Dawn French shocks fans with a new grey hairstyle—and her attitude is incredibly refreshing

Au naturel!

Dawn French attends the Glamour Women of The Year Awards 2017 at Berkeley Square Gardens
(Image credit: Karwai Tang / Contributor Getty)

For a long time turning grey was something to fear, but thanks to various lockdowns and nobody being able to get to the hair salon, embracing silvery locks is suddenly very much in vogue and Dawn French is no exception.

Transitioning to grey hair can be a daunting journey, but it's one Dawn is “happy” to be on as she vows to grow old gracefully. 

The comedian—who recently reunited with Jennifer Saunders for a special TV project—took to Instagram to show off her new “lighter” hairdo.

Alongside a selfie in which her trademark dark locks look lighter than ever, Dawn wrote, “Going lighter bit by bit to happily welcome the grey.”

And Dawn, 63, didn't stop there. In a bid for a brave and bold transformation, the comedian could have grown out her locks with a new long hairstyle but Dawn went one step further and revealed a surprise undercut, which really showcased the extent of her greying hair.

Fans went wild for Dawn's candid and honest approach to ageing, with fellow telly pal Ruth Langsford claiming, “Grey is the new blonde!”

Another said, “Love it!!! Embrace hun!! Grey is the new look.”

A third fan wrote, “Welcome to the club silver sister! You'll love it.”

In a year where salons were often closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of women have been forced to embrace their natural hair. And it's refreshing to see celebrities following suit. 

Dawn joins the likes of Sharon Osbourne, Jane Fonda and Helen Mirren—all of whom have embraced their grey hair.

After years of gruelling TV schedules filming The Vicar of Dibley and French & Saunders, Dawn has spent the last few years slowing the pace down as she looks to her “autumn years”.

She already swapped London for the ‘abundant beauty’ of Cornwall some time ago, so it's no surprise that going grey is just another chapter in her life that she’s welcoming with open arms.

“I am enjoying the place I’m in,” she said. “I realize I’m right there in autumn and I can’t see the point in resisting it. This is what 60 looks like.”

Citing her reasons behind the decision to leave London in 2006, she told Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast she found city life “overwhelming”.

There always seemed too much to do in London for Dawn. “I find the clutter of it overwhelming. I think I’m not meant for a city… that isn’t the real me. The real me is quiet.”

Whereas in Cornwall, Dawn said she feels calm. “There is, without a doubt, beauty here. I can do nothing but connect with that.

“It makes me calm, it makes me happier and it sort of enthuses my mind with better ways of thinking.”

We don't blame you, Dawn. Country life clearly suits you! 

Georgia Farquharson

Georgia writes across Woman & Home and Good to Know and specialises in all things royal. Previously labelled the "Queen of the royals," Georgia knows the whose who and what's what when it comes to the monarchy. When she's not eagerly following the royal family, Georgia enjoys shopping and self-care. She lives with this motto in mind; "if your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough."