Why Hilarie Burton Says Embracing Her Gray Hair "Was a Relief"

This isn't the first time Hilarie has opened up about her decision to go gray.

"There's something really rewarding for me to just say, 'f--k it,' and let my hair grow gray," she told People in June. "'Cause I wasn't necessarily respected as a kid, so why would I want to hang on to that?"

And making this drastic style change has given the White Collar actress a sense of empowerment.

"I think people put so much emphasis on staying young forever," she continued. "But I have found so much more fulfillment and respect and success and happiness the second I was like, 'I'm not going to play by those rules anymore.'"