Valerie Bertinelli is embracing her gray hair. Experts say accepting aging is a good thing.
Valerie Bertinelli is among the growing number of celebrity women who are embracing their gray hair — while experts say this aging norm is simply a sign of being alive.
In an Instagram video captioned "PSA about filters and grey roots," the 63-year-old actress gets candid about her use of filters and her gray roots, revealing that she sometimes uses the filters feature to alter her appearance.
"I'm filming with no filter today because some of y'all get really bent out of shape when I choose to use a filter, which I've told you about," Bertinelli said at the beginning of the video. "Sometimes I use filter, and sometimes I don't."
She then bent her head down to show off her gray hair after explaining that a follower had accused her of wearing a wig.
"Can you get me a wig without flipping gray roots then, please? Because I'm tired of getting my roots done every two weeks," she said. "Thank goodness 99.9% of you are really kind, sweet people and don't give a flying flip whether I have roots or I put a filter on. But some of y'all need to chill out, ok? I mean, seriously."
The comment section was full of supportive messages.
"Don't give that any energy friend. It ain't worth it," wrote actress Tiffany Thiessen. "I literally erase and ignore that noise. Did that for my sanity a long time ago."
"I love you Valerie," another commenter wrote. "As a hair dresser I recommend to my clients to embrace your age instead of fight it. Time to let go of the 4-6 week roots touch up."
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Bertinelli, in a TikTok posted in November, further opened up about aging: "Aging is a such a trip," she wrote in the caption.
"I've seen parts of my body that are sagging that didn't use to sag," she said, pointing out loose skin on her neck and arms. "I'm just having trouble wrapping my head around this aging stuff because in my brain, I am still this young, goofy, let's-have-fun girl."
Women thriving should be the norm, Naturium Skincare and Mixed Makeup YouTube channel founder Susan Yara previously told USA TODAY.
"We're more confident and self-assured, and we bring wisdom that you can only get with age," she said.
Justine Bateman recently sparked a similar conversation about aging naturally. In an April 2023 interview, she said she thinks she looks "rad" aging naturally, in response to online comments about her "old" looks.
Other public filters have made headlines for embracing their aging, including Pamela Anderson, who in October 2023 went makeup-free to a Paris Fashion Week event, and Kelly Ripa, who in August 2020 poked fun at her gray roots.
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Tips on how to embrace aging
Remember that social media isn't real: Dr. Michael Keyes, M.D., a plastic surgery fellow at the University of Louisville, believes that "celebrities and influencers often use filters and photo editing apps to minimize skin discoloration, wrinkles and extra fat in unwanted places."
"It's important from a wellness standpoint to recognize what's real and what's not," he previously told USA TODAY, and encourages following influencers who post unfiltered and raw photos instead.
Adjust your makeup routine: Aging is inevitable, but you can still take steps to look and feel good. Dr. Heidi Goodarzi, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic and medical dermatology, suggested replacing foundation with tinted sunscreen for a wash of glow that won't conceal your natural features.
Be kind to yourself: Yara reminds us that as we age, we should be proud of our bodies for the experiences it has gone through. "My confidence is truly my secret weapon, and I gained it through years of experience and becoming comfortable with myself," she previously told USA TODAY.
Contributing: Charles Trepany
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