Julianne Hough said she has been contemplating a dramatic haircut and wants to shave her head with a monk during a visit to Bhutan.
The 37-year-old Dancing With the Stars cohost made the remarks on the podcast Not Skinny But Not Fat, telling host Amanda Hirsch that what began as a desire to shave her hair has evolved into a plan that now includes travel and a spiritual element. "I want to go to Bhutan and shave my head with a monk," Hough said on the episode, adding that she has thought about the change her whole life and sees it as part of a broader personal transformation.
Hough described the haircut as the "last thing" in a process she called "excavation," saying she has been clearing out external and internal trappings that no longer fit as she continues to evolve. "The last seven years have been — all the things I put into place, the systems of protection, of who you think you should be — all of them have gone away. So I'm like, 'Oh last thing, I just need to shave my head now!'" she said.
She recounted practical steps she has discussed with her hairstylist, Riawna Capri, including creating a wig that replicates her current hairstyle so she can be confident about professional appearances after cutting her hair. "I literally called my hairstylist Riawna and I was like, 'I think we need to make a wig that is my exact haircut right now,'" she said.
Hough linked the change to recent shifts in her personal life. She referenced her marriage to former NHL player Brooks Laich, saying the relationship was "wonderful" but that people sometimes grow in different directions. Hough and Laich married in 2017, separated in 2020 and finalized their divorce in 2022. She also said moving out of a home she had lived in for 11 years was part of the process of shedding material and emotional layers.
The performer has a background in dance and acting, appearing in films such as Rock of Ages, Dirty Grandpa and Footloose, and has a large social media following. She has hosted and appeared on television, including her role on Dancing With the Stars, and frequently conducts red-carpet interviews.
Hough framed the potential head shave as both a stylistic and symbolic act rather than a publicity stunt, describing it as a means of marking a new phase in her life. She did not offer a firm timeline for travel to Bhutan or for when she might shave her hair.
The comments were first reported by the Daily Mail following the podcast appearance. Hough's remarks add to a trend of public figures discussing radical hairstyle changes as expressions of personal reinvention, though she emphasized the spiritual and intentional aspects of her idea rather than fashion alone.