Melissa McCarthy's hair evolution

Oh, 1987. Oh, senior pictures. For McCarthy's snap at St. Francis Academy in Illinois, she opted for the classic '80s crest ... held in place by a solid coat of AquaNet, no doubt.

For her role as a chef named Sookie, Lorelai's best friend on "Gilmore Girls," the actress kept her deep auburn strands sleek and lifted into a half-updo. Will this look return for the show's reboot? Time will tell!

For a 2003 WB party in Hollywood, the actress showed off a collarbone-skimming bob streaked with golden highlights.

For a discussion on "Gilmore Girls" in 2003, McCarthy paired layers with a rich ginger shade.

A warm strawberry-blond shade paired with soft curls finished her look at the 2004 anniversary of The Groundlings, a legendary sketch comedy troupe of which McCarthy was a member. 

To celebrate the 100th episode of "Gilmore Girls" in late 2004, McCarthy pulled back just the strands above her hairline for a cheery, easy look. We love the addition of red lip gloss!

The Museum of Television and Radio also celebrated the "Gilmore Girls" 100th episode. To that party, the actress went for sleek ringlets in a shimmery apricot hue.

A cool, pulled-back ponytail at the 2008 TCA All-Star Party in Beverly Hills let her big hoop earrings take center stage. 

McCarthy updated to a rich and glossy brunette for the CBS premiere of "Mike and Molly" in New York City.

At the 2011 Women In Film Crystal + Lucy Awards in Beverly Hills, a gently layered, face-framing cut was accentuated in a warm toffee brown.

Her "Bridesmaids" character may not know her way around a red carpet, but at the film's premiere in 2011, McCarthy was right at home in a voluminous updo.

For the Golden Globes in 2012, the actress stuck with her signature, teased-up 'do, pulling only half her hair up this time.

How high can she go? McCarthy's half-updo reached new heights at ELLE's 2013 Women in Hollywood celebration. (Most teased hair gets matte and tangly. She gets extra points for keeping it that shiny in the process.)

And at the Oscars in the very same year, the actress went with a va-va-voluminous down 'do, and debuted a new chocolate-y brown shade.

Thick, eyebrow-skimming brows, springy curls and caramel hair woven with sunny highlights accompanied the actress to the premiere of "Tammy" in Hollywood.

At an AARP event in 2014, McCarthy showed off her more mature side. A layered haircut, sharp waves and a shimmery auburn tone looked magnificent with long, tapered earrings.

Here's Melissa McCarthy giving us straight hair realness in 2015! Long, copper-brown strands parted in the center with just enough height in the back. 

For the 2015 Golden Globes, the star allowed a thick weft of hair to sweep across her forehead, pulling the rest back into a subdued twist.

It doesn't need to be fancy or complicated or sourced from a Pinterest tutorial to be totally gorgeous. Case in point: A bouncy blowout with a sharp side part at the 2015 People's Choice Awards. 

And she's back to her reddish (OK, apricot?) roots! These brushed out, '70s-inspired waves were just right for the Critic's Choice Awards in early 2016.

For a Broadway event in July 2016, McCarthy showed off loose and beachy waves in a pretty ombre blonde. So on-trend!