Orange is the New Black is a show set in prison, so it makes sense that most of its characters
wouldn't have access to a whole lot of makeup and styling products.
Even so, it's always shocking to witness the transformation the show's cast members undergo
each season to shift from fab to drab to play their on-screen characters.
Check out what the cast looks like in real life.
Taylor Schilling - Piper
Actress Taylor Schilling introduced audiences to Litchfield Penitentiary as new inmate Piper
Chapman in the show's debut season.
While Piper has changed a lot throughout the series, her look has remained consistent — simple
makeup and straight blonde hair throughout.
Schilling's everyday look doesn't differ that much from Piper's, but she does enjoy more
makeup and other beauty products on the red carpet and in interviews than Piper would
ever have access to.
Laura Prepon - Alex
She became well-known as a redhead in That '70s Show, but Laura Prepon has pitch black
locks as Alex on Orange is the New Black.
She completes the look on the show with arched, thin eyebrows, glasses, and a cat eye that
always manages to look perfect, even with prison-quality eyeliner.
Prepon herself usually goes more glam on the red carpet, though she sometimes works that
cat eye in real life, too.
Danielle Brooks - Taystee
She shines every single season as Taystee, the infectiously positive inmate determined
to lead the charge toward a better life.
In her real life, Danielle Brooks' appearance is a bit more glam than her Litchfield counterpart.
You'll often find her in fashion-forward dresses with killer eye makeup during red carpet appearances.
Uzo Aduba - Crazy Eyes
She's earned two Golden Globe nominations and two Emmys for her part as Suzanne "Crazy
Eyes" Warren …
"You bothering my friend here?
Dandelion, she bothering you?"
... but in real life, Uzo Aduba's look is far more glamorous than her character, complete
with dazzling accessories, makeup, and a variety of hairstyles.
Kate Mulgrew - Red
Veteran actress Kate Mulgrew had to adopt ginger locks to play the part of Galina "Red"
Reznikov.
In recent years, Mulgrew has stuck with Red's hairstyle even when she's not on the show,
although she usually goes a little less intense with the teasing.
Taryn Manning - Pennsatucky
Tiffany "Pennsatucky" Doggett is one of many characters who've evolved significantly throughout
the series.
Her scraggly brown hair remains the same, but she did get new teeth.
Taryn Manning's look is more fabulous in real life.
She often appears rocker-chic, which is fitting considering she's performed in quite a few
bands over the years.
Lea DeLaria - Big Boo
The show's number one source of sarcasm, Big Boo has gone through a few different hairstyles,
but she usually keeps it short and dark with minimal makeup.
In real life, actress Lea DeLaria rocks a similar style, even sporting a tattoo on her
arm that says "Butch," but frequently wears glasses, unlike her locked-up counterpart.
Dascha Polanco - Daya
Actress Dascha Polanco has been blowing viewers away as the artistic Dayanara "Daya" Diaz
throughout the show's run.
Daya is known for her highlighted hairstyle, which the actress was already rocking when
she came in to audition.
In real life, Polanco also likes to experiment with hair colors, going from blonde to brunette
to a stunning platinum grey over the years.
She's a fashion rock star on the red carpet and always generates buzz with her distinctive
wardrobe choices.
Elizabeth Rodriguez - Aleida
Rodriguez plays Daya's hard-headed, abrasive mom Aleida Diaz on the long-running series.
She works hard to maintain appearances in prison and has a talent for nails.
When Rodriguez isn't playing a seasoned criminal with parenting issues, she transforms into
a vision of glamour and charm.
Selenis Leyva - Gloria
As the matriarch of Litchfield, actress Selenis Leyva has had to embody a wide range of emotions
through Gloria Mendoza, all of which she handles with skill.
On the show, Gloria keeps her look practical but pretty, maintaining a short hairstyle,
thin eyebrow, and a bit of a smokey eye.
In real life, Leyva also keeps her hair short, although she'll sometimes grow it out a bit,
and relies on light makeup.
Natasha Lyonne - Nicky
Nicky Nichols usually lets her thick hair run wild and likes to go heavy on the eyeliner
and mascara.
Off-screen, actress Natasha Lyonne likes to experiment with that gorgeous hair.
Though the actress usually sticks with simple styles, she has been known to choose some
memorable makeup looks, recently making a dramatic switch and choosing a shocking and
beautiful eye makeup-free look at a fashion show.
Laura Gomez - Blanca
Her character's look became a little less shocking after receiving a makeover in Season
5, but it's still mind boggling to see how different actress Laura Gomez looks from the
unkempt Blanca.
"Boo!"
The character uses her crazy hair and unruly eyebrows to her advantage on the show, but
as she gets pulled closer to the central storyline, her look starts to soften.
In real life, Gomez is all glam and gets a fake unibrow drawn on for the character.
Emma Myles - Leanne
The ex-Amish Leanne Taylor is missing some of her teeth thanks to her addiction,
and she usually goes without makeup and lets her dirty blonde hair hang straight.
You probably wouldn't recognize fresh-faced actress Emma Myles on the street, but it was
her dedication to the transformation that earned her the role.
According to BuzzFeed, Myles showed up for the audition wearing next-to-no makeup, unwashed
hair, and dirty clothes.
Julie Lake - Angie
Like her on screen BFF Leanne, Angie Rice is well known for her straggly hair and not
so great dental hygiene.
