Ever since Robert Downey Jr. became Iron Man, he’s wowed his fans by becoming a bit of a superhero in real life. He visited a terminally ill boy and took the time to visit a children’s hospital in London. The man has become larger than life, and with his rocketing rise to worldwide fame, his hairstyle is trending.
Robert Downey Jr. hairstyles range from long and messy to super neat and short crew cuts. As Tony Stark, his hairstyle is short and spiked with a unique Van Dyke beard shape.
Over the years Robert Downey Jr. has changed up his style, color, highlights, and hair length. To see all of Robert Downey Jr’s haircuts and styling tips, we’ve put together 15 favorite RDJ looks below.
Robert Downey Jr.’s career has spanned 5 decades, and his hairstyle seems to change from year to year. However, his beard and hair always perfectly accentuate his face shape. However, most simply like his iconic look as Tony Stark, Marvel’s Iron Man.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. 1980s RDJ Haircuts
- 2 2. 1990s Hair
- 3 3. Early 2000s
- 4 3. Tony Stark Hairstyle
- 5 4. Salt and Pepper
- 6 5. Short Hair
- 7 6. Highlighted Look
- 8 7. Buzz Cut
- 9 8. The Sherlock Holmes
- 10 9. Spikey Hair
- 11 10. Mustache Only
- 12 11. Infinity War Iron Man
- 13 12. Long Hair
- 14 13. Full Beard
- 15 14. Blonde Hair on RDJ
- 16 15. Current Red Carpet Style
1. 1980s RDJ Haircuts
In the 1980s, Robert Downey Jr. was a fashion and hair icon.
A young Robert Downey Jr. had the raddest haircut in the 1980s. Image source: Reddit 
Sarah Jessica Parker and Robert Downey Jr. showing off their good looks together in InStyle Magazine, 1984. Image source: InStyle 
This hair is way too cool while smoking a Pall Mall. 
Robert Downey Jr. from The Pickup Artist, 1987. Source: IMDB.com
2. 1990s Hair
As he skyrocketed to Hollywood fame in the 90s, RDJ’s hairstyle stayed long and tousled.
90s Robert Downey Jr 
Image source: Fanshare.com
3. Early 2000s
After some ups and downs in his career in the late 90s, RDJ bounced back, and he had a new bearded look.
Messy styled hair. 
Robert Downey Jr. at the Los Angeles premiere of “Zodiac”. Paramount Theatre, Hollywood, CA. 03-01-07 
In 2005, Robert Downey Jr. attended the Los Angeles premiere of ‘Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang’ held at the Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
3. Tony Stark Hairstyle
The actor Robert Downey Jr has become famous for his role as Tony Stark in the 2008 Iron Man. While the actor had resurrected his career throughout the early 2000s, this was easily his biggest role to date.
Iron Man Premiere 
Robert Downey Jr. dawns stylish look at Iron Man 3 premiere 
Small quiff hairstyle. 
Short and stylish. 
Classic Tony Stark parted hairstyle and beard. See more Tony Stark beard styles.
4. Salt and Pepper
Showing age isn’t a problem for RDJ. His hair remains remarkable, even with some salt and pepper highlights.
Medium length and slightly messy.
5. Short Hair
His salt and pepper buzzed beard, and short hair with colored glasses has become his iconic look.
Short with side part.
6. Highlighted Look
Highlights give RDJ’s thick, long locks some shine and texture.
Tall messy spikes. 
Neat with high hariline.
7. Buzz Cut
The actor always likes to change it up, showing just how far he can go with a short buzz cut.
Tight buzz cut. 
Short crew cut.
8. The Sherlock Holmes
In 2009, RDJ became the infamous detective Sherlock Holmes.
In 2009, RDJ became the infamous detective Sherlock Holmes.
9. Spikey Hair
It’s one of his go-to short looks. With a bit of pomade or wax, it’s easy to achieve these soft yet textured spikes.
Spikey hair. 
Stylish quiff.
10. Mustache Only
Below, RDJ at the premiere of Tropic Thunder in 2008 with longer hair and a mustache.
RDJ at the premiere of ‘Tropic Thunder’ in 2008 with longer hair and a mustache. 
Wild and messy.
11. Infinity War Iron Man
Growing out his hair after finishing up Avengers: Infinity War.
RDJ at Infinity War Premiere
12. Long Hair
Looking like a 90s Wall Street businessman, RDJ has often let his locks grow pretty long.
Image source: Zimbio.com 
Long hair and blue-tinted glasses.
13. Full Beard
You may not have ever seen RDJ with a full beard. That’s because it goes back all the way to the 1980s.
Young RDJ 
Long and messy 80s style.
14. Blonde Hair on RDJ
For a Tropic Thunder promotion, Robert Downey Jr. had a hilarious photoshoot where he briefly had a bleached blonde coiffure.
Bleached look. 
Blonde casual. 
Blonde quiff. 
Robert Downey Jr. at the “Fred Claus” Los Angeles Premiere. Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, CA. 11-03-07
15. Current Red Carpet Style
The shorter haircut with a quiff is RDJ’s latest style for the Dr. Dolittle red carpet.
What’s Next for Robert Downey’s Hairstyle?
Robert Downey Jr. started acting in 1970 at just five years old with the movie Pound, which means he’s been acting for 50 years. His hairstyles have changed with the times, but with age, he’s tamed down his wild, messy locks for shorter quiff looks and crew cuts.
