It appears that an unexpected transformation is sweeping through the male faction of Hollywood elite. A trend of reversing the natural ageing process through changing hair hues has become noticeable. We’ve observed these changes in notable stars such as George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Ben Affleck, where the usual ‘silver fox’ look has been swapped for a much younger, vibrant undertone. The trend begs the question: are salt-and-pepper locks losing their allure in the race for perpetual youthfulness?
Recently, Ben Affleck took the stage at the CinemaCon event in Las Vegas, sporting a completely revamped look replicating his appearance from his younger years, closely resembling his character from Goodwill Hunting. The renowned actor and director, aged 52, was seen with a heavily darkened mane and a generally darker beard. This significant change was a stark shift from what his fans were accustomed to seeing over the past decade, with Affleck’s hair progressively greying.
The occasion for Affleck’s visit to the famous Colosseum at Caesars Palace wasn’t just to strut his newfound youthfulness, but to promote his upcoming suspense-filled movie, The Accountant 2. It was here that Jennifer Lopez’s former spouse took the spotlight and left onlookers intrigued with his vibrant aura.
Notably, Affleck isn’t the only one to have undergone this hair transformation. Leonardo DiCaprio, known for his fair locks since his start as a child star, made a surprising appearance at the same CinemaCon event. The 50-year-old actor revealed a much darker set of locks on the red carpet, seemingly echoing Affleck’s transformation.
This synchronized hair transformation of both Affleck and DiCaprio arrived after another key figure in Hollywood, George Clooney, was seen discarding his trademark silvery mane. The 63-year-old actor had been famous for this distinctive hair shade ever since 2009.
Clooney, however, defended his change by attributing it to his impending debut on Broadway in Good Night, And Good Luck – an upcoming adaptation of a 2005 film that he both directed and acted in. Yet, some observers are left wondering if that was a convenient explanation to experiment with a more youthful appearance.
Ever since celebrities started stamping their footprints in Hollywood, it’s mostly been the women bearing the burden to deny the aging process and sustain their youthful charm for steady work continuity. But there seems to be a shift in this age-old practice, perhaps indicating a change in societal norms.
Could the recent culmination of youthful appearances in actors such as Timothee Chalamet and Tom Holland be driving the older leading men in Hollywood to keep up with the ‘forever young’ injunction? There’s a visible surge in boyish appearance bagging premier roles in show business.
Interestingly, also observed is an inversed trend where older actresses are gaining more recognition for their acting prowess. A trend manifesting in the form of romantic unions between younger men and older women in films and TV shows are stealing the limelight, with actresses like Nicole Kidman and Laura Dern acquiring significant roles.
Ideally, the film industry should break free from its obsession with anti-aging treatments such as Botox and hair coloring. Nevertheless, if the hair color modification among aging actors in Hollywood is any indication, it seems that men are now facing similar pressure to preserve their youthfulness which has been a long-standing expectation for women.
As astonishing as it may seem, this ‘changing with the times’ trend could potentially be viewed as progress towards gender equality, even if not directly against ageism. The silver linings of this trend could be towards shifting expectations of age for both genders.
Aging graciously, often considered an enviable trait, seems to be overshadowed by the cosmetic industry’s promise of ageless glamour. The current hair color evolution among established actors like Affleck, DiCaprio, and Clooney serves as a clear reminder of the growing fixation with maintaining a youthful appearance in Hollywood.
The previously existing divide between aging expectations for men and women appears to be dissolving at the edges. If the lived experiences of women were to mirror anything, it would be prudent to embrace the shift while advocating for natural aging – of both women and men. The new normal for Hollywood glows differently in the reveal of darkened locks.