Kelly Reilly has dazzled “Yellowstone” fans with her portrayal of Beth Dutton, the no-nonsense daughter of John and Evelyn Dutton, since 2018. But her character’s hair has become a consistent source of frustration. Over the years, many viewers have questioned whether Reilly’s signature blonde locks were a wig. During a 2022 Reddit thread where fans discussed how “shaggy and cheap” Beth’s hair looked, some fans blamed a hair piece. “I felt like her hair looked like a wig in some of the scenes in these two episodes,” wrote a fan. “I just started watching the show and I kept wondering why she has such a bad wig? It doesn’t look like a low budget show so it doesn’t make much sense.” commented one second.
To get a better understanding of what’s going on with Beth’s hair, Nicki Swift reached out to Amber Reneemakeup artist, hair and wig expert, who analyzed two photos of Reilly in character and shared her professional take on Beth’s confusing mane. For starters, Renee revealed that she understands the internet’s fascination with the beloved character’s hair. “There’s something undeniably striking about Beth’s hair,” she said. “It’s voluminous, ruggedly tousled and styled with a kind of unpolished glamor that’s perfect for the wild Montana environments.” However, there are some markers that indicate that her hair could be a wig. “There’s a certain stiffness and thickness to the crown, and the strands seem to clump together a bit more than you’d expect from natural hair—especially in relaxed, casual settings,” she continued.
This isn’t all Renee had to say about Reilly’s screenshot.
Kelly Reilly is a redhead in real life
Kelly Reilly expertly transforms whatever role she’s playing, so we can understand if some fans thought the blonde hair she wears on screen as Beth Dutton grew from her scalp. However, all evidence seems to point towards her rocking a wig. “In real life, the Reillys (natural) hair is noticeably finer, with a softer, sleeker texture,” Amber Renee told Nicki Swift. “She has a much more natural, almost ethereal look—less teased, less bombed, and more English countryside elegance, which makes sense given her British roots.” She continued, “The texture, the thickness, and even the way her natural hair sits is the opposite of her natural hair.” Makes sense to us!
Also, if you didn’t know, Reilly’s hair usually leans towards the redder end of the spectrum when she’s out of character. Over the years, the beloved star has sported a variety of spicy hues, from fire engine red to a more subtle strawberry blonde. And while it’s very possible she committed to bleaching her hair, it would just be a lot easier to ditch a wig. Plus, as Renee pointed out, Beth Dutton’s hair adds another layer to the character. “Beth Dutton is a woman with hard edges and deep wounds, and everything about her appearance, including her hair, serves that storytelling,” said the MUA and hair and wig expert. “The hair looks a little too perfectly ‘messy’, a little too consistently dramatic, suggesting it’s a deliberate costume rather than Kelly Reilly’s own unaided hair,” she continued.
Next: Is Reilly’s “Yellowstone” accent real?
