The Right Haircut Can Take Years Off Your Age
A great haircut instantly makes you look chic and polished and is an important finishing touch to your personal style. As we age our hair loses its natural pigment and can thin, shred, and become dry and brittle if you don’t give it regular TLC. On top of that the wrong hair color can add years to appearance and make you look tacky and outdated. Ahead: 15 styles, shades, and habits to avoid to look younger and more glamorous.
1. Short Sharp Cuts
As we age wearing your hair shorter can look more stylish, but sharp, very short crops can look severe, unflattering,, and age you. Consult your hairstyle on the best length to suit your face shape and soften your features.
2. Out of Date Hairstyle
A great cut can take years off your age according to personal stylist and image consultants Beckie + Martina. So if you’re clinging to the same hairstyle from decades ago you could look outdated and older than you are. Ask your stylist for the best style for your face shape and give your hair a modern update.
3. Harsh Dark Hairshades
Dark hair shades can look harsh against mature skin and exaggerate fine lines and wrinkles. As you age it’s better to go for lighter softer shades that complement your natural skin tone, especially if graying and thinning are an issue.
4. Ignoring Gray Hair
Our hair turns gray from genetic aging and if you’ve decided to rock the silver fox look—good for you— as it’s chic and polished (hello Dame Judi Dench). If hell-bent on keeping the grays at bay with hair dye maintain regular touch-ups as gray roots contrasted against your natural color is not a good look.
5. Limp Lifeless Hair
Hair also naturally breaks and sheds with age according to the beauty experts at Allure, so it’s best to adapt your hair style with cuts that promote volume and texture. Flat, limp locks caused by thinning hair, using the wrong products, or excess oil production are unflattering and make your face look saggy. Adding layers and using volumizing products also increases hair volume and bounce.
6. Too Much Volume
Too much va va va voom can also date you. If your hair is coarse, thick, or over-teased or you wear it in an overly voluminous style it can overwhelm your face and look. A mid-length hairstyle with soft natural-looking layers will help you strike the right balance.
7. Overly Bleached Hair
Regularly bleaching and dyeing your hair affects its health and condition and can cause breakages, shedding, and damage. Too much bleach exposes you to nasty chemicals, which can leave the hair brittle and with a straw-like texture. Opting for soft highlights or lowlights that complement your natural hair color and using gentle plant-based dyes can improve the texture and appearance of your strands.
8. Severe Restrictive Styles
Severe cuts, slicked-back styles, and tight ponytails can damage the hair strands, make you look harsh, and emphasize signs of aging. Softer, relaxed modern styles are more flattering and youthful looking.
9. Long, Unkempt Hair
Long, unkept, lifeless hair can drag your face down and make you look older and outdated. A mid-length cut with some natural layers is way more flattering, will frame your face, and make your best features pop and less high-maintenance.
10. Bad Heavy Bangs
In the beauty world, one day bangs are in and the next day they are out. Not everyone can pull off bangs, especially blunt, heavy ones which can either enhance your appearance or ruin it completely. It’s best to go for softer, side-swept styles or longer overgrown layers in the front when you’re older.
11. Wrong Shade for Your Skin
Experimenting with different hair colors can be fun, but it’s also a bit of a younger woman’s game. Dyeing your hair in an unnatural-looking shade or one that doesn’t complement your skin tone can make you look washed out, sallow, and older. It’s best to consult a colorist on the right shade for you and lighter, softer shades are generally more flattering.
12. Product Overload
It’s crucial to use the right hair care and styling products for your hair type. If you don’t it can result in chemical and debris build-up which can age the hair and damage its health and luster. Overdoing the hair spray makes your hair look stiff and unnatural, while serums, gels, and mousse can leave your locks oily and limp.
13. Dodgy Dye Job
Regular color sessions at the salon can be expensive, but DIY hair dye jobs can go horribly wrong and lead to uneven brassy strands. Bold bright colors that don’t suit your complexion look unnatural and will age your appearance. Again it’s best to enhance your natural beauty and skin tone with subtle highlights or lowlights.
14. Dead Straight Styles
Dead straight, super sleek hair, especially when it’s long can drag down your face and lacks volume and texture. For a more youthful look boost your texture and volume by creating natural-looking waves with soft layers or use heat styling tools to give hair some curl.
15. Neglecting Hair Health
Healthy hair also means a healthy scalp, so it’s important to maintain a good hair care routine using products suited to your hair type to prevent dryness and dandruff. And note: Overwashing your hair can strip it of its natural oils, and neglecting regular trims can lead to split ends and dry, brittle lackluster locks.