More celebrities are embracing grey hair. For other women, it can come at a cost

Olivia Colman and Lisa Bonet are among the stars going silver – but workplace ageism means many women still fear ditching the dye

More celebrities are embracing grey hair. For other women, it can come at a cost

TL;DR

  • Olivia Colman has joined other celebrities in embracing grey hair, receiving praise for her new look.
  • For many non-celebrity women, however, going grey is not an option due to fears of ageism and difficulty finding employment.
  • Age discrimination in recruitment starts earlier for women than for men in the UK, with job prospects declining from their 40s.
  • While some high-profile women feel empowered by going grey, saving money and effort, others feel they must continue dyeing their hair to appear younger and more desirable to employers.
  • The article suggests that while celebrity grey hair might be seen as a choice, for many women, it is a struggle against societal and professional pressures.