Andie MacDowell embraces gray hair even after managers say ‘it’s not time’

The actress has joined the growing list of celebrity women destigmatizing gray hair

Andie MacDowell attends the "Annette" screening and opening ceremony during the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on July 06, 2021 in Cannes, France.
(Image credit: Kate Green/Getty Images)

Andie MacDowell is over trying to hide her gray hair. The actress first debuted her all-natural salt and pepper locks during the Cannes Film Festival, and since then, has no plans on reaching for the dye box.

The gray hair movement is taking over Hollywood as Andie joins Allison Janney and Jane Fonda in embracing their all-natural hair. Transitioning to gray hair is inherent at some point in our lives and while at-home hair dye can mask those white streaks temporarily, there’s nothing wrong with letting your hair go gray.

Andie MacDowell attends the "Annette" screening and opening ceremony during the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on July 06, 2021 in Cannes, France.

(Image credit: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

The 63-year-old first made the decision to go gray during quarantine when her children made the comment that she looked “badass” with it, according to an interview she did with Vogue

Actress Andie McDowell leaves the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival at Nice Airport on July 09, 2021 in Nice, France.

(Image credit: Marc Piasecki/GC Images)

“I’ve been saying for a while now it was time for me, personally, to make that transition because I felt like it was appropriate for my personality and just who I am,” she told the magazine. 

That’s not to say she didn’t receive any pushback though, in fact, her managers even advised her not to go through with it, telling the actress “it’s not time.” Clearly that didn’t stop her though, if anything it pushed Andie to fully embrace her hair.

“I said, ‘I think you’re wrong and I’m going to be more powerful if I embrace where I am right now,’” she rebuked.

Andie Macdowell attends the "Tout S'est Bien Passe (Everything Went Fine)" screening during the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on July 07, 2021 in Cannes, France.

(Image credit: Kate Green/Getty Images)

It was especially essential for her to allow her hair to naturally transition as it won’t be in this salt and pepper stage forever.

“In two years, I’m going to be 65. If I don’t do it now, I won’t have the chance to be salt and pepper. I always wanted to be salt and pepper!” she explained.

Now, with the power to style her hair however she wants, maybe we’ll see her experiment with some short hair or medium hairstyles next.

Rylee Johnston

Rylee is a U.S. news writer who previously worked for woman&home and My Imperfect Life covering lifestyle, celebrity, and fashion news. Before joining woman&home and My Imperfect Life, Rylee studied journalism at Hofstra University where she explored her interests in world politics and magazine writing. From there, she dabbled in freelance writing covering fashion and beauty e-commerce for outlets such as the TODAY show, American Spa Magazine, First for Women, and Woman’s World.