Beth Dutton is one of the main characters on the popular Paramount Network show Yellowstone. Played by actress Kelly Reilly, Beth is known for her blunt personality and signature blond locks. However, some viewers have questioned whether Beth’s voluminous blonde hair is real or if Kelly Reilly wears a wig for the role.
Who is Beth Dutton?
Beth Dutton is the only daughter of powerful rancher John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner. She grew up on the family’s enormous Montana ranch, known as the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. As an adult, Beth works as a financier and helps manage the Yellowstone ranch’s business dealings and land development projects.
Beth is portrayed as a bold, brash woman who isn’t afraid to speak her mind or use questionable methods to protect her family and their ranch. She often wears her long, blonde hair down in soft waves or parted down the middle. Her locks have become an iconic part of her character’s look.
Does Beth Dutton wear extensions?
Many viewers have speculated that Beth Dutton wears hair extensions or a wig to achieve her long, thick hairstyle. In real life, actress Kelly Reilly has medium-length hair that is darker than Beth’s platinum blonde color. To transform into Beth, it’s highly likely that Reilly wears hair extensions and a wig while filming.
Hair extensions are a common technique used in TV shows and movies to give characters fuller, longer hairstyles. Clip-in extensions can be quickly applied and removed as needed for filming. Wigs are also useful when an actor needs to radically change their real hair color or length.
Using extensions and wigs allows the hair and makeup team to perfect Beth’s hair and ensure it stays consistent across scenes. As a lead character, Beth’s hair needs to look flawless and withstand repeated takes. Extensions and wigs make it easier to maintain her voluminous, bombshell look day after day of filming.
Evidence Beth’s hair is a wig
There are a few key signs that point to Beth Dutton’s hair being a wig rather than Kelly Reilly’s real hair:
Major length and color differences
Kelly Reilly’s natural hair color is brown and her real hair length falls just below her shoulders. Beth Dutton has long, platinum blonde hair that goes down to her waist. It would require extensive ongoing bleaching and extensions for Reilly to achieve Beth’s light blonde, waist-length hair – making a wig the easier and healthier option.
Consistent volume
Beth’s hair remains very full and voluminous in every scene, which is easier to guarantee with a good wig than real hair. Even with extensive styling, real hair tends to vary a bit day to day. The uniform thickness of Beth’s hair suggests her locks stay perfect because they’re not 100% real.
Perfect hair in every scene
Regardless of whether Beth is waking up, working a long day, or going through an intense situation, her lengthy blond strands remains styled to perfection. It’s rare for real hair to look salon-fresh 24/7 like Beth’s does, pointing to her using wigs for certain scenes.
Quick style changes
Beth’s hairstyle often changes between scenes, like going from curly to straight or a ponytail to long waves. Switching up real hair that drastically and quickly multiple times per episode would damage it. The speed of Beth’s hair changes suggest she switches between different wigs as needed.
Interview evidence
In an interview with Parade, Kelly Reilly shared some insight into whether Beth’s hair is real. Here is what the actress revealed about creating Beth’s signature look:
“I wear a wig…they created this bombshell for me. I’m so not a bombshell in real life! I really love the clothes I get to wear for Beth.”
Reilly openly admitted to wearing a wig to become Beth Dutton. She clarified that Beth’s overall glamorous, sexy look was created for her by the show’s hair and wardrobe teams. The wig is likely used both to achieve Beth’s blonde color as well as her extra long length.
Why a wig makes sense
Using a wig or hair extensions offers several advantages when playing a character like Beth Dutton:
Easier for consistent styling
Beth’s hair always has to look freshly styled. A good wig holds curls, up-dos, etc. in place without having to re-do real hair over and over. Wigs save significant time and effort.
Allows quick style changes
As mentioned, Beth’s hair often changes between scenes within a single episode. Wigs make it easy to go from straight and down to big curls or an updo in minutes.
Avoids chemical damage
Constantly bleaching and dyeing Kelly Reilly’s real hair platinum blonde like Beth’s would severely damage it over time. Wigs prevent excessive chemical treatments.
More comfortable for actors
Wigs are likely more comfortable for long filming days, especially elaborate hairstyles or extensions. Taking off a wig at the end of the day is easier than undoing hairstyling on real hair.
Cost effective over time
Buying and maintaining wigs over multiple seasons is likely cheaper than constantly paying for massively extended real hair. Higher quality wigs also last longer with proper care.
Conclusion
Based on all the evidence – from Beth’s consistent bombshell look, to insider interviews, to hairstyling practicalities – it is highly likely that Beth Dutton wears a wig on Yellowstone. Using wigs and extensions enables actress Kelly Reilly and the hair team to achieve Beth’s signature long blonde locks. While Beth’s luscious hair isn’t 100% natural, it remains one of her standout features and an integral part of displaying her bold, powerful persona.