Hair loss and thinning are common aspects of aging, influenced by a variety of factors. While consulting a dermatologist for treatment, consider also finding a hairstyle to conceal thinning areas. To make your salon visit successful, bring a reference photo of a celebrity haircut you admire.
However, this is not the only factor to consider. It is essential to take into account your face shape and hair texture to ensure the chosen style complements you. To help you find the perfect summer look, we consulted top hair stylists who pointed out three outdated styles that might unintentionally accentuate thinning and aging, along with three superior alternatives.
Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Janine Jarman, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Curl Cult, Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles, Gina Rivera, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, Dani Everson, professional hair stylist and owner of Clementine’s Salon and Lauren Udoh, hair stylist and hair creative director of WigReports.
Stylists Share 3 Unflattering 'Dos To Skip This Summer—And Better Alternatives For Mature Beauties
1. Skip Pin-Straight, Layerless Long Hair
If you have "fine, thinning, fragile, damaged hair," Jarman 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 and can inadvertently emphasize thinning and bald spots.
“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.
Instead, Try Face-Framing Layers
"Longer side bangs" and "face framing pieces" a la Jennifer Aniston can "also result in a more youthful appearance by drawing the eye to the appealing facial features," Rivera explains. "In general, this provides for a fresher and more youthful look."
2. Skip Choppy Shags
The worst haircut you can have if your goal is to look younger is having "too many layers," she explains. Layers, when cut appropriately, can help to "add volume" and flow to your hair, "giving the appearance of fuller locks," she notes.
Adding too many layers, on the other hand, she notes, "can make your hair appear even more limp than before."
Instead, Try a Wispy, Shag-Inspired Bob with Delicate Layers
Too much texturization in a hairstyle can make thin hair appear even thinner, rather than full, she warns. "While shags are fashionable, it's vital to avoid over-layering thin hair because it can make it difficult to work with and lifeless," she says.
As seen here on Halle Berry, a wispy, shaggy bob with light, delicate layers can help bring more attention to your favorite features without weighing them down, as too many layers can often do.
3. Skip Bobs with Baby Bangs
While this classic cut can provide an oomph of edginess to any hairstyle, Everson says that it could draw attention to wrinkles, thinning at the crown or other signs of aging with its forehead-baring look.
Although baby bangs can work for those of us with an Audrey Hepburn-inspired style, Everson says that this cut, which ends before your eyebrows, might have a different effect on mature beauties. “I love bangs and think everyone has their own special length that enhances their features,” she says, adding that “No two bangs are the same,” and if you are looking to get bangs, “opt for a long hairstyle that will help hide forehead wrinkles.”
This type of fringe, she says, can “overshare someone's wrinkle story,” drawing the eye to sagging skin rather than creating a look that has an upwards or lifting effect.
Instead, Opt for Eyebrow-Length Fringe
“The right length of bangs can help make someone's appearance youthful, but too short borders the line between baby-ish and also aging,” she says.
Another solution to this style, Abdullah suggests, would also be curtain bangs (seen here on Goldie Hawn), as they can be cut as long or as short as needed, with an ability to wear them parted or straight down.
The more you know!
