Rita Simons is utterly beloved by soap fans as EastEnders’ Roxy Mitchell, whos platinum blonde mane felt like an integral part of her

identity. Rita, though, is looking to embrace a bleach-free life, and is slowly but surely returning to her natural colour.

Taking to her Instagram yesterday, Rita uploaded a video of her trip to the salon.

 

 

Showcasing her shimmering, natural locks, she then documented the process of having extensions installed, before sharing a beautiful snap of the finished product, alongside a sweet snap alongside her stylist.

‘That’s it! Officially sick of the blonde! …with the help of the gorgeous Emma at @artelierhairformby and @greatlengths_official we are getting there!’ Rita began in the caption of the video.

 

 

‘No more bleach for me. This new hair actually covers a fair bit of the old blonde whilst we grow it out…so no need to colour my own hair. Thank you @artelierhairformby @greatlengths_official for getting me back to me!’

The salons Instagram, which Rita tagged in her post commented: ‘Couldn’t be happier with this gorgeous result! Always a pleasure having you in the chair’, while former Hollyoaks co-star, Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne) wrote: ‘oooo i love it’.

 

 

Fans were also incredibly complimentary of Rita’s fresh look, with @tammysint commenting: ‘Wow love that! so beautiful’. @nickig77 added: ‘Love this’, while @scarlettwillingale said: ‘Looks amazing’.

@alice_todd19 said: ‘It looks lovely’, while @emmalm04 dropped: ‘The nicest way to spend a Saturday afternoon’.

 

 

Rita recently departed her second soap role, leaving Hollyoaks behind after two years playing troubled Marie Fielding during its 30th anniversary celebrations and moving to Brookside close alongside her son, Arlo (Dan Hough).

Announcing her departure back in June, Rita took to Instagram to inform her fans of her decision.

‘Since Marie Fielding stepped into Hollyoaks village, she’s sufficiently messed up all her boys lives, Caused ALL the carnage and fallen off the wagon a few times…so her job here is done!,’ she said, alongside a few screen grabs from her time on the show.

‘On a personal note, when I first came to Liverpool I was still figuring out how find balance in my mind and body after a total hystorectomy (which was the best journey I ever went on in the end!).

‘This beautiful, welcoming city has healed me more than I can ever explain. I will always have such love for my second home and the wonderful people of Liverpool.

‘But now I feel strong, I can metaphorically walk on my own again, and I need to do just that. So It’s time to thank everyone at Hollyoaks for being the best tonic I could’ve asked for. But London and my true home is calling and I have to follow my heart. Gone are the days of not listening to my soul. So…Londons calling baby!’

The Sun reported at the time that the door would be left open for Marie to return down the line, confirming that she wouldn’t be among the pile of