Drew Starkey started off as a cult-following fan favorite because of his role as Rafe in the popular Netflix YA series Outer Banks, but now the 31-year-old has become a household name. This is in part to his role in the A24 film Queer alongside longstanding actor Daniel Craig. Whether you loved him as season 1 dirty blonde Rafe or season 3 buzz cut Rafe, there’s been a favorite hairstyle for just about everyone.
Recently, Starkey took his signature look to the next level by bleaching both his hair and eyebrows, stepping into a bold new aesthetic that’s caught the attention of fans and beauty enthusiasts alike. While the jury is still out on whether this new look is beating out the former, we can say it’s safe to assume Starkey is unafraid of trying out new looks.
The OBX star first debuted the new look while attending the W Magazine Golden Globes 2025 Party. He then rocked his newly dyed hair — sans bleached eyebrows — at the 2025 National Board of Review Gala. He paired the new hairstyle with a Loro Piana black suit.
Bleaching eyebrows, in particular, is a controversial yet trendy beauty move. We’ve seen several celebrities — from Maddie Ziegler to Kendall Jenner — try out the beauty trend when diving deeper into an edgier look or moment. With Starkey’s star on the rise, it’s clear he’s stepping into new territory which is all the more reason to try out new looks. While the eyebrows only lasted a few days, we don’t know if Starkey’s bleached hair moment will last forever either. But we’re ready either way to see what other fun beauty moments Starkey will continue to give us in 2025.
