Salma Hayek swapped her signature dark hair for tousled blonde waves and wispy bangs in Halloween photographs that revealed a very familiar inspiration.
The 60-year-old actress posed in a black leather jacket, dark top and wide-leg jeans, finishing her transformation with smoky eye makeup and a soft pink lip. Her shoulder-length blonde look framed her face as she snapped selfies in a car before joining friends for the celebrations.
And the woman behind her costume? Her longtime friend, Penélope Cruz. Salma was channeling Piña, Penélope's character in The Invite, for Vas J Morgan and Michael Braun's Halloween bash.
"Halloween lets me play, dress up, and become someone else for a night," Salma wrote alongside the photographs, naming her "beloved" Penélope in the caption.
© InstagramSalma Hayek's blonde Halloween transformation
The blonde waves were a striking departure from Salma's usual brunette lengths, with darker roots and softly curled ends giving the hairstyle plenty of texture.
In one photograph, red lighting washed over her face, while another offered a clearer look at her bangs, dark eyeliner and glossy black jacket.
Her makeup artist, Pablo Macías, also shared the transformation, describing it as "An ode to Penelope in The Invite." Hairstylist Eduardo Ponce created the blonde look.
© InstagramSalma's party pictures showed her embracing the festivities alongside guests dressed as a nurse and a pirate, before posing against a hockey-rink backdrop decorated with a skating skeleton.
"Even though the theme of the party was bloody hockey, everybody dressed up however they wanted," she explained in text across the group photograph.
The post had attracted more than 59,000 likes when the supplied screenshot was taken, with Camila Cabello among those who liked it.
© InstagramSalma Hayek and Penélope Cruz's close friendship
The costume was a playful tribute to a friendship that extends far beyond red carpets. The actresses starred together in the 2006 film Bandidas, and Penélope spoke warmly about their bond during a July appearance on Hot Ones, describing Salma as "another sister for me."
During the interview, she recalled another Halloween they had spent together, this time dressed as clowns when their flight experienced an emergency. Fortunately, the plane landed safely.
© InstagramSalma Hayek's heartfelt Día de Muertos message
Alongside the costumes, Salma shared a more personal reflection on celebrating Halloween while staying connected to her Mexican roots.
"After so many years of living between cultures, I've learned that I can embrace new traditions without letting go of the ones that shaped me," she wrote.
While Halloween offered the chance to become someone else for an evening, she explained that "Día de Muertos always brings me back home."
"Two very different traditions, each with its own meaning, and both part of the life I've built between cultures," she added.
Her message also made space for the loved ones she continues to remember. "Today is not about costumes. It's about remembering. About placing a photo on the altar, lighting a candle, and making space for the people we still carry with us, even when they are no longer here."
