the red hair serves as a physical manifestation of her artistic identity and the dynamic energy she channels during live performances.
Chronology of the Transformation
Sharna Burgess’s relationship with her hair color has seen significant experimentation over the years, reflecting various personal and professional chapters in her life. Prior to her recent return to red, her styling choices fluctuated to suit different seasons and projects.
In June 2025, Burgess transitioned away from her darker red tresses into a soft strawberry blonde, a look she maintained and played with across various lighter shades of blonde for several months. Earlier in the year, she also departed from her trademark long locks, opting instead for a chic, shoulder-length bob that offered a modern and manageable aesthetic suitable for her busy schedule as a mother and working professional.
The catalyst for her most recent return to red materialized through a partnership with hair care brand Amika. According to Burgess, the brand approached her with a specific vision to revive "the Sharna red" and develop a targeted campaign centered around the rigorous upkeep required for such a vibrant color. Recognizing the synergy between the brand’s goals and her own desire to refresh her look for her DWTS comeback, Burgess accepted the collaboration, marking a definitive end to her blonde era.
Psychology of the Red Hair Persona
The significance of Burgess’s signature hair color extends beyond television aesthetics into how she balances her personal and professional identities. In a December 2024 appearance on The Joe Vulpis Podcast, the Australian-born dancer elaborated on the duality of her personality and how her appearance mirrors her internal states.
"In life, I could be any color. Blonde also suits me," Burgess explained during the podcast, describing herself in her day-to-day life as a gentle and nurturing person. However, she noted that the demands of her profession require an entirely different energy. "As a dancer, I have a lot of sass and a lot of sensuality. There is a whole other side of me that comes out, and I think the red hair totally captures that."
This psychological connection between hair color and performance persona has been a recurring theme among high-profile entertainers. For Burgess, the crimson shade functions as a psychological trigger, preparing her to step into the high-pressure environment of competitive ballroom dancing where confidence and theatricality are paramount.
Broader Context of Dancing With the Stars Season 35
Burgess’s return to Dancing With the Stars for season 35 is a notable milestone for the long-running reality competition series. Having taken a five-year break from the program to focus on her family and personal life, her reintegration into the cast has generated considerable interest among longtime viewers.
Her partnership with Tyler Cameron places her back in the competitive fold, challenging her to combine her veteran choreography experience with the demands of coaching a novice celebrity partner. The intersection of her high-profile return to television and her heavily publicized hair transformation has created a dual narrative, amplifying her presence across both entertainment and lifestyle media platforms.
Celebrity Hair Trends and Industry Implications
The phenomenon of public figures utilizing dramatic hair transformations to signal new life chapters is a well-documented trend within the entertainment industry. Burgess is far from the only celebrity to alter her appearance significantly during transitional periods. Recent years have seen a wave of notable style shifts across television, film, and music, each carrying its own distinct narrative context.
For instance, personalities such as Whitney Leavitt embraced shorter bobs to channel distinct eras of their public personas, while actors like Connor Storrie and Sebastian Stan shocked fans by shaving their heads to meet the character requirements of major film and television productions. Similarly, musicians and public figures including Kelly Clarkson, Kylie Jenner, and Lily Collins have regularly leveraged hair alterations to mark professional transitions, press tours, or personal milestones.
In Burgess’s case, the alignment with a commercial hair care brand to document and maintain her transformation highlights the modern intersection of traditional television stardom and digital influencer marketing. By turning her salon visit into a branded campaign, Burgess bridges the gap between reality television visibility and beauty sponsorship models, establishing a blueprint for how contemporary performers monetize their personal rebranding efforts.
Future Outlook and Ongoing Impact
As season 35 of Dancing With the Stars progresses, Sharna Burgess remains a central figure of discussion both for her technical contributions on the dance floor and her distinctive visual presentation. Her ability to seamlessly blend her personal life as a mother and partner with her demanding professional career underscores the multifaceted nature of modern celebrity.
The durability of her "Sharna red" look suggests that this stylistic choice will remain a defining element of her public brand for the foreseeable future. Whether through her performances alongside Tyler Cameron or her ongoing engagement with lifestyle and beauty platforms, Burgess continues to demonstrate how personal styling can be strategically employed to reinforce artistic identity, captivate audiences, and signal exciting new chapters in a distinguished entertainment career.
