Taking care of your skin is one way to slow down the signs of aging – and the same goes for your hair too! From taking care of your locks with regular cuts, to nourishing treatments, to choosing flattering haircuts and hairstyles, there are many different ways that your hair can help you look better – and younger – as the years go on.
Of course, doing the wrong things can have the opposite effect too, as there are many styles, cuts, and habits that could be aging you without you realizing. Overstyling your hair, for example, is something the experts we’ve spoken to advise against for various different reasons, as is opting for a long and straight hairstyle if you have fine hair.
Keep reading to find out which hairstyles, haircuts, and even products the experts have advised you stay away from if you don’t want to add years to your face, as well as what styling habits to avoid…
1. Dying A Color That Is *Too Dark* Or *Too Light* In Thinning Hair
As we age, it is common for many of us to experience hair loss or thinner strands, and one way this is often emphasized is by having a super-dark hair color and not enough hair for it to look full.
"If your hair is thinning, you don't really want to dye your hair black or dark brown," Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles, says, adding: "Dark colors can emphasize any scalp that's showing." Lauren Udoh, hair stylist and hair creative director of WigReports, adds that going too dark "can make the hair look thinner and lifeless," while going too light can "make the scalp more visible." It's important to find a color that compliments your skin tone, she says, and gives the hair a healthy-looking shine.
2. Over-styling / Ironing Out The Body
Many women with thinning hair often make the mistake of over-styling their hair to give it more volume and body, Udoh explains. "This can actually make the hair look stringy and lifeless, and can accentuate any wrinkles or lines in the face," she says.
If you like your locks to be straight, Abdullah suggests to start at mid-length with your flat iron instead. "When you iron the roots, your hair might look too flat and therefore older," she says. Starting at mid-length and moving to the tips, however, will help you keep some volume. "Also, flat iron your hair going up, away from the scalp, instead of down," Abdullah advises, "this also adds body."
3. Using Gel And Mousse On Thin Hair
Heavy gels and mousses can weigh down the hair and make it look greasy, Udoh says, while using too much heat can damage the hair and make it look brittle. "It's important to find lightweight products that will help add volume and body to the hair without weighing it down," she stresses. If you've noticed a change in texture in your hair with age, Abdullah provides some insight.
"Loss of estrogen can cause your hair to become finer, and that means more prone to frizz," she says. "Even if you never had to before, try a leave-in conditioner. As long as it's lightweight, it will coat your strands so that you can avoid frizz, but your hair won't be weighed down," she continues. Abdullah says that a few drops of jojoba oil after blow drying can do the same trick.
4. Having Hair That Is Either Very Long Or Very Short
With thinning, aging hair, experts note that finding a balance with length is key. While catering to your face shape, the ideal haircut won't show too much scalp or add flat, dull weight.
"If your hair is thinning, try to keep the length between shoulder and ear length, it will look fuller and more youthful this way," Abdullah adds, saying that if your hair is too long, "it looks even more thin, which can age you considerably." Udoh agrees in that the wrong haircut can make all the difference when it comes to thinning hair.
"Chopping off too much can make the hair look even thinner, while a too short style can make the scalp more visible," she says. It's important to find a style that flatters your face shape, Udoh concludes, and especially one that enhances the appearance of your hair.
5. Using A 'Thickening' Shampoo
As our hair gets thinner as we get older, it makes sense that thicker hair will make us look younger. You might think that a logical solution would be to choose a 'thickening' product to add youth to your look, but Dr. Daniel Boyer, M.D., hair health expert at Farr Institute, explains that this is far from the case.
"Long-term use of this shampoo may clog the pores of your scalp, interfering with the oxygen supply in the skin," Boyer says. "As a result," he continues, "inflammation may occur more often, leading to hair loss due to damage caused to your skin." Instead, he suggests using shampoo products that are low in comedogenic oils that "don't clog your skin pores," like a thickening shampoo would. This should hopefully give you thicker hair and make you look more youthful.
6. Bleaching Down To The Roots
Bleaching or coloring "all the way down to the roots" is a big no-no, Abdullah stresses, if you want to look younger and prevent thinning or faster hair loss at the same time. "If the hair dye or bleach reaches the scalp, it can cause damage to the scalp, which can then cause hair thinning," she says.
To avoid this, and "bleaching and coloring improperly," Abdullah recommends always "getting chemical treatments done at the salon" rather than trying them yourself at home. "Thinning can also be caused by other chemical treatments like perms if done incorrectly," she explains.
7. Not Taming Frizz
A natural loss of estrogen can "cause your hair to become more fine," with age, Abdullah says, and "that can mean it is more prone to frizz." While volume is associated with youthfulness and can highlight your best features, frizz can do the opposite, she points out.
