13 Naturally Gray-Haired Celebrities That Serve the Ultimate Silvery Inspo

To gray or not to gray? That is the question—and it's been the question on the minds of many women of a certain age for decades. While some approach the subject with dread and despair, others dive in head-first (quite literally), embracing their natural grays at the first hint of white. Whichever way you lean it's a personal preference, and no two journeys are the same.

Still, we can't help but notice the hoards of celebrities opting to rock their grays full force. Perhaps the pandemic-induced salon shutdowns of 2020 fast-tracked the gray movement; maybe we're just becoming more comfortable with aging. Regardless, it's undeniable: We're not just accepting gray hair anymore—it's downright cool. If you won't take our word for it, scroll on for 13 gray-haired celebs who serve as proof, along with gray-hair maintenance tips from hair experts Sonsoles Gonzalez and Mai Hernandez.

Meet Our Expert

• Sonsoles Gonzalez is the founder of the haircare line Better Not Younger.

• Mai Hernandez is a professional hairstylist, owner of A | M Salon in West Hollywood, and Joico artistic educator.

Andie MacDowell

Actress Andie MacDowell has been embracing her grays since 2021, bringing a new sense of empowerment to aging gracefully. And she's not alone: "I think women today more and more aspire to break free from traditional stereotypes, wanting to live life on their own terms rather than conforming to traditional societal expectations," says Gonzalez. "We are seeing graying across different media, with celebrities, influencers, and even big traditional brands hero-ing and showing women with gray hair in their campaigns."

Kelly Hu

Likewise, Kelly Hu has long worn her "grays like a badge of honor," according to an Instagram post from April 2019. The actress spent well over a year growing them out—which is exactly what Hernandez suggests doing. "Slow and steady wins the race," she says. "I always suggest blending grays rather than covering them. As time goes by, your stylist can adjust the formula to make your grays look more like what I would call a natural highlight."

Diane Keaton

If you choose to rock your grays like Diane Keaton, it's important to adapt how you care for your hair—after all, gray hair can be more 'wiry,' dry, and porous than traditional hair colors, explains Gonzalez. Gray hair can also pick up pigments from the environment, turning brassy or even slightly yellow. To care for your grays, it's important to balance nourishment and color toning.

Katie Holmes

Katie Holmes' casual cascading braid is made all the chicer by the smattering of silvery gray roots peeking through her part. The seamless transition between the roots and grays suggests that Holmes had an expert blend the tones. The result is a sophisticated, effortless hair moment that we can't stop thinking about.

Whoopi Goldberg

Hairstyles are a preference and grays don't have to affect that—take Whoopi Goldberg's stunning trademark locs, for example. Allowing your gray hair to grow out doesn't mean you must abandon your go-to hairstyles, Hernandez says—just make sure you're using the right hair products for your texture and hair type. In fact, because gray hair is actually virgin hair, it can often be even easier to style than regularly colored and bleached hair.

Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek isn't shy about showing off her grays on Instagram alongside her bikini snaps and bare-faced selfies. It's a refreshing take on aging that's not going unnoticed. "I must say, I'm truly happy to recognize that the current landscape reflects a broader cultural shift toward pro-aging and authenticity," Gonzalez says. "The beauty and fashion industries are increasingly embracing diversity in appearance and challenging traditional norms."

Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster has been giving a masterclass in gray blending with her face-framing strands and the subtle streaks sprinkled throughout her head. Hernandez says it's a great way to transition out of gray coverage and allow the hair to grow out naturally.

Tracee Ellis Ross

As the founder of Pattern Beauty, Tracee Ellis Ross is something of a hair influencer—and she's certainly a great source of inspiration when it comes to hair acceptance and sorting through all the emotions that can come with going gray. She's been open about her journey with her hair and loving it in all its seasons on Instagram and has been vocal about the beauty of showing one's age.

Hilarie Burton

In an appearance on The View in October 2023, Hilarie Burton opened up about going gray early, calling the transition "a relief," as she's let her hair grow out and rocked her grays in earnest. And it couldn't come at a better time: Gray hair is more than normal by today's standards—it's a bonafide trend.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep's transition into fully white hair was more like a marathon than a sprint. What was previously a masterful mix of brunette, blonde, and silvery gray hues seems to now be a full-on cool white-gray mane—and we're big fans of the icy hue on the star.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Behold some of the world's most beautiful gray babylights on none other than SJP. To embrace her grays, she blended them alongside her signature blonde hue and darker tonal pieces, creating beautiful dimension and contrast. Hernandez is a big fan of the technique, telling us the key to making those grays look less stark and more natural is using an array of shades, including an ultra-light blonde hue to blend in alongside the white hair.

Jamie Lee Curtis

Jamie Lee Curtis is all about a signature hair look. For decades the actress has been associated with her short haircuts (from cropped pixies to lobs, with bixies such as this one in between), and she's been at the forefront of the gray movement for years, too. She's donned shades including salt-and-pepper and silvery white.

Tia Mowry

"Our hair is not just hair," actor and 4U by Tia founder Tia Mowry told Byrdie. "It is who we are and a part of our history." So it's no surprise Mowry embraces her curls and gorgeous grays, which she's showcased on Instagram in afros, slicked-back ponytails, and braids.

Read the original article on Byrdie.