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It was hard to find a U.S. Olympic star quite like Shaun White in the 2000s and 2010s.
It wasn't just White's dominance in snowboarding, winning halfpipe gold medals at the 2006, 2010 and 2018 Winter Olympics, while also earning the most X Games medals ever and winning 10 ESPY awards.
White's popularity also stemmed from his persona — from appearances in snowboarding/skateboarding video games, to cameos in "Friends with Benefits," "American Dad" and more, he became one of the most well-known athletes in the country. And, of course, he was long known for his red hair.
Nowadays, White no longer rocks the grown-out, curly look he became synonymous with in his youth. In fact, he earned a nickname, the "Flying Tomato," for his iconic red hair.
What does White's hair look like then vs. now, and why did he cut it? Here's what to know.
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Shaun White hair then and now
Long, red hair
Throughout his early snowboarding career at the Olympics, White could be seen with an increasingly-iconic grown-out look to his red hair.
For years, his curly, red hair would stick out of his helmets and hats as he racked up Olympic appearances and medals.
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 6, 2026He earned the nickname "The Flying Tomato" for obvious reasons — his speed on a snowboard, combined with his red hair. He even appearance on the cover of "Rolling Stone" with that nickname, although the outlet also said White had "grown tired" of the nickname.
Shaun White's hair now
White first began to experiment with his hair in 2012 when he abandoned the long look, going with a few shorter styles over the past decade, including during his Olympic appearances. With his snowboarding career in the past, White no longer has the long, red hair he was famous for.
He keeps a much shorter look, which was on display for his role as an analyst with NBC for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The legendary Shaun White shares words of wisdom. #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/GobKvY05GL
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 8, 2026Even before he retired, White had shorter hair for his competitions in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics.
— ESPN (@espn) February 11, 2022MORE: Lindsey Vonn's full Olympics timeline
Shaun White's first Olympics
Shaun White's first Olympics were in 2006 at Torino. He immediately became a star, winning gold in the halfpipe with a score of 46.8 in the finals
MORE: Why do Olympic athletes bite their medals?
When did Shaun White cut his hair?
White cut his hair in December 2012, abandoning the "Flying Tomato" nickname and donating his hair to Locks of Love. He documented the haircut with a video:
Since then, he has rocked a few different shorter styles. In 2022, after his final Olympics, White recalled to CNN that he wanted to be "different" by growing out his hair, and it became a "signature thing."
He also shared why he cut his hair — White said he "bumped into" American comedian Carrot Top, who also has long, red, curly hair, in Las Vegas.
"I was like, 'I'm thinking about cutting my hair, you know.' He was like the ghost of Christmas future, like, 'There's still time for you. I'm stuck like this, you've got to change,'" White said of his interaction with Carrot Top. "I didn't tell anyone, no sponsors, parents, friends, anybody. I just went and cut my hair and posted it on my Instagram.
"I was kind of in this place where people were like, 'You won't be recognized without your hair. You have to keep it.' I was like, 'I don't have to do that.'"
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How old is Shaun White now?
As of early 2026, White is 39 years old. He will turn 40 on Sept. 3, 2026.
White's last Olympic appearances came in 2022, when he finished fourth in the men's halfpipe.
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