Well, the beardedness is one thing, but the silver hair of Círdan is simply token of his kinship with Elwë Singollo. To quote from
The Peoples of Middle-Earth:
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Originally Posted by Tolkien, in The Peoples of Middle-Earth
Círdan was a Telerin Elf, one of the highest of those who were not transported to Valinor but became known as the Sindar, the Grey-elves; he was akin to Olwë, one of the two kings of the Teleri, and lord of those who departed over the Great Sea. He was thus also akin to Elwë, Olwë's older brother, acknowledged as high king of all the Teleri in Beleriand.
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The most other notable relative of Elwë and Olwë, in regards to silver hair is Celeborn, grandson of their younger brother, Elmo, but his mother-in-law, Eärwen of Alqualondë. In
Unfinished Tales, it is said of Galadriel's hair:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Tolkien, in Unfinished Tales
[Her hair] was golden like the hair of her father and of her foremother Indis, but it was richer and more radiant, for its gold was touched by some memory of the starlike silver of her mother...
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Now, it can be argued other ways, but it should be quite clear that if the relatively young and child-bearing Eärwen (Elves give up marital relations later on in life, according the LACE) is noted for silver hair, then among Elves this clearly does not denote old age.
Beardedness can, though.