The iconic curly hair of Bob Ross, star of The Joy of Painting, was not natural but a perm he got to save money on haircuts. In an interview with NPR, his business partner Annette Kowalski revealed the surprising reason behind his signature look.
“He got this bright idea that he could save money on haircuts. So he let his hair grow, he got a perm, and decided he would never need a haircut again,” Kowalski said. However, Ross eventually grew tired of the curls but felt trapped because his image was tied to the hairstyle. “He could never, ever, ever change his hair, and he was so mad about that,” she added.
Ross’s curls became part of the brand. Annette told Mental Floss in 2015: “When we got a line of paints and brushes, we put his picture on. The logo is a picture of Bob with that hair, so he could never get it cut. He wasn't always happy about that.” When Ross later fell ill with lymphoma, he had to wear a wig to cover his hair loss. His son Steve recalled: “He didn't have any hair. He was skinny, so skinny.” Bob Ross died in 1995 from cancer.
In November 2025, a collection of Ross’s paintings sold at auction for $600,000. Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc., said: “This auction ensures his legacy continues to support the very medium that brought his joy and creativity into American homes for decades.” Jim Dunford, President and CEO of American Public Television, added: “These funds will help local stations continue to serve their communities with impactful programming.”
