Dolly Parton is 80! How Her Beauty Still Resonates With Fans Around the World
Dolly Parton is a singer, a songwriter, an actress, and an author. The Queen of Country has been in the spotlight for nearly 60 years and is one of the most recognizable women on the planet. There’s no mistaking Parton’s signature look and even though she’s celebrating her 80th birthday, yes 8-0, she seems ageless.
Hair and beauty expert Danielle Louise spoke about the star’s milestone birthday, which highlights a powerful shift in the way aging is viewed in modern beauty culture.
“At 80, beauty stops being about correction,” Louise said on the Fresha app. “Dolly Parton is proof that when you fully own your look, it becomes timeless. Her hair, makeup, and style aren’t about age — they’re about identity.”
Many celebs try to change and keep up with the times and trends as they age. But not Parton, she still rocks her long blonde wigs, bright glittery costumes, and the bold makeup she’s worn for decades.
Parton previously shared that her iconic look was actually inspired by a woman who lived in the same town she did growing up.
“I thought she was absolutely beautiful,” the singer recalled. “She had those piles of bleached hair, red lipstick, nails, and cheeks, and high-heel shoes.”
The “9 to 5” artist shared one of her most important beauty tips in an interview with Vogue, which is “You don’t need to buy expensive cosmetics; almost anything will do if you know how to apply it. Until I was a teenager, I used red pokeberries for lipstick and a burnt matchstick for eyeliner. I used honeysuckle for perfume.”
She told Good Housekeeping, “I do my own makeup. I hardly ever use makeup people. I do on occasion, if I’m doing a big show where I’m in all the numbers, but I still put on my basic makeup, then I’ll hire some professional person to keep it up.”
Parton also always grows her nails out long for extra glam, saying, “My nails are my rhythm section when I’m writing a song all alone. Some day, I may cut an album, just me and my nails.”
According to Louise, Parton’s approach “resonates because it rejects the idea that ageing should be subtle or apologetic. At this stage of life, confidence matters more than trends … regular maintenance and embracing what makes you you are far more impactful than chasing youth. That consistency is incredibly powerful. It removes pressure. Dolly knows exactly who she is, and her beauty routine supports that rather than trying to modernize or minimize her.”
Louise concluded that Parton has provided lessons for women of any age, noting that “you don’t need to abandon boldness as you get older, a signature look can be more freeing than constant reinvention, hair and beauty routines should support confidence (not hide age), consistency often matters more than trends.
“Dolly shows that beauty doesn’t have a cut-off point. When your look reflects who you are, it becomes ageless.”
