Side-By-Side Pics Of Drew Barrymore Show How An Icy Gray Hair Wig Changes Her Look

Drew Barrymore stepped into the "gray side" when she allowed celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton to give her a hair makeover during a February 2026 episode of "The Drew Barrymore Show." After seeing her "Drew Crew" co-host, Valerie Bertinelli, take the first plunge, boasting new platinum gray highlights, courtesy of Appleton, Barrymore decided she should try the look too.

Like many women of a certain age, Barrymore and Bertinelli admitted they had been covering their grays for quite some time, hesitant to embrace a hair color they feared would make them appear older. Appleton reassured both women — and the audience — that, with the right coloring technique, gray hair could actually "enhance" their look. While Bertinelli's transformation already proved his point, Barrymore simply couldn't believe her eyes when she saw her reflection in the mirror following a blind reveal. For the dramatic makeover moment, Appleton styled the talk show host in an icy gray wig that completely changed her look — but in the best way possible. "Oh my God," ... I love it," a surprised Barrymore exclaimed before jumping to her feet and confidently modeling the look around the set. "I can't believe how good I feel," she added.

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The icy gray color hair brought out Barrymore's green eyes and complemented her complexion. Styled in long, sleek, flowing layers with a soft face-framing fringe, it added a polished, fashion-forward edge to her appearance, instantly elevating the look with a touch of glamour.

Gray hair has become quite the trend among older women who want to embrace a more natural approach to beauty. Sarah Jessica Parker, Salma Hayek, and Andie MacDowell are just a few celebs who have embraced their graying natural hair color and look spectacular doing it. "A lot of people just think 'Oh, gray means old,' but in actual fact, you can have so much fun with gray," Appleton explained. "You can enhance it ... you can make areas look more expensive, like whiter at the front."

Noticing the growing hair movement, Barrymore pointed out that the look felt more "platinum gray" than traditional gray, with subtle lavender-colored undertones, producing a glowing finish. For Bertinelli, the hairstylist detailed the technique behind her "Diane Keaton" inspired platinum highlights. "I actually did a combination using Schwarzkopf Vibrance hair color to get a really glossy tone," he explained. "So, I used darker tones for low lights, and then brighter whiter highlights, and then toned them to [achieve] more of an ashy color."

Barrymore, however, has since returned to her now-signature brunette tresses, but longtime fans know she just might make the bold move to gray one day. She's a true hair chameleon, having undergone a transformative hair evolution over the years. Drew Barrymore is known for her '90s indie sleaze queen outfits and fearless sense of self-expression, and she has long embraced edgy fashion and bold hairstyles. From short cuts and curly textures to sleek-straight styles — and shades ranging from blond and black to brunette, red, and multi-tonal combinations — she has consistently proven herself to be a true hair icon.