Andie MacDowell Shares Valuable Lesson About Going Gray

Andie MacDowell turned 66 about a month ago, and with aging comes the changes she has come to love. The actress left her graying hair to thrive a few years ago, debuting it at the Cannes Film Festival in July 2021, and she has kept it so ever since.

The mother of three was initially skeptical about ditching the dye due to her collaboration with L’Oreal Paris. However, she took the leap, which the brand and fans didn’t oppose. During Paris Fashion Week in 2022, she walked the runway for L’Oreal with her silver locks blown out, matching her dress and shimmery makeup.

Andie MacDowell on going gray

Andie is proof that women can be “old and beautiful,” as one is not the opposite of the other. She remains ever thankful for getting tired of dying her hair at home during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, which inspired her to try staying natural. “I don’t care, I want to be old,” she noted. “I’m tired of trying to be young.”

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So far, Andie’s decision has paid off. She claims that her eye color pops better now, and her hair compliments her facial frame and skin. She has “felt more powerful, more genuine, more myself” since making this daring decision to age gracefully and is now encouraging women her age to do so.

Andie’s hair is not only a beauty statement but also a voice addressing society’s double standard placed on women when it comes to looks. In her words, she would rather not have to “screw with myself to be beautiful” and be “like a man” because “men get old, and we keep loving them.” She called out the idea that men can “just go salt and pepper” and everyone thinks they are “gorgeous,” however graying hair on a woman raises questions.

The Magic Mike alum also draws inspiration from the younger generation for challenging the status quo and cheering on confident women like herself. She admitted to getting criticism for her new style, but not as much as the praise and admiration she has received so far. Andie is also working through years of anxiety and PTSD from living by societal standards, as she clarified that she is simply a work in progress.