To tackle this and still promote volume, she stresses that it's important to choose a product that won't weigh your hair down while addressing frizziness. "Even if you never had to before, try a leave-in conditioner," she suggests. "As long as it's lightweight, it will coat your strands so that you can avoid frizz, but your hair won't be weighed down," Abdullah recommends. Additionally, she says that a "few drops of jojoba oil after blow drying can do the same trick."
8. Keeping Hair Too Long Without Upkeep
Rocking longer tresses can certainly be done at any age, but without the right upkeep, Abdullah warns that flatter locks and split ends can make someone look older without even realizing. "If your hair is thinning, try to keep the length between shoulder and ear length," she advises.
She notes that it will look "fuller and more youthful" this way. "If your hair is too long, it looks even more thin, which can age you considerably," she points out.
9. Parting Your Hair In The Middle
While a middle part can be a chic, face-framing look that creates symmetry, Ona Diaz-Santin, a celebrity hairstylist, curl expert, and owner of 5 Salon & Spa warns that this style can actually highlight hair loss. This part, she notes, can show more of your scalp. It can "make the hair look thinner" than it actually is. Yikes! We don't want that. "Typically thinning for women is at the top of the head, and parting in the center can expose the thinning area more," she explains.
Abdullah agrees, and adds that wearing a middle part with already-thin hair can make hair loss even more apparent as many of us find that thinning tresses are inevitable near the crown area. "As thinning hair progresses, it can take a toll on the crown area in women," she notes. She says that because hair loss in women tends to "start with a widening of the part, it's best to stop parting your hair in the middle."
10. Using Hair Products With A Heavy Consistency
There are so many hair care products that promise to add volume to thinning hair, like mousse, hair spray, wave spray, dry shampoo, etc. But, Diaz-Santin urges you to seriously reduce or eliminate hair care products with a thick and heavy consistency because this can weigh thinning, and aging hair down even more. "Applying thick or heavy products in the hair can clump the hair together and make it appear thinner," she notes. It also ends up "exposing the scalp and lack of density."
To avoid this, Diaz-Santin recommends only using "spray stylers, lite foams, and hairspray" that are not too heavy, and that don't have a greasy or flattening effect when applied. That way your hair will feel light and airy. And, be sure to be on the lookout for haircare products with thinning ingredients like sulfates and parabens.
11. Tight Ponytails & Steam Water
Jean Lopez, co-founder at LilyHair, says there are two things which can lead to thinning hair and therefore an older appearance; and that's tight ponytails and the frequent usage of steam water to rinse the hair.
"Your hairline and hair can be severely damaged by tight ponytails," Lopez said. "It can yank out a lot of hair, making your hair thin. The use of heating equipment is analogous to washing with steam water. Every hair is to be left vulnerable to damage because the natural oils have been removed. It causes the hair follicles to open, causing further irritation."
The solution is simple: avoid wearing tight ponytails frequently and, when you do style your hair, ensure that it is loose enough to prevent harm to the hair. "You can also wash your hair with steam, but this is not recommended too often," Lopez said. "Make certain to wash it with cold water after steaming it to close your pores and prevent inflammation."
12. Not Treating Dandruff
Maintaining the health of your scalp is critical and should never be overlooked — and failing to do this can lead to thinning hair, says Ben Clarkson, the co-founder of New Hairline.
"An unhealthy scalp can cause a variety of problems, some of which may worsen into something far more serious," Clarkson said. "Dandruff is the most common cause of hair loss. Dandruff is a fungal growth on your scalp that can be flaky or oily. It is extremely difficult to remove and can be found on almost everyone's scalp. However, it becomes a problem when you begin to notice visible dandruff, which occurs when you do not properly care for your hair."
Dandruff weakens the hair roots, resulting in hair loss, but washing your hair with an anti-dandruff shampoo or lotion can help, Clarkson said.
13. Sleeping With A Non-Silk Pillowcase
Silk pillowcases are highly acclaimed among experts and stylists for their soft fabric that won't aggravate or tug at your strands while you sleep as much as other materials can. For those with thinning hair, Dr. Deanne Mraz Robinson, Chief Medical Officer of Ideal Image and co-founder of Modern Dermatology PC, says, this is a much safer pillowcase alternative.
"I highly recommend a silk pillowcase for everyone, but it is especially important for people with thinning or breaking hair," says Robinson. The silk, she notes, causes less friction— helping to avoid pulling or breaking strands while you move in your sleep.
