World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Women say grey hair can hurt their chances of finding work
British actress Olivia Colman was praised for wearing her grey hair, but other women say doing the same can make it harder to find work.
Stacey Duguid, a 52-year-old former fashion editor, says she cannot afford to show her grey hair while looking for a job.
She experienced a long period of unemployment despite decades of work experience, and says other women have told her they dye their hair or use filters in video interviews to look younger.
The issue is part of age discrimination, which can affect women seeking jobs from their 40s, according to British research cited in the story.
In France, 26% of women aged 50 and over said they had faced discrimination at work, compared with 20% of men in that age group; the figures cover all forms of workplace discrimination, not only age bias.
The contrast is striking as people are expected to work for longer, while some women feel pressure to hide signs of ageing to stay in the job market.
No specific next step is stated.
Women say grey hair can reduce their chances of finding work, as some feel pressure to hide signs of ageing.
Stacey Duguid, a 52-year-old former fashion editor in Britain, says she could not afford to embrace her grey hair while seeking work.
Some women have told Duguid they use filters in video job interviews or dye their hair to appear younger.
Research cited by the Guardian suggests women can face hiring discrimination from their 40s, while it tends to affect men from their 50s.
In France, 26% of women aged 50 and over reported experiencing discrimination at work, compared with 20% of men in the same age group.
- Who
- Women, including Stacey Duguid, who say grey hair and age can affect their employment prospects.
- What
- Some women say they hide their grey hair to avoid being rejected for jobs.
- When
- The article was published on 12 October 2026.
- Where
- Britain and France.
- Why
- They say age-related discrimination can affect hiring, particularly for women.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Our silver-haired muse!
Being able to show off your grey hair is a privilege.
A French barometer reported that 26% of women aged 50 and over had experienced discrimination at work, compared with 20% of men in that age group.
Olivia Colman appeared at the Zurich Film Festival with long, curly grey hair and received compliments.
Duguid said she received messages from women who described similar difficulties.
franceinfo published its report on women hiding grey hair while seeking work.
- Stacey Duguid's age
- 52
- Women aged 50 and over in France reporting workplace discrimination
- 26%
- Men aged 50 and over in France reporting workplace discrimination
- 20%
- French survey
- 17th barometer by the Defender of Rights and the International Labour Organization, published in 2024
Sources
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