Beth Dutton’s Hair: Wig, Color, and Kelly Reilly’s Transformation

Beth Dutton’s mane has become as famous as her acid-tongued comebacks — wild, fearless, and impossible to ignore. Off-screen, though, Kelly Reilly is her opposite: calm, elegant, and quietly confident. That sharp contrast makes her transformation even more impressive. On screen, Beth is a platinum-blonde firestorm; off-screen, Kelly’s real hair tells a different story. Let’s find out.

Image source: @yellowstone

Does Kelly Reilly Wear a Wig in Yellowstone?

Yes, despite that tousled goldie-locks look, Beth’s hair is (mostly) a wig. The show’s hair department head, Tim Muir even admits the crew used wigs and extensions so the actors could maintain their looks for other projects. Indeed, Kelly Reilly has confirmed she wears a wig on set to nail Beth’s signature style. In interviews, she’s noted the blond wig with its heavy, full bangs was key to Beth’s fierce look. In short:

Is Kelly Reilly a Real Redhead?

Image source: Pinterest

Not exactly. Kelly Reilly’s real hair is actually a warm auburn. Before Yellowstone, she often sported reddish-brown tresses, and she recently dyed them back to red after filming wrapped. As Kelly once shared, going from platinum back to her natural red was a metaphorical “shedding” of Beth. In other words, Beth’s on-screen color is the golden-ombre wig, while Kelly’s actual color is in the red family.

Why Is Beth Dutton’s Hair So Bad?

Image source: @yellowstone

So why is Beth’s hair such a wild, “run-your-hands-through-it” mop on screen? It’s actually by design. Hair designer Tim Muir explains that Beth’s hairstyle evolves with her story. When we first meet Beth, she’s polished and sharp, but as the series goes on, she becomes a little more disheveled, a little more undone. Those heavy, full bangs are no accident either — they’re meant to hide any hint of weakness. In Muir’s words, Beth never wants people to know she could have a vulnerability. She wants to look fierce and scary, so her thick fringe and deliberately messy waves reinforce that image.

FAQs about Kelly Reilly

Is Beth on Yellowstone a Smoker in Real Life?

No. Kelly Reilly doesn’t smoke, she uses herbal cigarettes for the role and isn’t a fan of them. Kelly Reilly has joked she’s grateful Beth’s cigarettes are fake. “I don’t smoke, so all those cigarettes are… herbal cigarettes. I hate smoking them so much,” she confessed in an interview. In real life, she’s not a smoker at all — Beth’s chain-smoking is purely character-driven, and Kelly hopes Beth eventually kicks the habit.

What Color Are Kelly Reilly’s Eyes?

Her natural eye color is a striking blue-green, often described as teal depending on the light. They’re one of her most defining features both on- and off-screen.

What Happened to Kelly Reilly’s Lip?

Nothing confirmed. Any rumors about cosmetic work are unverified, and her appearance is widely considered natural.