Julie Lake's character sports wavy dark brown hair and usually goes without makeup as she
wanders the grounds of Litchfield.
Off-duty, Lake looks very different.
She rocks a great cat eye and contour and clearly knows how to brush and floss.
Francesca Curran - Skinhead Helen
She made a big splash in the show's fifth season as Skinhead Helen Van Maele, a bald
inmate who terrorizes Litchfield with her tattooed face and neck.
But the character is a huge transformation for actress Francesca Curran, who actually
shaved her head for the part and kept re-shaving it every morning on set so the makeup artists
could re-apply her facial tattoos.
In real life, Curran accessorizes with a variety of wigs and flaunts a style that is very feminine
and fabulous.
Laverne Cox - Sophia
Transgender actress Laverne Cox plays Sophia Burset, an inmate at Litchfield who runs the
facility's salon.
Given her beautician skills, Burset looks great in the series, and in real life, Cox's
red carpet look is simply perfection.
Cox is known for immaculate makeup, glowing complexion, and luxurious tresses.
Yael Stone - Lorna
Playing the always dolled up Lorna Morello, Yael Stone looks like a glamorous old movie
star, wearing a bold red lipstick with her dark hair in soft waves as she dreams of a
fairytale marriage outside the prison walls.
When Stone gets to ditch that drab prison garb on the red carpet, it's as if Morello
herself is finally living the life of her dreams.
While she may not look that different off screen, Stone certainly sounds different:
She hails from Australia, so her character's Boston accent didn't come naturally.
Adrienne Moore - Black Cindy
As the hilarious Cindy Hayes, also known as "Black Cindy," actress Adrienne Moore's hair
is often fashioned in two giant afro puffs and she sports minimal makeup.
In real life, Moore looks flawless on the red carpet, with bold hair, makeup, and attire.
Jackie Cruz - Flaca
Cruz oozes attitude and a distinct style as inmate Marisol "Flaca" Gonzales.
In the show, Flaca always wears thick cat-eye makeup, thick bangs, and that signature teardrop
under her right eye.
Fans of the show went berserk when they caught a glimpse of Cruz in something other than
her prison sweatshirt.
In April 2017, paparazzi photographed her on the beaches of Miami in a low-cut, sheer
black and beige swimsuit that left little to the imagination.
Jessica Pimentel - Maria
In the show, Jessica Pimentel plays Maria Ruiz, a tough-as-nail Dominican inmate who's
been through more than her fair share of drama and tragedy.
In prison, Ruiz is a tough, plain jane kind of woman, but off-screen, the actress moonlights
as a death-metal singer, performing in black bustiers and leather jackets.
Vicky Jeudy - Janae
On Orange is the New Black, Janae Watson is a former track star who made a terrible mistake
when she robbed a bank with an old boyfriend.
Her backstory makes her seem like a tomboy with a hard heart.
"I'm just a monkey in a cage, remember?"
"Oh no no.
I think she means …"
"I don't need you translating for me, Honey Boo Boo."
"Be quiet!"
In her private life, actress Vicky Jeudy is nothing like her troubled character.
In fact, she's even into beauty pageants and was once a semifinalist in the Miss New York
USA pageant, according to InStyle.
Diane Guerrero - Ramos
Much like her onscreen character, actress Diane Guerrero is all about appearances.
She plays the ever-feisty and sometimes ditzy Maritza Ramos, who sports perfect eyeliner
and stunning, long locks — even while behind bars.
According to InStyle, Guerrero was doing her makeup like that look long before her time
on the show, and her red carpet look proves she's just as stunning in real life.
Samira Wiley - Poussey
The beloved character of Poussey Washington, played by actress Samira Wiley, is best friends
with Taystee and Black Cindy and seems to have a heart of gold.
Her usual attire is an oversized sweatshirt and ill-fitting khaki pants.
On the flip side, Wiley is a stunner who could double as a fashion model any day.
Constance Shulman - Yoga Jones
A thin, beach blonde hippie, Erica "Yoga" Jones not particularly glamorous, but her
look is distinctive, as is her voice.
On set, she wears virtually no makeup, which enhances the earthy vibe she brings to her
character.
Off screen, actress Constance Shulman is known to be a bit more fashionable.
She's been photographed with slightly longer, better-kept locks complementing a wardrobe
that suits her tiny frame and suits her spunky personality.
Nick Sandow - Joe Caputo
There are only two words that can accurately describe Joe Caputo: stressed and sex-crazed.
Caputo, played by Nick Sandow, is Litchfield's warden.
Though he's by no means perfect, he is passionate about his career and often goes to bat against
his higher-ups for the facility and its residents.
Caputo typically sports a tattered suit, loose-fitted tie, and reading glasses on his head.
He's perhaps best known for his dated handle-bar mustache, and the remaining bits of hair he
has on the series is never combed or well-kept.
In real life, Sandow is a dapper fellow who typically opts for well-trimmed facial hair,
no spectacles, and nice suits.
Pablo Schreiber - P---stache
Schreiber plays Litchfield's first (but definitely not its last) creepy guard.
George "P---stache" Mendez was best known for his distinctive facial hair.
Otherwise, the tall guard kept his look simple, wearing his hair short and spiked.
In real life, actor Pablo Schreiber keeps his facial hair trendy, although he has said
he was sad to lose the signature facial hair when his character went to jail.
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