Four hair mistakes that make women over 40 ‘look so much older’ (2024)

This article contains affiliate links, we may receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Four hair mistakes that make women over 40 ‘look so much older’ (1)

'Immediately age you!' Four hair mistakes that make women over 40 ‘look so much older’ (Image: GETTY)

As women get older, hair texture changes and for many, it thins. The best way to combat thinning is by adding layers, however, the incorrect placement of layers or the wrong type can draw more attention to signs of ageing. Hair experts have shared their dos and don’ts when it comes to mature ladies asking for layers to boost hair volume.

Related articles

  • Hairstylist on the best hair colours that create a 'younger look'
  • Reverse signs of ageing in 2wks with ‘really effective’ facial oil

Jack Miles and Rosie Myers have decades of experience cutting and styling hair. Between them, they have said four types of layers can age someone.

These are layers that are too short, layers that are too long, layers that are too uniform, and having too many layers.

Layers that are too short

Similarly, cutting layers too short can make women look older than they are.

Rosie said this is because the short layers “draw attention to wrinkles” and leave you “nowhere to hide”.

READ MORE:50-year-old 'mistaken for 40’ thanks to Aldis age-defying cream

Layers that are too long

Many women say “I want layers but keep the length” when sitting in a hair salon chair. But you want to be careful when it comes to having long layers.

Jack explained: “When layers are cut too long, they can end up creating a 'stringy' appearance.”

In turn, the hair appears “thin and lifeless” and can “immediately age you”.

if you’re someone with already fine hair, long layers can “give the impression that your hair is thinning with age”.

Long layers also “drag down the face, with heavy ends giving your face a drooping appearance”, the hair expert said.

DON'T MISS...
Lilt drink discontinued by Coca-Cola after 50 years[NEWS]
Letitia Dean ‘looks amazing’ after dropping four dress sizes[PICTURES]
Astrologer shares the star sign that is the luckiest in love[COMMENT]

Trending

    READ MORE

    • Five anti-ageing hairstyles women 50+ should have to look younger

    Layers that are too uniform

    When “layers are cut to the same length throughout the entire head, it can create a flat, monotone look”, Jack said.

    This can then make the hair “look dull and lifeless”, and flat or one-dimensional.

    Layers that are too similar can also “act like an arrow to areas you’d rather hide”.

    When having layers cut to the same length, it can point out fine lines and wrinkles on the face.

    READ MORE:Skincare experts share ‘key’ to preventing ‘wrinkly and saggy’ skin

    Invalid email

    We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

    Four hair mistakes that make women over 40 ‘look so much older’ (6)

    Dyson Airwrap Complete

    Four hair mistakes that make women over 40 ‘look so much older’ (7)

    Dyson Airwrap Complete Long

    READ MORE

    • Makeup artist shares eye makeup mistake women 40+ should avoid

    Having too many layers

    Too many layers don’t add volume, they can make the hair stick to the scalp, resulting in a choppy and messy look.

    Rosie said if choppy layers are “too blunt they can end up making you look far older”.

    Many might think choppy layers are fun and create a youthful look, but they can “create a harsh, unbalanced look that can take away definition from the face”.

    Instead, you can end up with an “unruly and unkempt” finish.

    Unless you have very dense, thick hair, lots of layers can create an uneven appearance, and instead of making hair look voluminous, it appears dry and static.

    Lots of layers are also unnatural, and “hard to pull off [if you’re over 40”, Jack added.

    Related articles

    • Lipstick shades that 'add unnecessary years' to your age
    • Two-minute skincare routine to look 'five years younger'

    Layers for a youthful appearance

    The best way to “make yourself more youthful” with a haircut is by adding “face-framing layers”.

    Face-framing layers “soften the face” and break up any harsh lines, as well as adding some “roundness and body”, Jack suggests. They can also be “cut on an angle” so the hair moves naturally, and can produce texture to “lift the face”.

    Curtain bangs are also a great way to modernise a haircut and can be easily implemented into most styles. They are also “flattering to all face shapes” but opt for feathered ends instead of a blunt cut to “create a soft feminine look”.

    The hairstylist told She Finds how curtain bangs are “not only very flattering but give the face a softness that can instantly take years off”.

    Related articles

    • Five 'fabulously chic' hairstyles for 'more youthful appearance'
    • The 'crucial' step to 'reduce the signs of ageing'
    • Doctor warns 'never skip' daily habit to 'reduce signs of ageing'
    • 4 anti-ageing exercises to give women a 'completely new body'
    • 'Crucial' anti-ageing tip that will 'definitely knock a few years of
    Four hair mistakes that make women over 40 ‘look so much older’ (2024)

    FAQs

    Four hair mistakes that make women over 40 ‘look so much older’? ›

    Between them, they have said four types of layers can age someone. These are layers that are too short, layers that are too long, layers that are too uniform, and having too many layers.

