Our hairstyles can play a major role in how confident we look and feel, and as the years go by, they can also make a difference in how young we look. Here’s a friendly guide to hairstyles you might want to avoid after 50 if your goal is to maintain a youthful glow.
Overly Voluminous Updos
Updos with an abundance of volume, especially those styled tightly and perched high, can create a formal and dated vibe that feels stiff rather than sophisticated. These styles often draw attention to the contours of the face in a way that can emphasize fine lines or sagging skin.
Poker-Straight Locks
A little texture can go a long way in creating a vibrant, youthful look that feels both fresh and modern, while super-straight hairstyles, often achieved with a flat iron, can come across as overly severe, lacking the movement and softness that tend to flatter mature features.
This look has a tendency to draw attention downward, accentuating areas you may prefer to soften.
Helmet-Like Bobs
A bob that’s cut all at one length with no texture or movement can feel rigid and dated, resembling a helmet more than a hairstyle, and this overly structured look often fails to complement the natural contours of the face. It can even make features appear harsher, so to modernize this classic cut, consider adding soft layers or even an asymmetrical edge.
Tight Perms
While perms were a go-to style for decades, tight, springy curls often give off an old-fashioned aura that doesn’t always translate well in a contemporary setting. These small, uniform curls can overwhelm your natural features and create a sense of heaviness when a better alternative is to opt for larger, looser waves that mimic the look of naturally tousled hair.
Harsh Center Parts
Even a slightly off-center or zigzag part can add an element of playfulness and make the overall look appear more dynamic and youthful compared to a dead-center part that can sometimes have the unintended effect of making the face appear longer or more angular. It can also emphasize symmetry in a way that feels a bit stark.
Jet Black Hair
While rich, dark shades of hair color can look stunning, jet black hair can often feel too harsh against mature skin tones, as it tends to accentuate fine lines and gray roots as they grow in, creating a more noticeable contrast. Opting for a slightly lighter shade, like dark brown or chestnut, can create a softer frame for your face.
Overly Long Hair
A great alternative to very long hair is a lob or a layered cut that maintains some length but adds movement and volume. This will keep your hair feeling light, fresh, and full of life, while still embracing a longer style, because extremely long styles often lack shape and can weigh down your overall look.
Blunt Bangs
Did you think that thick, straight-across bangs may seem like a quick fix for hiding forehead lines? Sadly, they often have the opposite effect, drawing attention to the area and creating a boxy look, especially when paired with a shorter cut, whereas curtain bangs are the way to go.
Too Much Product
Overdoing it with products like gels, mousses, or hairsprays can give a helmet-like effect that feels anything but youthful. Instead, opt for lightweight, volumizing formulas that allow your hair to move freely and retain its natural texture, and remember that a little product goes a long way.
Completely Gray with No Toner
Embracing your natural gray can look absolutely stunning, but skipping toner or color-enhancing products can leave gray hair looking dull or yellowish over time. Investing in a good purple shampoo or a silver gloss treatment can help neutralize unwanted tones and keep your gray hair vibrant and shiny.
Overly Short Pixie Cuts
While pixie cuts can be chic and sophisticated, when cut too short or bluntly, they may highlight angular features or a thinning hairline in a way that feels unbalanced. A slightly longer pixie with layers and texture can create a softer, more feminine look while keeping the style edgy and easy to maintain.
Chunky Highlights
Chunky, high-contrast highlights were all the rage in the early 2000s, but they can now feel dated and overly harsh due to the fact that this style often creates stark lines that don’t blend well with your natural hair color, making it less flattering overall. A more contemporary approach involves balayage or babylights, which create a subtle, sun-kissed effect.
Overly Slicked-Back Styles
If you’re pulling hair tightly away from the face, you’re likely highlighting every fine line and wrinkle around the forehead and temples, when a better choice would be a looser, more relaxed style that allows some hair to frame your face. This softens your overall look and adds an element of effortlessness that’s both youthful and stylish.
Excessive Layering
Layers are a fantastic way to add movement and dimension to your hair, but too many uneven or poorly blended layers can create a choppy, unkempt appearance, and over-layered styles often lack cohesion and can make hair look thin or scraggly. Instead, aim for subtle, well-placed layers that enhance your natural hair texture.
Bright, Unnatural Colors
Bold, vibrant shades like electric blue, neon pink, or bright purple can be fun and expressive, can’t they? However, they sometimes clash with mature skin tones or feel out of sync with a more polished look, and while there’s nothing wrong with experimenting, softer, muted versions of these colors—like pastel hues or subtle highlights—can provide a playful touch without overwhelming your overall appearance.
Neglecting Regular Trims
Letting your hair grow out for too long without a trim can lead to split ends and a shapeless style that feels neglected. Overgrown hair often looks dull and lifeless, even if the overall length is appealing, so scheduling regular trims every 6-8 weeks keeps your hair looking fresh, healthy, and full of vitality.
Heavily Teased Styles
Teased hair may create volume, but overdoing it can leave your hair looking tangled, artificial, and reminiscent of decades past, when you should use volumizing products or blow-dry techniques to create lift at the roots. This achieves the same effect without sacrificing the smoothness and shine.
Bowl Cuts
One final hairstyle to avoid is the bowl cut, characterized by its uniform length and rounded shape. It may be easy to maintain but often lacks the elegance and sophistication that flatter mature features, while its severe shape can feel outdated and overly harsh.