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The Daily Dish The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Melissa Gorga Stuns with Chunky Blonde Highlights (PHOTO)

The brunette RHONJ mom has sported many hairstyles over the years, but this lighter color really stands out

By Casey Suglia

Melissa Gorga is no stranger to taking risks when it comes to her style and fashion. But, when it comes to hair, The Real Housewives of New Jersey boutique owner typically sticks to what she's comfortable with — a longer cut with a dark brown color.

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While trends come and go, Melissa's bruennet hair remains timeless. Sure, everything old might be new again (and when comparing old photos of Melissa to her daughter, Antonia Gorga, she'd agree), but there's one trend that Melissa sported that will likely remain in the past where it belongs. And that trend is chunky blonde highlights.

In the throwback photo, a younger Melissa can be seen sitting in a lawn chair, smiling for the camera. Melissa's hair looks straightened, showing off all of the blonde chuncky highlights, placed all around her head, right at the root, and covering much of her natural brown hair. She paired the hairstyle with a white tube top, light-wash jeans, and a white belt.

Melissa Gorga sitting in a lounge chair wearing a white tube top and jeans.

Melissa Gorga's hair journey with highlights 

Melissa has certainly sported highlights at other times and continues to sport them from time to time to this day, just not that chunky. In August 2018, she went for a much bolder look, sporting a chocolate-brown base with honey-blonde highlights woven in, ending in much lighter blonde ends. She also got extensions during that visit, giving her hair stylist a major canvas to work with. 

In June 2020, Melissa showed off her chestnut brown hair with bright blonde and caramel highlights. A month later in July, those highlights were just a little darker, as Melissa returned to her "Jersey girl, Italian girl roots."

Melissa Gorga debuts new hair in December 2024

Most recently, just before the 2024 holidays, Melissa sat in the salon chair againto highlight her hair. This time, she opted for an espresso-colored base, with caramel ribbons and highlights throughout. She even cut off inches of hair, giving her a much fresher look.

"[A] little shorter and a little blonder thanks to my girl," Melissa wrote over the photo, tagging her hairstylist.

Melissa Gorga sitting at a hair salon.

Melissa Gorga discusses her style do's and don'ts

Let's just say, there are some style and fashion trends that Melissa is leaving in 2024. Melissa appeared in a TikTok video for StyleCaster where she shared her ins and outs for 2025. Some of her ins? "[The color] mocha mousse, clear shoes, hair perfume, and sprinkle cookies," she said.

And her outs? She shared: "The color burgundy, wedges, rompers, and every other cookie [besides sprinkle cookies]."

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