Hair

14 Grey-Haired Actresses Who Prove Grey Can Be Absolutely Gorgeous!

Plus, easy ways to make your greys shine even more

By Lauren Stachiw November 28, 2024

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Time was that even a sliver of silver in our hair would be a dead giveaway of our age, and the moment we saw that first one pop up, we reached for the box color or called up our hair colorist and covered it—fast! But these days, donning the sugary hue is now trending in Hollywood. Whether it stems from a time when getting to a salon was nearly impossible, or the fact that older A-listers have simply embraced the beauty of aging, more and more grey-haired actresses are showing up to red carpets, proving that sporting silver strands no longer carries the stigma it once did.

In fact, going grey can actually offer anti-aging benefits, says Mike Petrizzi, a celebrity colorist at New York City’s Chris Chase Salon. “The vibrance of a silver hue gives hair added luster that helps thinner tresses appear thicker,” he says. And those who prefer a salt-and-pepper mix also reap the hair-thickening rewards as the contrast between light and dark strands provides depth and dimension for a fuller-looking mane.

And the benefits don’t just stop with hair, as Petrizzi adds, “the bright hue bounces light onto skin, enlivening the entire complexion for a lit-from-within glow.” It also creates a gorgeous blank canvas so any makeup that you apply will really pops in comparison.

Just take a look at the bevy of grey-haired actresses below for proof that you can be gorgeous and ageless with grey locks. And when you’re ready to follow suit, simply click through for the easy trick to blend and brighten your greys.

Would you consider going gray with your hair?

Helen Mirren, 79

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Is there anyone classier than Dame Helen Mirren? At 79 years old, she's also been known to get playful and add a dash of pink dye to her natural silver locks. Have silvery strands like Mirren? Keep them looking fresh with a weekly apple cider vinegar hair rinse. The vinegar’s acetic acid dissolves color-dulling product buildup on the hair shaft, increasing vibrancy for a light-reflecting sheen that makes locks appear full, healthy and lustrous. To do: Mix 1 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of water, pour onto wet hair and let sit for 10 minutes before rinsing.
Rita Moreno, 92

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It's hard to believe the One Day at a Time actress is 92, even with her stunning silver strands. One way she keeps her grey hair looking polished is with a voluminous blowout. For a similar look, work a dollop of a volumizing mousse, like Nexxus Volume Medium Hold Mousse, through damp hair from roots to ends. Next, blow-dry 1" sections of hair with a round brush, pulling strands up and out at the root for added volume. Once hair is all dry, create a deep side part and set with hairspray.
Ellen Burstyn, 91

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We should all hope to age as beautifully as the 91-year-old actress has with her sparking silver bob. Ellen is also a great example of how grey hair complements fair skin. “The crispness of silver locks brings out a natural rosy flush,” says celebrity colorist Rona O’Connor.
Jamie Lee Curtis, 66

Samir Hussein/Getty

The 66-year-old actress pulls of a beautiful combination of powerful yet feminine with her signature grey pixie. For greys that wow like Curtis', celebrity colorist Gregory Patterson recommends adding a vitamin C shower filter, like Voesh Vitamin C Shower Filter, to your showerhead to prevent hard water buildup that can discolor greys. Bonus: Vitamin C seals hair’s cuticle to add shine and prevent frizz. (Click through to see wash and wear hairstyles like Curtis' that flatter women over 60)
Diane Keaton, 78

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At 78, the Annie Hall actress' signature shoulder-length locks look better than ever in a blond-silvery hue. "This is the blond version of salt-and-pepper hair," says Petrizzi. "It looks stunning and soft against fairer complexions and complementary tones of bright blond and silver give hair dimension and movement."
Melissa McBride, 59

