Olivia Colman Debuts Grey Hair at 52, Fueling Debate Over Ageism at Work
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Oct 2
Olivia Colman Debuts Grey Hair at 52, Fueling Debate Over Ageism at Work
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 2
Summary
Zurich Film Festival put Olivia Colman’s new grey, curly hairstyle in the spotlight, with the 52-year-old quickly praised online as a “silver hair muse.”
That celebration exposed a sharper divide beyond Hollywood: former fashion editor Stacey Duguid, also 52, said going grey can feel impossible for women seeking work because it may make them look older to recruiters.
Hair specialists say the shift is rarely simple—blending dyed and natural hair can take up to 3 years, and clients most often fear the change will age them.
UK data and research underline that pressure: about 3% of people aged 50 to 64 are unemployed, applicants are seen as undesirable at 55 on average, and women’s callback rates start falling from 40.