    What are the four haircut mistakes that instantly make you look older? ›

    5 Haircut Mistakes You Should Avoid At All Costs—They Add Years To Your Face
    • Mistake #1: Ultra-Length. Many of us have had very long hair at some point— and experienced the trials and tribulations that come with brushing and detangling it daily. ...
    • #2: Rounded Haircuts. ...
    • #3: Super Short Bangs. ...
    • #4: Ultra Blunt Bangs.
    Jun 13, 2023

    What are three hair trends to avoid over 40? ›

    I'm a hairstylist and there are three looks you should avoid if you're over 40 – blunt fringes make you look way older
    • Thick fringe. Nothing makes a statement quite like a fringe, but as you age a blunt, thick fringe can be less than flattering. ...
    • Spiky pixie cut. ...
    • Long, blunt bob.
    Jan 3, 2023

    What hair styles make you look older? ›

    10 Hairstyles That Make You Look Older
    • The Mistake: Super Stiff Hair. Media Platforms Design Team. ...
    • The Mistake: French Twist. ...
    • The Mistake: Straight Strands. ...
    • The Mistake: A Severe Center Part. ...
    • The Mistake: Ballerina Bun. ...
    • The Mistake: Tight Ringlets. ...
    • The Mistake: Half-Up Ponytail. ...
    • The Mistake: Overly Teased Hair.
    Jan 9, 2015

    What hair length makes you look younger? ›

    Does short or long hair make you look younger? Long hair can enhance facial features by diverting attention away from wrinkles or age spots and adding volume to your hair. Short hair does not need to age you, though, as the style and texture of shorter hairstyles can add a youthful appearance.

    Does long hair make an older woman look older? ›

    Forget what you thought about long hair past the age of 40—thick hair actually looks more youthful and polished when it falls shoulder-length or longer. Shorter hair has a tendency to expand at the ends, leaving you with an unflattering triangle effect.

    Do bangs age you? ›

    The idea that bangs make you look like a child or too old is a common hair myth. The reality is that there are so many ways to style bangs. Each and every one of these styles brings a youthful energy to your look in a different way. Bangs can be chic, sweet, sultry — it's all in how you style them.

    What hair color makes you look younger in your 40s? ›

    Ten out of ten colorists agree, shades that are warm-toned read more youthful than cool-toned hair colors. Spicy copper reds, rich caramel brunettes, and soft honey blondes will warm up your complexion for younger-looking skin (hold the retinol).

    What bob haircut makes you look younger? ›

    4. Haircuts to look younger: A blunt bob. A short, bob style that ends right below the ear (as shown on Kambri Crews above) is not only the perfect low-maintenance haircut that takes 5 minutes to style, it's also ultra-flattering. And pairing it with side-swept bangs brings attention to gorgeous eyes.

    What hairstyle never goes out of style? ›

    Pixie Cut Hairstyles

    There is a constant demand for chic low-maintenance hairstyles, which explains the enduring longevity of the pixie cut. This hairstyle is best at accentuating your features, giving you a more playful and youthful appearance. A pixie cut can be tousled, choppy, or asymmetrical.

    Which hair part makes you look younger? ›

    The Center Part

    "The middle part is one of the most fashionable hair trends," Bergamy tells us. "It gives a more youthful look without looking childish." It tends to work best on faces that are more or less symmetrical, but can also help elongate shorter, wider face shapes.

    Does shoulder length hair age you? ›

    Shoulder-Length Cut With Layers

    "Jennifer Aniston has had this length, and what makes it look youthful is when the ends are shattered to keep it from looking blunt and heavy around the perimeter," says Zinno. He suggests longer angles around the face and below the jawline to keep the look flowing and soft.

    What hair color makes someone look older? ›

    Generally, these colours will make anyone appear older: black, cool dark brown, fiery red, yellow blonde, mousy blonde and dark grey. There's a common opinion that platinum blonde and silver hair dye age you, but we don't believe so.

    What makes a face look younger? ›

    Protecting your face from the sun is the single best way of keeping it youthful. Much of the damage comes from the UVA part of the light spectrum, so you need to put on sunscreen that protects against it and UVB light, which causes sunburn. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat is also a good idea. Creams and lotions.

