The timing raised eyebrows in Westminster – weeks away from the Budget that could make or break her career, Rachel Reeves unveiled a brighter new look, ditching her trademark black power-bob for a lighter amber red.
Some queried why, as she puts the final touches on what is expected to be a punishing Budget, the Chancellor found time to spend hours on a colour change.
But insiders said this was no coincidence – and that Ms Reeves has intentionally softened her appearance amid concern her ‘Iron Chancellor’ image had gone too far.
While she helped secure Labour’s election landslide with her unwavering message of fiscal discipline, the decisions she has taken in office – notably cutting winter fuel payments for most pensioners – have made some wonder if the stern image needed toning down.
Expert stylist Francesca Cairns, whose past clients include former Prime Minister Baroness May, said the Chancellor’s new hair colour was designed to ‘help convey approachability, especially when she’s making tough decisions’.
The colour has a lighter, warmer hue and does not contrast as much with her skin tone, conveying a softer image.
Ms Cairns said it could help Ms Reeves ‘strike a balance between authority and relatability’.
It was likely Ms Reeves’ colour change would have taken several sessions, she added.
Sources say her team has raised concerns over her position if the Budget backfires and the Government’s popularity plunges.
She sat stony-faced in Prime Ministers’ Questions last week, just as news was about to break that several Cabinet colleagues had gone over her head to complain to Sir Keir Starmer about looming cuts to their departmental budgets.
Tory MPs are offered styling advice by the Tory group Women2Win, co-founded by Baroness May and Baroness Jenkin.
Clients are given their ‘colour season’ – which have names including ‘Soft Summer’, ‘Deep Winter’ or ‘Light Spring’ – and told which colours and styles will suit them best.
The approach has been popularised by social media sites.
Ms Cairns said the Chancellor was a ‘Deep Autumn’ and suited deeper hair shades.
A source close to Ms Reeves said: ‘When was the last time anyone asked about the colour of Jeremy Hunt’s hair, or Rishi Sunak’s or any of the male chancellors who preceded Rachel?’
Mr Hunt’s hair made headlines for costing £110 per cut.