# Actors in your 60s and 70s please quit dying your hair! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 15, 2019, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284 "2019-09-15T20:56:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/21 "2019-09-16T14:59:48Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > Yes I do, and I left my 30s behind well over a dozen years ago… Full, thick, wavy, only a few greys. I know I’m the outlier, as nearly all my contemporaries, including 99% of my family, have thinning hair with more grey at an earlier age. My younger brother is the same as me. I’m closing in on 65, and while my hair is thinner than it used to be, I have yet to sprout a gray hair. My dad was 72 when he died and his was still more dark than gray. Mom, on the other hand, started graying at 40. One of my sisters takes after her. Personally, I have no issue with people dying their hair, altho it shouldn’t be screamingly obvious, because then it just seems pathetic. Not that anyone cares what I think. But I do reserve the right to think someone’s sad attempts at clinging to youth can be comical. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/22 "2019-09-16T15:42:32Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > Yes I do, and I left my 30s behind well over a dozen years ago… Full, thick, wavy, only a few greys. I know I’m the outlier, as nearly all my contemporaries, including 99% of my family, have thinning hair with more grey at an earlier age. My younger brother is the same as me. You’re very lucky to be an outlier. I already had a bald spot on the top of my head when I was 17. I found hairpieces to be especially noticable back in the '70s. Watch episodes of _ **Columbo** _ or _ **Mission: Impossible** _ and you’ll see lots of male actors wearing ones that are painfully obvious (Ross Martin is one I can never get out of my mind). Pay close attention to the close-ups of Don Adams in _ **The Nude Bomb** _ (1980). Not only is his hairpiece awful, you can see his sideburns are painted on. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/23 "2019-09-16T16:16:57Z")
_Crying under blanket_ Leave Tom alone!! Seriously though, if a dude wants to dye his hair, whatever. I typically think guys can “get away with it” (not dying) more than women can, but I don’t think it’s any more egregious than many things younger people do to “look better”. I will say, there is absolutely nothing a person can do to themselves that will change their appearance more than changing your hair. I was watching The Americans and those wigs truly are really effective. Number 2 would be makeup, which even on young people is totally deceiving. I’m 47, probably 5% gray. I’m thinking out a little on top, which started looking terrible when I had long swept back bangs. So now I have a short cropped Caesar. Not a super attractive haircut, but it almost completely hides the thinning and is “all natural”. Lots of people do things to hide the aging process, I don’t begrudge them of that. And I don’t usually look at old actors and go “nuh uh!”. My default assumption is everyone in hollywood is fake as hell no matter what the age and I don’t really think about it. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/24 "2019-09-16T16:47:15Z")
I think people should do whatever they want with their hair. Some guys with gray hair look distinguished. Some do not. If they want to dye it, why not? They spend their whole careers altering their appearance for one part or another, why not look the way you want to off screen? ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/25 "2019-09-16T17:55:22Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > When they dye their hair they end up looking even older than they are. Paul McCartney and Robert Redford are two that look awful. Redford’s color must be called “Dandelion Yellow”! I just saw a picture of Arnold Schwarznegger that was horrible - his hair had a “nice” reddish hue to it. Again, ageism. Have you never seen a young person with pink or blue hair? Yet somehow, that’s ok? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/26 "2019-09-16T19:47:02Z")
Better dyed hair than some I see in the real world - older guys with long, stringy grey hair that they apparently never wash. If you’re gonna have long grey hair, letting it get stringy makes you look like you’re a witch. But fer cripes sake, no pony tails, especially if you’re bald on top. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/27 "2019-09-16T20:00:19Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > Again, ageism. Have you never seen a young person with pink or blue hair? Yet somehow, that’s ok? Most people think of obviously “unnatural” hair colors in a different category from “imitation-natural” dyeing. I know some older women with bright blue or purple colored hair, and they don’t get any more flack for it than younger women do (which is a non-zero amount in both cases, sadly). ---
