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Melissa Gilbert, best known for portraying the young and redheaded Laura Ingalls on NBC's "Little House on the Prairie," has dramatically evolved throughout her years in Hollywood. Not only has her career seen a change in direction, transitioning from acting to producing and directing, but Gilbert has undergone a complete transformation, and that includes her hair. Over the past decade, the actor has embarked on a gorgeous gray hair journey that has seen her once-fiery red hair develop into chic silver locks.
In an interview with Prevention, Gilbert opened up about navigating her new look. The actor explained that she hadn't always embraced aging with ease, and like many women, societal pressures ultimately pushed her to dye her fading roots. Eventually, she came to terms with her new look and realized that trying to cover her grays was more effort than it was worth. "I love it and also I have so much more free time not worrying about coloring my hair," Gilbert noted.
The actor, who turned 62 in 2026, continues to embrace her natural gray hair with confidence. "I love it, it's my favorite thing ever," she told Prevention. "I actually cut 8 inches off of my hair and they asked if they could keep my hair because they felt there were some customers that wanted to match my color," she added.
Read more: 4 Old Hollywood Beauty 'Secrets' That Would Never Fly Today
Melissa Gilbert's gray hair journey started back in 2017
In 2017, Melissa Gilbert was photographed visiting SiriusXM Studios. As the actor posed for a portrait, she showcased her significantly darker locks, with a hint of gray peeking through. Not only did her once-auburn locks look brown, but Gilbert also donned a chin-length layered bob. Her hair was styled in a deep side part and soft wispy waves. Her rich brunette hair was elevated by subtle gray streaks that grazed her hairline. The hint of grays added an element of dimension and suggested Gilbert was finished with coloring her roots.
Melissa Gilbert briefly opted to dye her silver strands
Later in 2017, Melissa Gilbert made an appearance for BuiLd Series looking remarkably different. Not only had the actor changed up her fringe, opting for sweeping side bangs that cascaded down the left side of her face, but she had also dyed her graying hair honey-blond. It's no secret that stigmas surrounding gray hair often pressure women into resisting the transformation. It seems like the actor conformed to society's expectations and briefly stopped being one of the celebs who proudly shows off their gray hair.
Melissa Gilbert soon returned to her gray roots
At the opening night after-party for "The Seafarer" in 2018, Melissa Gilbert hinted that she had returned to her roots, literally. The actor arrived at the event wearing a shoulder-length bob that faded from silver roots into brunette strands and gently flicked ends. Gilbert exuded confidence as she posed for a photograph, suggesting that her decision to embrace her natural grays had left her feeling radiant. While her roots were visible at her scalp in an array of gray and blond shades, she kept her eyebrows a brown hue that blended seamlessly.
Melissa Gilbert's hair transformation brightened up her look
In 2020, Melissa Gilbert arrived at the opening night of "Medea" in New York City wearing her hair in long ringlets. While her curls added a chic element to her look, the actor's bright roots were hard to ignore. Gilbert's silver-blond roots had grown to meet her chin and made for a significantly brighter appearance. The highlighted strands blended seamlessly with Gilbert's natural red hue as well as her emerging silver tresses, making for a gorgeous color palette.
Melissa Gilbert started embracing gray hair as a natural feature
Melissa Gilbert opted for a more voluminous hairstyle at "The Beauty That Remains: The Legacy Of Anne Frank" event in 2022. The actor exuded pride as she smiled for a photograph, donning a rather bohemian look, complete with a red blazer and stacked gold necklaces. Adding to her effortless appearance was a hairstyle that flowed below her shoulders in different shades of gray. The casualness of her look showed that Gilbert had mastered the art of embracing gray hair and wearing it as a natural feature.
Melissa Gilbert progressed to styling her gray roots
In 2023, Melissa Gilbert attended the "Nymphes D'Or – Golden Nymphs" Nominees Party at the Monte Carlo TV Festival in Monaco. The actor took to the French Riviera wearing none other than a French twist. Gilbert paired her ombré-inspired hair color, complete with bright silver and charcoal strands, with a multi-colored floral dress. Together with her layers of accessories, the actor's lively aesthetic suggested she had moved beyond simply embracing her grays and had begun having fun with the look.
Melissa Gilbert stopped concealing her grays
Again in 2023, Melissa Gilbert started to incorporate her gray hair into her personal style. Posing on the red carpet at the Monte Carlo TV Festival, the actor showcased a brand-new hairstyle — a braided crown. Gilbert's attitude toward her hair was a stark contrast to years prior, when she chose to conceal her grays rather than draw attention to them with a bold hairstyle at a highly publicized event. And she managed to pull off a cool look, avoiding outdated gray hair trends.
Melissa Gilbert added an element of glamour to her silver tresses
In 2025, Melissa Gilbert appeared in an episode of "Good Day New York" wearing a vibrant red blazer that almost took away from her silver bouffant. However, while her tailored jacket made for a sophisticated allure, the actor's half-up, half-down hairstyle added a glamorous element to her appearance. Gilbert's hairstyle nodded to Old Hollywood aesthetics, bringing vintage-inspired trends into the modern day. The actor challenged lingering gray hair stigmas by merging her grays with a traditionally glamorous hairstyle, proving that gray hair does not diminish elegance or confidence.
Melissa Gilbert seamlessly blends her gray hair with her boho aesthetic
Melissa Gilbert has been confidently incorporating her gray hair into her bohemian aesthetic. While the actor has not stopped styling her silver locks, it seems in her free time, she opts for a more natural look. In 2026, the actor posted a video on Instagram that discussed floral crowns. As Gilbert's hair flowed far below her collarbones in loose waves, it created a whimsical allure that blended seamlessly with her floral dress. While the print of her dress nodded to cottagecore aesthetics, her voluminous, bouncy bangs created a regal and elegant appearance.
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