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( InStyle.com ) -- Stars like Katy Perry and Jennifer Lawrence changed up their hair color and length in 2011 and achieved dramatic results. See the most memorable hair transformations of the year. Blake Lively The "Gossip Girl" star went auburn in late April for her role in the upcoming film "Hick." In June, Lively lightened her strands back to blond. "I love it," she told InStyle.com on her ever-changing 'do. "When I play a character I love to completely transform, and changing up my hair color is a way I feel like I can disappear behind them." Katy Perry Katy Perry went back to her blond roots in July, then revealed a new lavender hue at the VMAs in August. "It was such an exciting challenge to custom-create Katy's color for the VMAs," her colorist Rita Hazan said. "She is always willing to take risks to achieve a groundbreaking look." InStyle.com: See all the hottest celebrity hair makeovers of 2011

Explosions rock Damascus Top news: At least two explosions hit Damascus on Friday morning. State television reported that car bombs had targeted the State Security office and that at least 30 people -- mostly civilians had been killed. The attacks were almost immediately blamed on al Qaeda. Syrian opposition activists have cast doubt on the official explanation, saying that the bombings may have been orchestrated by the government to discredit Syria's protesters during a visit by an observer delegation from the Arab League. Syria has little history of al Qaeda activity. According to the United Nations, more than 5,000 civilians have been killed since the beginning of Syria's uprising. This week saw a sharp escalation in violence as military defectors battled security forces.