**Author:** ![Teddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Teddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teddie)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/28 "2019-09-16T20:15:26Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > I’m going to go to bat for at least the actresses here. There are very few roles for actresses over 40, and competition is fierce. While silver hair can be attractive, we live in an ageist society, and Hollywood is especially so. Meryl Streep is one of the few women who manage to continue getting starring roles after age 40. The fact she’s an incredible actress is undoubtedly the main reason, but it doesn’t hurt that she looks younger than her 70 years. Her hair is dyed a very believable blonde. Anybody think, “Oh, hell no, Meryl! Let that mop go white?” I don’t think so. > > Could it be the issue isn’t so much that actors dye their hair; it’s that some actors dye it harsh colors that look artificial? Helen Mirren and Judy Dench look fabulous with their naturally grey hair BUT as someone who went grey at 24 (very dark brown hair) I wasn’t confident enough to embrace the grey and began dying it. I’m now 43 and still dying but a much lighter brown as my own old dark brown is aging. Many people see men who are grey as distinguished but women who are grey looking older than they actually are ☹ ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/29 "2019-09-16T20:45:38Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > But fer cripes sake, no pony tails, especially if you’re bald on top. I resent that! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/30 "2019-09-16T20:53:41Z")
> [@TRC4941](#): > > I just saw a picture of Arnold Schwarznegger that was horrible - his hair had a “nice” reddish hue to it. Dying his hair? Hell, he’s often not even bothering to shave anymore! His hair changes these days depending on whether or not he’s in a movie (and for _Terminator: Genisys_ he let it go his now-natural grey). Otherwise, he doesn’t seem to bother. If you’ve seen a recent picture of him with dyed hair someone probably paid him to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/31 "2019-09-16T20:56:07Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > Again, ageism. Have you never seen a young person with pink or blue hair? Yet somehow, that’s ok? Hell, the 20-somethings are now sporting grey hair. It’s their hair, they can wear it (or not) the way they want to. Even if I think the effect is comical or sad I ain’t gonna say a word to the person who likes the 'do. Their hair, their decision, none of my business. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/32 "2019-09-16T21:45:34Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I resent that! :mad: As long as you don’t resemble that. you can do what you like, and I’d never laugh in your face, but…no. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/33 "2019-09-16T22:03:43Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > As long as you don’t resemble that. > > you can do what you like, and I’d never laugh in your face, but…no. Laugh all you want. Looking like a 75-year-old hippie get me seats on buses, mobility privileges at airports, and comfortable seats on airplanes, along with being whisked through passport control at my destination. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/34 "2019-09-16T22:55:05Z")
daughter is a roadie and saw Paul McCartney close up ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/35 "2019-09-16T22:56:13Z")
Daughter is a roadie and met Paul McCartney backstage (eeeeee!!!) 😃 . and said he looked like a little old soccer mom. Probably wearing a wig! ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/36 "2019-09-16T23:14:40Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > Meryl Streep is one of the few women who manage to continue getting starring roles after age 40. The fact she’s an incredible actress is undoubtedly the main reason, but it doesn’t hurt that she looks younger than her 70 years. Her hair is dyed a very believable blonde. Anybody think, “Oh, hell no, Meryl! Let that mop go white?” I don’t think so. She had [very natural grey hair](https://www.indiewire.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/meryl-streep-devil-wears-prada.jpg?w=780) in _The Devil Wears Prada_. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284/37 "2019-09-17T00:05:21Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Cheers: Sam’s Big Secret > > [https://youtu.be/CA3di2Q\_DaI?t=60](https://youtu.be/CA3di2Q_DaI?t=60) In fairness to Ted Danson, I remember seeing him on talk shows once in a while back in the Cheers days, and he didn’t wear the toupe on his own time. It was just part of the costume for him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-in-your-60s-and-70s-please-quit-dying-your-hair/840284.md?page=1)