Carlos Alvarez/Getty

The Walking Dead actress at 59 has gorgeous salt and pepper locks that enhance her facial features. If you have gray roots and want to create a similar hue as Melissa's, try this: Once grays have grown in at least an inch, paint a permanent dye that’s close to your natural non-gray hue (tip: look to your eyebrows as a guide) onto ¹⁄₂" sections of hair throughout the crown, similar to how you would apply highlights. Adding the darker color back into the crown area (where emerging grays tend to be concentrated) helps unify the two colors and camouflage the harsh line of demarcation, says celebrity colorist Rick Wellman.
Glenn Close, 77

Dia Dipasupil/Getty

At 77, the actress clearly isn't shying away from her gorgeous natural white shade. "And she's also embracing her natural curly texture that gives grey hair some feminine flair," says Petrizzi. Recreate Glenn's curls with this to-do: Apply a quarter-size amount of a curl-enhancing cream, like Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Cream, through damp hair from roots to ends. Next, using a diffuser attachment, blow-dry hair in 2" sections, gently “scrunching” from ends up to roots with your free hand at the same time. Repeat until all of hair has been dried and curled.
Jane Fonda, 86

Craig Barritt/Getty

We're talking in our Book Club meetings about how much we love the 86-year-old's silvery 'do. And Jane Fonda's dazzling hair color isn't the only thing making her look youthful, her cut is equally age-defying. That's because a bob that rests at the chin beautifully frames facial features, while feathery bangs conceal any thinning along the hairline or near the temples. For a similar cut, ask your stylist for a chin-length bob with wispy, eyebrow-skimming fringe and stacked, graduating layers throughout.
Andie MacDowell, 66

Daniele Venturelli/Getty

One of the newest members of the grey hair club is the 66-year-old who has said that going grey made her feel powerful. Her trick to maintaining her gorgeous salt and pepper style? The actress told Vogue, “I use a lot of purple conditioners to make it look silver, and it’s amazing how they work. I love L’Oreal’s different purple products." One to try: L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Purple Conditioner.
Elizabeth McGovern, 63

Dominique Charriau/Getty

The 63-year-old Downton Abbey star makes a beautiful statement with her silver strands and red lipstick. Elizabeth is proof that you can have fun with grey hair and style it into a pretty updo, says Petrizzi. (Click through to learn how to create gorgeous updos for thinner hair.)
Patricia Heaton, 66

Michael Loccisano/Getty

At 66, The Middle star proves that going grey doesn't have to age you. But since hair loses its natural luster with age, which in turn can make grey hair look drab, get lustrous locks like Heaton's by using a clear gloss, like John Frieda Clear Shine Gloss, twice a month, advises Wellman. The gloss coats strands with colorless, shine-inducing molecules that sharpen pigments so grey hair retains its shine and dimension.
Sally Field, 78

Steve Granitz/Getty

Sally Field is proof that dark silver locks look stunning at 78! To make deeper pewter tresses shine, try a silver color-depositing conditioner, like Keracolor Color + Clenditioner. It adds silver semi-permanent dye to hair that makes silver strands look extra lustrous.
Judi Dench, 89

Samir Hussein/Getty

Dame Judi Dench, 89, is known for her wow-worthy white pixie cut. To ensure hair looks dazzling and not dingy, doing an at-home soap cap can help, which uses a mix of bleach, developer and shampoo to gently lift unwanted pigment from hair. To do: Mix ¼ cup each of shampoo, powder bleach, like Clairol Professional Kaleidocolors Clear Ice Powder Lightener Packette, and developer, like Ion Sensitive Scalp 20 Volume Creme Developer. While wearing gloves, apply evenly to damp hair. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes; rinse.
Emma Thompson, 65

Jo Hale/Getty

The 65-year-old actress is sporting a mix of silvery strands these days. Adding in soft coils also gives shorter strands mega dimension. To do: Use a 1" curling iron and wrap 1" sections of hair around the barrel. Hold in place for 30 seconds, then unravel. Alternate the direction curls fall (one section away from the face and another section toward to face) to give hair even more depth. One hair is curled, gently comb through with fingers and set with hairspray.

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