Kristi Noem Shows a New Look Without Hair Extensions

In the same way Carrie Underwood looks so different with hair extensions, we also barely recognized Kristi Noem in a 2012 video that showed the Republican with a tousled, long pixie cut. The former governor of South Dakota addressed controversy about young people carrying out chores on farms in the clip, but, unfortunately, we couldn’t stop looking at her hair. The unique, choppy cut aged her (Noem was in her early 40s at the time) and didn’t flatter her face shape the way her more modern, longer look does.

It makes sense that getting hair extensions has helped Noem dial back the years. As hair expert Inanch Emir told Express, adding the accessories can give the appearance of youth because they add bulk to the tresses. “If your hair is getting wispy and you want long hair, you get hair extensions and then it’s not aging because it’s thicker,” Emir explained. “Gone are the days where we used to say anyone over 40 should cut their hair short,” she added, an idea reinforced by the celebrities over 40 who refuse to give up their amazing long hair.