For millions of fans worldwide, the gentle voice and calming demeanour of painter Bob Ross were matched only by one iconic feature: his magnificent head of curly hair. Yet, in a surprising revelation, it has been confirmed that those famous curls were not natural at all, but the result of a perm – a decision born from a simple desire to save money.
The Perm That Defined an Icon
Long before he became the beloved host of PBS's The Joy of Painting, Bob Ross served in the US Air Force. Photographs from this era show a clean-shaven young man with short, straight hair, a stark contrast to the fuzzy halo that would later frame his face on television. The transformation, according to his longtime business partner Annette Kowalski, was entirely pragmatic.
In a 2016 interview with NPR, Kowalski explained Ross's thinking. "He got this bright idea that he could save money on haircuts," she said. "So he let his hair grow, he got a perm, and decided he would never need a haircut again." This thrifty move, intended to simplify his grooming routine, inadvertently created one of the most recognisable silhouettes in popular culture.
A Signature Style That Became a Curse
The perm quickly became inseparable from the Bob Ross brand. When he and Kowalski launched a line of paints and brushes, his curly profile was used for the company logo. This cemented the look as his permanent public identity, a development that eventually frustrated the artist. "He could never, ever, ever change his hair, and he was so mad about that," Kowalski recalled. "He got tired of that curly hair."
His commitment to the image was unwavering, even during difficult times. Towards the end of his television career, while privately battling lymphoma, Ross wore a wig to maintain his signature look and keep his illness from the public. His son, Steve Ross, later shared poignant memories of his father's final days, stating, "He didn't have any hair. He was skinny, so skinny."
The Legacy Beyond the Hair
Bob Ross's journey to becoming a household name began during his Air Force service, where a desk job as a medical records technician allowed him time to take his first painting lesson. This set him on the path to developing his famous 'wet-on-wet' technique and, eventually, hosting The Joy of Painting, which premiered in 1983 and ran for 31 seasons.
Kowalski also revealed the meticulous preparation behind his seemingly effortless on-screen tranquillity. "Bob used to lay in bed at night, he told me, he rehearsed every word," she said. "He knew exactly what he was going to say on every one of those programmes."
Bob Ross passed away from lymphoma in July 1995 at the age of 52. While his iconic perm was born from a desire to save a few dollars, it became an enduring symbol of the unique, comforting presence he brought to art and television, ensuring his 'happy little trees' – and his unforgettable hair – remain etched in public memory.
