Your hair isn’t just a factor of personal style. While getting a fun, fresh haircut is one great way to express yourself and show off your personality, the right one can also take years off of your face and keep you looking younger than ever.
If you’re on the hunt for haircut inspiration to show to your stylist, look no further; we’ve got you covered with expert advice from Celebrity Hairstylist Gina Rivera, founder of Phenix Salon Suites.
There are several things to keep in mind when choosing the perfect anti-aging haircut. But ultimately, Rivera says the hairstyle that will look best on you will come down to your unique features and face shape. That’s why above all, she recommends choosing a trusted, experienced stylist to handle the job. “It’s best to work with a salon professional who is trained to look at face shapes, as well as facial features, and can assist with selecting the right style,” Rivera explains.
All that being said, below are 6 feature-softening haircuts that are sure to give you a youthful look—and a confidence boost!
One-length bob
A classic bob is one hairstyle with which you can never go wrong, no matter how old you are. While this look will never go out of style, it can also be a fun, fresh option, especially if you're used to having longer hair.
"The bob is always a terrific look at any age," Rivera says. However, this timeless, face-framing cut is an especially striking look on more mature women. "It tends to frame the face and soften the features," Rivera explains.
Celebrity hairstylist Carly Bethel also recommends a bob haircut to mature women. She suggests going with a blunt, one-length bob over layers, especially for those with thinner hair: "When hair is cut into one length it makes the ends fuller, and thinner hair will be thicker with a one-length haircut as opposed to adding layers," she explains. "This length is great for all hair types." Sounds perfect to us!
Pixie cut
Although the pixie cut is another classic, tried and true look, this cut allows for so much versatility. That's what makes it one of Rivera's all-time favorite hairstyles. "It can be worn in so many different ways from slicked back to spikey," she says.
The fact that there are endless opportunities for variety means there are so many ways to make a pixie cut fresh and youthful—all while showing off and softening your gorgeous features.
What's more, this close-cropped cut offers the perfect opportunity to try out a fun new hair color. "Creative choices for color can add extra appeal to this look," Rivera explains. Why not mix things up with a fresh red or a striking platinum blonde? We can't think of a better way to spice up your look and maintain a youthful appearance!
Trendy Lob
Maybe you've heard of the ever-popular haircut known as a "lob." Just as it sounds, its name refers to the fact that it's a "long bob"! This style is the trendy halfway point between a cropped bob haircut and lengthier styles, and it's so flattering and trendy.
Not only will this haircut give you a fresh, youthful look, but it also offers tons of versatility. If you want to give your lob a bit of an edge, Rivera recommends going the asymmetrical route. "Ask your stylist to cut the back of the hair slightly shorter," she instructs.
On the other hand, if thinning hair is a major concern for you, you're best off with a blunter look. Rivera says this will create the appearance of thicker hair. Noted!
Layered Shag
70s-inspired layered shag haircuts have been sweeping the style world recently—and with good reason! This choppy look is ultra-flattering on just about everyone. "The shag is always a chic, youthful look that can be worn at any age," Rivera notes.
This haircut is an especially great option for those who want to look younger than ever, thanks to the fact that it's face-framing and feature-softening to distract from signs of aging. "It's a terrific way to frame the face and reduce the focus on fine lines that may arise with age," Rivera notes. That means the more layers, the better!
Bethel agrees: "A layered haircut with a shaggy fringe creates texture and volume with choppy ends and lots of layers," she says.
The best part? While this is a currently trending look that's sure to turn heads, one thing is for sure: As Bethel says, "It never really goes out of style." We love that!
Shag With Curtain Bangs
Rivera further dubs the “shag cut” another “amazing style” that is well recognized for being versatile. “The shag offers nice variations for both longer and shorter hair,” she says.
Like with a lob, adding a bang can add a “fresh surprise” to this look. “For those with longer hair, an added choice is to shorten the hair up a bit to the collarbone or above to create some texture by adding subtle layers to soften,” she says.
Curtain bangs suit virtually “any face shape,” hair expert and cosmetologist Ghanima Abdullah agrees, and notes that this style can further “open up” your face and highlight your best features with its symmetrical design.
“Curtain bangs are a type of fringe cut that creates a soft, natural looking wave at the top of the head,” she says, noting that “they are often used to frame the face and specifically, to give it a youthful appearance.”
Curtain bangs “make your face appear smaller and slimmer when they come down to cheek level,” she continues, and they can “make your hair appear thicker and are a great way to add volume to thinning hair,” as well.
