Crystal Renn explains THAT hair

Crystal Renn (left, with Coco Rocha), with her newly peroxide 'do and brows

We're still recovering from not recognising Crystal Renn (like, at all) from the pictures of her out at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York earlier this week, after usually dark-haired model appeared with nuked-out peroxided hair and brows at the 9th Annual Spring Dinner Dance 'New Year's In April: A Fool's Fete'. Now that we've seen a few more images (above) the look is starting to grow on us a little more, but still, it's seems a major game-changer of a look for the usually sultry brunette.

Seems we're not the only ones to wonder about the model's edgy image overhaul. People.com caught up with Crystal yesterday to find out what the thinking was behind her new look; 'People can’t believe the transformation', says Renn, (clearly not terribly upset about all the attention her new style is delivering) 'I had black hair and now I have white hair. That’s what’s so exciting. I wanted to do something different. I wanted to show up as a different canvas at a shoot. It’s a very extreme look but very beautiful. Though it’s nothing conventional.'

Renn as a brunette, earlier this year

It certainly isn't (we like that she's referring to the bold new shade as 'white'). Obviously it's a key part of any successful model's role to change up their look, whether that's a radical cut or an extreme dye job. And it seems Renn's risky makeover is already working for her - People reports she's already been shot as "a tragic Marilyn Monroe figure".

But despite this debut as the ultimate blonde sex kitten, Renn insists the style (which took "multiple" dying sessions) is endlessly versatile; 'I’m not trying to conform to one certain look,' she says. 'I look up to someone like Tilda Swinton. She’s the fashion icon. She experiments and that keeps life fun. It’s a challenging look. But what’s wonderful is it’s something that photographs beautifully.'

So which do you prefer? Crystal Blonde or Crystal Brunette? Answers below, please!