There’s no way to avoid the fact that all of us will eventually have gray hair. Research reports that at least 50% of women will have started turning gray by age 50. The good news is that the tides are changing. Gone are the days when you needed to feel embarrassed or run to the store for hair dye at the first sign of graying. Fashion trends are evolving, and embracing one’s natural, unique self is IN right now.
If you want to cover up your grays or rock a different color, by all means, go for it. But if you’re ready to show up and show off all your untouched glory, there’s never been a better time for it!
For proof, look no further than some of the most influential trendsetters of pretty much every generation so far – the celebs. The men of Hollywood have always been allowed and celebrated for doing the same thing, with phrases like “silver fox” and “salt and pepper” reserved for them, but it’s time the women start taking their piece of the pie. And delightfully, they are!
Here are some celebrities who have fully embraced their natural grays and are slaying while they’re at it!
Salma Hayek
This onscreen superstar has been outspoken about covering up her grays, but she seems to have gone in the opposite direction lately. She has been showing off her salt and pepper locks all over social media, calling them her “white hairs of wisdom,” and her fans have been loving it!
Andie McDowell
The iconic rom-com star has always been known for her beautiful soft curls, but she’s recently chosen to espouse her natural grays, even though the move apparently made her managers nervous. After all, she says, she’s about to turn 65 and may never “have the chance to be salt-and-pepper.” Her graphite-toned lowlights are just gorgeous, and they’re an excellent choice for anyone starting their journey to gray.
Jane Fonda
Another Hollywood megastar, Jane Fonda, only went gray a few years back. She debuted her gorgeous silver icy blonde look at the 2020 Oscars and, as per her intention, surprised everyone there! Fonda has rocked many different styles over the years, but she revealed that going gray made her feel liberated and that she’s so happy that she can leave behind all the time and money she used to spend on chemicals.
Steve Martin
Looking at this seasoned actor, one might think he’s had silver hair since birth because this hair is as iconic as him. But the reality is that he went gray at a very young age and has never looked back. Looking up pictures of a young Steve Martin with black hair is a little jarring (only because we’ve always seen him otherwise), and we think the silver definitely suits him better!
Diane Keaton
Another actress who has always rocked her natural grays is Diane Keaton. The actress is elegance personified. She debuted her gray locks at the 2014 Golden Globes, rocking a layered cut and a sleek black pantsuit. She adds a bit of intrigue by dying a few of her hair, leaving the rest untouched, and embodying a black-and-white look that we’re obsessed with!
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep is one of the most successful and recognizable names on the big screen. A natural blonde, she began graying as she grew older (as we all do). She alternates between blonde and natural gray, having gone for roles where she rocked the light look—such as TheGiver’ss Balayage of the icy sleekness of Miranda Priestly. Lately, she’s also begun showing her natural locks off on the red carpet, too!
Jamie Lee Curtis
When you think of Jamie Lee Curtis’s hair, two things come to mind: her iconic pixie cut and their beautiful silver shade. The actress has always been open about embracing her genuine self, speaking out about the industry’s unhealthy obsession with hiding one’s natural beauty for some overblown and unrealistic beauty standard, so it’s no surprise that she’s on this list!
Anderson Cooper
Another celeb who’s always been synonymous with the term” silver fox” is beloved newsman Anderson Cooper. He’s another person who went gray at a very young age, as early as 20 or 21! Although he sometimes still wishes he had his brown hair, we think the silver locks make his skin and eyes more striking.
Hilarie Burton
Hillarie Burton will always live in our hearts as Peyton from OTH, but she’s all grown up and has left her stamp on Hollywood through several other roles since then. In her early 40s, Burton has moved to champion her untouched hair. She brings her unique flair to it, though, by pairing her natural grays up top with blonde highlights towards the bottom, rounding it all off with a flared layered do.
