Javascript is not enabled.

Javascript must be enabled to use this site. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try again.

Skip to content
Content starts here
CLOSE ×

Search

Leaving AARP.org Website

You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.

How Jane Fonda Looks So Good at 75

The star's stylists reveal her beauty secrets and share their tips


spinner image Jane Fonda at 85th Annual Academy Awards, 2013
2013: Fonda, 75, in vivid Versace, wowed on the Academy Awards red carpet.
Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images

When Jane Fonda stepped onstage at the 2013 Academy Awards looking gorgeous at 75 in a bright yellow Versace gown, you could hear the whispers:

"How does she do it?"

spinner image Image Alt Attribute

AARP Membership— $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal

Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

Join Now

Fonda had another such Oscar moment at age 62 when she debuted a new image after her divorce from Ted Turner. (See that look on the next page.)

The grandmother of two is the first to say "money helps," and she has been open about her plastic surgeries, including an eye-lift, a face-lift and a neck-lift (or two).

But Fonda — who is featured in People magazine's new "50 Most Beautiful" issue — also has a team of beauty experts who know how to help women look their best. We talked to them to learn the actress' secrets and their insider tips for women 50 and up.

1. Don't be afraid of sexy hair

spinner image Jane Fonda posing for fitness workout book, 1982
1982: Super svelte and fit at 44.
Steve Schapiro/Corbis

Matthew Shields, Fonda's hair stylist for a decade, says Fonda's willingness to embrace new ideas is key to keeping a fresh, vibrant and youthful look.

"A lot of women find their 'look' at a certain age, and that's it for the rest of their lives," Shields says. "Many women of Jane's generation were into having their hair very coiffed, and they're still doing it. The trick is not to be afraid to experiment with looser, sexier styles."

Fonda has been changing her hairstyle over the past two years; it has evolved from a short shag to the Oscar night straight, streamlined and still-layered look. If you want to change your hair, try a change in hairdresser or salon. Get recommendations from friends who have great cuts.

"Women can still look sexy in their 70s and 80s, and Jane is a perfect example of that," says Shields. "Her words to me on Oscar morning were, 'Make it bedroomy.' "

spinner image Jane Fonda in Barbarella, 1968
1968: Fonda, then 30, as the "astronautical aviatrix" Barbarella.
Corbis

2. Lighten up

Fonda's hair colorist, Negin Zand, advises women to lighten their color as they age.

"Add some bright pieces that pop on top and around the face," says Zand. "That way the color won't look like shoe polish color."

And because hair loses its natural oil and shine with age, Zand advises women to add shine by using one of the new hair glosses on the market.

Next page: Why a professional makeup lesson is worth your time and money. »

AARP Members! Save 10% on purchases of classic DVDs & Blu-ray discs with Movies Unlimited

3. Get fresh with makeup

spinner image Jane Fonda wearing floral dress, 1975
1975: At 37, a '70s shag.
Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Fonda's willingness to experiment with makeup is another reason she looks fresh, says makeup artist Elan Bongiorno.

"Six months ago, she told me, 'I'm going for a deep smoky eye.' Seventy-five years old, and she wants a dark smoky eye!"

spinner image Jane Fonda at Academy Awards, 2000
2000: Decked out for the Oscars at age 62.
Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images

Bongiorno uses products that add shimmer to Fonda's face, explaining, "Older women generally prefer a matte look, which they are used to. But matte shows up all the wrinkles and lines."

She recommends women over 50 get a makeup lesson from a professional. It can be as easy as visiting a makeup artist at a high-end department store cosmetic counter.

Says Bongiorno: "Learning how to apply the products and what brushes to use, [and] how to hold them, is the most important thing."

4. Clothes make the woman

It's no surprise that the woman who brought us the workout video works hard to keep in great shape. What is a surprise is that she does so despite knee and hip replacement and back surgery during the past few years.

Regular exercise is one of the reasons Fonda looks so good on the red carpet. Another important reason, according to Fonda's stylist, Tanya Gill, is that her client knows what works for her and stays open to trends.

"It was Jane's idea to go for that bright yellow hue, a gown color that most women her age wouldn't dare try. We showed Donatella Versace the color, and she found the fabric."

Says Gill: "Jane isn't afraid of being bold. She's inspiring to all women because she proves that it doesn't matter what age you are as long as you're true to yourself."

Elizabeth Snead is a contributing editor at The Hollywood Reporter.

Published: March 16, 2013, Updated: April 26, 2013

Discover AARP Members Only Access

Join AARP to Continue

Already a Member?