Salma Hayek, 59, Is Done Hiding Her Gray Hair. So Are a Lot of Other Stars

The actor, 68, first caused a stir in the fall of 2021 when she strutted down the L’Oréal Paris runway rocking a one-shouldered, marabou-trimmed sequin gown with a thigh-high slit  —  and a riot of unexpected silver curls.

MacDowell told AARP that the au naturel look was more than aesthetics. It was a way to pay homage to her late mother, who died at 53, when MacDowell was only 23. “I never got to see her with silver hair. I only had my father to go by, and I look a lot like my father. And he had salt-and-pepper hair, and I just always found it so beautiful,” she said.

A color correction

Many women credit the pandemic for the reset. While some took matters into their own hands during lockdown, attempting to color their hair at home, many let nature take its course — and never looked back. In addition to saving countless hours and thousands of dollars, eschewing biweekly appointments in your colorist’s chair can simplify your daily routine.

“When I was coloring my hair, I used to get blowouts all the time because my hair was so dry and damaged from all the color,” says Cindy Weber-Cleary, a New Jersey–based fashion consultant (and former fashion director of InStyle). “Now I can just let my hair air-dry. It’s so much healthier that I don’t even need to use hot tools. The texture is softer and silkier than it’s been for years.”

Nonnas and Sopranos star Lorraine Bracco, 71, is another celebrity going back to her roots, hair-color-wise. Bracco states that she reminds her agent to tell others she has gray hair and is “no longer a brunette.”

“People have been very accepting to it, “she expressed on TikTok. “Honestly, I stopped coloring it during COVID, and I had no idea what it was going to look like. Half dark, half gray, half whatever it was. I think I was pretty lucky.”

Thinking about kissing your colorist goodbye? We asked the experts for some tips on how to minimize the uncomfortable grow-out phase

COLOR WOW - Root Coverup Powder

Courtesy Sephora

1. Allow at least two months of regrowth.

There is no getting around that regrowth — which, depending on your level of gray, can look like somebody spray-painted your hairline — is an awkward but necessary step. Hair grows about half an inch per month, so it will take a while for this transition to be complete. To make regrowth less obvious during this phase, spray or dab on a tonal root touch-up product. “I love Color Wow Root Cover Up ($35, sephora.com) and use it myself,” says New York City colorist Sharon Dorram. “It blends in perfectly and completely covers the gray.” Another option: Kiss Quick Cover Gray Root Touch-Up ($5, walmart.com).

2. Put your hair up.

Weber-Cleary swears by Rita Hazan Root Concealer Touch Up Spray ($17, amazon.com). When she was growing out her gray, she would pull her hair up into a high ponytail or bun so no one could see her roots. If you want to wear your hair down, try a messy zigzag part to help obscure the regrowth.

RED by Kiss Quick Cover Root Touch Up Stick Type Water-Resistant Temporary Gray Concealer Cover Up Brush for Hair and Beard (Black)

Walmart

3. Consider “herringbone” highlights.

By adding a few warm and cool tones during the grow-out phase, you can camouflage that strong gray demarcation line, Dorram says. This is a great, low-maintenance compromise for people who might not be willing to go entirely gray but don’t want to spend half their lives in a salon chair. “Instead of going every three to four weeks, you can then stretch it to every four to five months,” Dorram says.

4. Get frequent haircuts.

Of course, the fastest way out of this awkward phase is to get a pixie cut once you have a solid three to four months of regrowth. For inspiration, look no further than Jamie Lee Curtis. If that feels too extreme, consider a slightly longer style, like the one worn by Jane Fonda. Whatever length you settle on, trim your ends every five to six weeks to keep hair looking fresh, Dorram advises.

5. Baby your gray.

Gray hair can be fragile and dry, so once it has fully grown out, lay off the hot styling tools and switch to a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo such as L’Oréal Paris EverPure Shampoo ($10, walmart.com), Aveda Shampure Nurturing Shampoo ($23, cvs.com) or Aveeno Oat Milk Blend Shampoo ($16, walmart.com). Allowing hair to air-dry will help keep it soft and silky.

Clairol Shimmer Lights

Target

6. Add shine.

To give gray strands a sparkling silver finish, dab a tiny bit of argan oil between your palms and gently run it through your hair, advises Dorram, who doesn’t recommend using purple shampoos regularly, because they can dry out hair. One exception is if you have white hair that has turned a yellowish hue from chlorine in a pool. In this case, occasionally using a purple shampoo such as Clairol Shimmer Lights ($20, cvs.com), Rene Furterer Okara Silver ($36, amazon.com) or Redken Color Extend Graydiant Purple Shampoo ($40, walmart.com) can help neutralize the brassiness.

7. Tweak your makeup.

To get a “lit from within” glow, makeup artist Nick Barose recommends prepping skin with a hydrating primer and moisturizer. Then, in place of plastering on a heavy foundation, which can make skin look dull, use a waxy synthetic brush to apply an illuminating foundation, such as Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation ($69, nordstrom.com). (Barose uses this on clients Kim Cattrall and Rachel Weisz.) “Apply it only where you need it, and then tap it in gently with a damp sponge to get a seamless finish.” Other options: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better Foundation + Skincare ($39, ulta.com) and Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint ($12, walmart.com).

Regarding lip color, “there are no rules,” Barose says. “Some people love wearing bright colors like fuchsia, red or coral, and that can look striking against gray hair.” One thing to keep in mind: Avoid overly matte formulas, which can appear severe.

8. Adjust your mindset.

As MacDowell has frequently noted publicly, embracing your gray is not about letting yourself go. It’s about allowing yourself in — and shutting the ageist attitudes of society out. “I’ve never felt more powerful ... more honest ... like I’m not pretending,” she told Vogue. “I’m embracing right where I am.”

Weber-Cleary agrees: “I have never been the one to lie about my age,” she says. “I feel proud of what I’ve accomplished, and I don’t feel the need to pretend I’m younger. In fact, I hate the whole concept of fighting the process. What’s there to fight about? It happens to all of us, and frankly, you are lucky if you get to age.”