    Do bobs make you look older? ›

    How Can a Bob Age You? This isn't unique to just bobs, but Joseph warns if a bob doesn't work with your face shape, it can make you look older. “Also, a shorter cut draws the eye up, where as a longer style draws the eye down, taking the focus directly off the face.

    Do I look better with short or long hair? ›

    The answer is surprisingly simple. There's an easy, and we mean easy, way to decide if short hairstyles are in your future. We call it the 2.25 rule. Practically fool proof, this rule states that if the longest part of your chin is less than 2.25 inches from the tip of your earlobe, then short hairstyles are for you.

    How do you tell if your hairstyle is ageing you? ›

    Trinder adds: “Where there's a middle parting that's very flat or where the hair is too long around the face, it can drag your features down and look ageing, too.”

    How to wear your hair down without it getting in your face? ›

    If you have zero minutes to pull something too fiddly out of the bag, a headband, hair bandana, stacked up slides or simple hair tuck can make all the difference and keep any flyaways out of your face in literal seconds.

    Does a bob make you look older or younger? ›

    “A bob is one of those styles that can make some people look younger—if done right. But when it's done incorrectly or done on the wrong face, it can make you look older.”

    Does cutting your hair short make you look older? ›

    Does short hair make you look younger or older? The right short cut can take years off your look when it flatters your facial features, complements your face shape, and celebrates your hair texture. But dramatic cropped cuts can age you if they expose flaws, lack softness, or overpower petite features.

    Top Articles
    Best Pet Hair Remover Tools - Consumer Reports
    Fingernail do's and don'ts
    Barstool Sports Gif
    Bleak Faith: Forsaken – im Test (PS5)
    Truist Bank Near Here
    Lifebridge Healthstream
    P2P4U Net Soccer
    Beds From Rent-A-Center
    THE 10 BEST River Retreats for 2024/2025
    Bhad Bhabie Shares Footage Of Her Child's Father Beating Her Up, Wants Him To 'Get Help'
    Clairememory Scam
    A.e.a.o.n.m.s
    Richmond Va Craigslist Com
    Gas Station Drive Thru Car Wash Near Me
    4156303136
    Alejos Hut Henderson Tx
    The Banshees Of Inisherin Showtimes Near Regal Thornton Place
    Gem City Surgeons Miami Valley South
    Canvas Nthurston
    Puretalkusa.com/Amac
    Craigslist West Valley
    Joann Ally Employee Portal
    Halo Worth Animal Jam
    Iroquois Amphitheater Louisville Ky Seating Chart
    Jenna Ortega’s Height, Age, Net Worth & Biography
    2013 Ford Fusion Serpentine Belt Diagram
    Rogue Lineage Uber Titles
    Keyn Car Shows
    Gma' Deals & Steals Today
    Dell 22 FHD-Computermonitor – E2222H | Dell Deutschland
    In hunt for cartel hitmen, Texas Ranger's biggest obstacle may be the border itself (2024)
    Missing 2023 Showtimes Near Mjr Southgate
    Rocksteady Steakhouse Menu
    Unlock The Secrets Of "Skip The Game" Greensboro North Carolina
    Planet Fitness Lebanon Nh
    The Minneapolis Journal from Minneapolis, Minnesota
    Scarlet Maiden F95Zone
    Kutty Movie Net
    Kb Home The Overlook At Medio Creek
    LumiSpa iO Activating Cleanser kaufen | 19% Rabatt | NuSkin
    Watch Chainsaw Man English Sub/Dub online Free on HiAnime.to
    Ssc South Carolina
    Funkin' on the Heights
    Cvs Coit And Alpha
    Unblocked Games 6X Snow Rider
    Race Deepwoken
    Fredatmcd.read.inkling.com
    Diamond Spikes Worth Aj
    300 Fort Monroe Industrial Parkway Monroeville Oh
    Nfl Espn Expert Picks 2023
    Anthony Weary Obituary Erie Pa
    Latest Posts
    Article information

    Author: Barbera Armstrong

    Last Updated:

    Views: 6653

    Rating: 4.9 / 5 (79 voted)

    Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

    Author information

    Name: Barbera Armstrong

    Birthday: 1992-09-12

    Address: Suite 993 99852 Daugherty Causeway, Ritchiehaven, VT 49630

    Phone: +5026838435397

    Job: National Engineer

    Hobby: Listening to music, Board games, Photography, Ice skating, LARPing, Kite flying, Rugby

    Introduction: My name is Barbera Armstrong, I am a lovely, delightful, cooperative, funny, enchanting, vivacious, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.