Hairstylists say there’s nothing like the wrong haircut, color, or styling technique to age you instantly.
Frozen hair
Overly sprayed hair that doesn’t move can make you look older. It gives off a retro vibe since beauty standards have changed from past decades.
Stylists say most hairstyles today focus on softness, movement, and texture rather than being pinned into place. When hair looks stiffened and straightened with shellacked hairspray, it can age your whole face.
Same cut
Many hairstylists say that continuing to wear the exact same hairstyle you’ve had for years or decades is the biggest hairstyle mistake when it comes to looking older.
Faces change as we age, as does skin texture and hair texture. So that cut you thought looked amazing on you at 30 may not frame your face the same way at age 60.
Puffy curls
Very short, tightly curled styles with excessive volume at the crown tend to look dated. This hairstyle can produce a rounded “helmet” shape with no softness around the face.
Stylists often suggest loose curls, layered texture and softer volume for creating movement and opening up the face.
Dry texture
Hair tends to get drier and thinner as we age, but we often continue to style it as if we were still in our 20’s. Dry, brittle hair that lacks shine will look decades older in an instant, even if the cut is ultra-modern.
Stylists often emphasize moisturizing treatments, lightweight oils, and gentler styling because hair that looks healthy always looks younger than any cut.
Harsh color
Inky blacks or straight-up dark brown can be extremely unforgiving. Our skin naturally loses pigment as we age, so a flat, dark helmet of color exaggerates every wrinkle and shadow.
Multi-dimensional tones or hints of highlight help warm up the color and recreate the natural look of light reflecting off hair.
Heavy bangs
Super-thick bangs that entirely cover your forehead can sometimes make your face appear smaller and heavier or feel closed off. They can also cast a shadow under your eyes in some instances, inadvertently drawing attention to those bags.
Opting for softer bangs, curtain bangs, or lighter face-framing layers can help you achieve a more open, balanced look.
Flat shape
Hair that is cut with no layers, movement, or shape can literally weigh the face down. One-length cuts with no texture can appear lifeless or heavy. This can be exacerbated when hair starts to thin out as we age.
That is why stylists will often suggest soft layers or subtle shaping. Movement around the face gives it energy and keeps it from appearing flat or dated.
Teased crown
Extreme teased volume at the crown was trendy in the past, but is now associated with dated hairstyles from past decades. Large amounts of teasing create a stiff silhouette that ages the overall hairstyle.
Volume is still used in modern hairstyles but is often softer, lower, and blended in with the rest of the hair.
Brassy blonde
Too yellow or brassy blonde hair is one of the fastest ways hair can begin to look old and processed. This usually occurs when blonde hair has not been toned correctly or when damaged hair begins to fade its cooler color molecules.
Hair stylists typically recommend softer blondes, champagne shades or ashy highlights as they appear healthier, brighter and more current.
Fear of change
Many stylists believe that the worst habit people have when it comes to looking older is refusing to change hairstyles because they are afraid the newer styles are only for younger people. This type of thinking can allow someone to get stuck in a hairstyle that ages them.
Contemporary hairstyles are not about trying to look younger. They are about discovering new cuts, textures, and colors that feel new, flattering, and trendy at any age.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.