"I also recommend pulling your hair up into a gentle top knot with a silk scrunchie to keep it off of the chemicals on your face at night which can also make them more vulnerable to breakage," she adds (retinols & AHAs for example). For this same reason, Robinson says it's important to gently pull your hair back when cleansing your face and applying your PM skincare routine, which "typically contains actives that can be aggressive on the fine strands of hair that frame our face."
14. DIY Bleaching And Hair Coloring
While it may be tempting to experiment with a new color on your own, Gina Rivera, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, explains that this might end up requiring a salon fix-up (so it's much more of a time-saver to head there in the first place).
"My number one rule is to never take on something that a professional should be doing when it comes to your hair, especially processes that involve chemicals," she explains. There is a science and chemistry involved in services such as coloring, highlighting and perming, she says, and professionals are "well trained to understand the proper methods for application." Incorrect application can lead to damaging your hair, she adds, and this can result in "long-term irreversible damage in extreme cases."
15. Having A One-Length Bob
A long bob or lob that is cut without any layering can make someone's tresses look dull and lifeless, Udoh notes. While Kim Kardashian looks chic with this classic style, this 'do can make women over 40 look older inadvertently while drawing attention to signs of aging rather than adding volume and movement.
"A long bob can make someone look older if it is cut straight across and is not layered," Udoh says. In order to avoid this, she suggests parting a straight bob or lob to the side for "instant volume," or adding "layers and texture" for a more standout look.
16. Having A Rounded Shag Cut
While a flattering shag cut never truly goes out of style and continues to be a celeb-fave look (as seen here on Juliette Lewis), if it is too rounded or has too many layers, it can add years to your look, Abdullah says. "This is another outdated trend that will put too much emphasis wherever the bangs lay," she notes.
"In addition, the rounded poof look just belongs somewhere in the 80s." Udoh agrees: "A shag haircut can also be aging if it is too choppy or unkempt." Instead, Abdullah recommends going for shags with fringe styles that are cut in short, angular snips. "Give them more volume and thickness by pulling more hair in from the center of your head, if it's possible," she says.
17. Having A Bob With Baby Bangs
You can never go wrong with a bob designed to flatter your face shape, but Abdullah advises against choosing one that features baby bangs (or fringe that is cut above your eyebrows). While Maisie Williams pulls off this edgy look, it can have a different effect on mature beauties, she points out, as having your bangs end here can emphasize forehead wrinkles.
Opting for curtain bangs with your chin-length bob is often much more flattering, according to Abdullah. "Curtain bangs are a type of fringe cut that creates a soft, natural looking wave at the top of the head," she explains. "They are often used to frame the face and specifically, to give it a youthful appearance."
18. Having A Lob With Blunt Bangs
Similarly, pairing a bob or lob with harsh, blunt fringe can have an unflattering effect as well. If your bangs are too long (past your eyebrows and almost over your eyes), this can lead to a dull-looking appearance, Udoh says, and if your locks are super-straight this can add on years too.
Instead of Rose Byrne's 'do above, she suggests trying side-swept bangs and layers in the rest of your bob or lob to add movement. "Cuts that are [too] blunt can shorten the appearance of your face and make it appear wider [over 40]," Udoh says. "A better option" for women over 40 is to try "long layers that will add length and softly frame your face" as well as "side-swept bangs to soften the face."
19. Having A Mid-length Bob
A bob looks the best when it ends at the chin or at the collarbone, Abdullah says. If your bob ends at the middle of your neck, she stresses that this could make you look older, even if that is not the goal. The thing about bobs and lobs, Abdullah says, is that they fall "right where you want to draw attention." A longer, mid-length bob might look great on Kerry Washington, but as Abdullah notes, for many of us this cut would fall "right at the neck." For a woman who's over 40, Abdullah says, this could be a spot where "fine lines and wrinkles" could be more apparent.
"When I see a woman with a medium bob, my eye is always drawn to the neck, right where the hair falls," she stresses. "A bob is great if you want the eyes drawn to the chin or cheekbones, and lobs are great for moving the eye towards the collarbone and shoulders, but medium-length bobs are not as flattering" for mature women, she explains. Instead, a chin-length or collarbone-length cut might look more refreshed and radiant!
20. Having Pin-Straight Long Hair
If you have "fine, thinning, fragile, damaged hair," Janine Jarman, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Curl Cult, recommends "cutting it off." She adds that "healthy hair is always the best bet. If your hair is thin, it only gets thinner as it grows out and if it's damaged it will only continue to break the longer it gets."
Rivera agrees in that "long, straight, blunt hair" is not always becoming with age. "The long length can pull the features down and make them appear more drawn," Rivera says. "If you select longer hair, it's important to opt for longer layers that will create movement and texture," she advises.
