Exclusive: Lauren Conrad Goes Brunette!

Celebrity Style January 6, 2011 AT 5:59PM By UsWeekly Staff

Credit: Michael Tran/FilmMagic

Lauren Conrad has gone to to the dark side.

Dressed in a light beige Quail design and nude booties, the reality star showed off a brand new brunette hair color at Wednesday's CoverGirl 50th birthday party in West Hollywood.

PHOTO: Shocking hair switch-ups

It's a surprising move for Conrad, 24, who told Usmagazine.com in 2008, "There is something so sexy about having long blonde hair."

However, according to the star's hair pro, Kristin Ess, Conrad has been talking about trying a darker hue for a long time. "It was just time to go for it," says Ess. "We've done so many variations of blonde in the past and it's fun to do something new."

PHOTOS: Hair secrets of the stars

Ess and Conrad looked through red carpet photos for inspiration and loved Mila Kunis and Jessica Biel's "Brazilian brown" shade.

To get the desired effect, Ess first painted on a warm brown base, followed by bursts of highlights around the face and at the ends, topped off with a golden gloss to add shine.

In addition to changing her hair color, the former Hills star turned clothing designer and bestselling author is back to her (other) roots: filming a new reality show with MTV.

PHOTOS: The Hills' most memorable moments

Tell Us: Do you like Lauren better as a blonde or brunette?

Tell Us What You Think

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January 07, 2011 - 11:54pm Kimberly Paric
It's a really pretty shade. Looks lovely and brings out her eyes. I like it.
January 07, 2011 - 2:12pm Alexa Alexander
I think it ages her. Looks awful!
January 07, 2011 - 10:50am Ava Rivers
She picked the right shade and she looks fabulous.
January 07, 2011 - 10:39am Joanna Gonzalez
That's not brunette.
January 07, 2011 - 5:46am Joanna Becker
omg, what an idiot! It's "exclusive" for US b/c they are the first with the story, what you should be asking is why is this relevant, Hwood must be having a slow night.
January 07, 2011 - 4:48am Yuliana Ho
I always love LC, she looks good no matter what although she looks a little bit like Kate Middleton..
January 07, 2011 - 3:56am Lisa Patterson
It suits her. She looks lovely as a brunette. :-)
January 07, 2011 - 3:47am Samantha M Thomas
all celebrity news is bull sh*t @margaretha but Lauren looks awesome with this hair style!! looks much more mature and business like, more serious!
January 07, 2011 - 2:57am Shannon Burmatoff
@Margaretha i agree
January 07, 2011 - 12:57am Margaretha Freyer
can someone please tell me why this is exclusive??Us magazine give us some interesting news..this is bullsh*t
January 06, 2011 - 11:58pm Kennadie Mandrell
I like it! Looks terrific, much better then the blonde.
January 06, 2011 - 10:16pm Jenn Nohr
She looks nice! Better than blonde.
January 06, 2011 - 9:18pm Klaudia Splane
The most boring girl in the world goes brunette. It looks good.
January 06, 2011 - 8:56pm Brittany Corlett
She looks beautiful!
January 06, 2011 - 8:55pm Shannon Burmatoff
@Tammi you would love that but it's not going to happen anytime soon and @Chinwe this should be good lol
January 06, 2011 - 8:37pm Cristina Hernandez
She is stunning. But, she's so young to have such bags.
January 06, 2011 - 8:18pm Shannon Longauer
She's beautiful no matter what color. I tend to prefer the blonde but the brown is quite becoming of her.
January 06, 2011 - 7:58pm Tammi Sweet-Wesson
you care, you just don't wanna be called out, so why not just UNLIKE US on your facebook then go "not care" somewhere else!
January 06, 2011 - 7:57pm Tammi Sweet-Wesson
oh I love it brown makes her eyes POP
January 06, 2011 - 7:48pm Chinwe Okorie Å¦
to give you some hair tip shannon