In your younger days you may never have thought all too much about your hair and its volume. Perhaps you had naturally thick hair that didn’t need any help at all in this department, or maybe it was a breeze to tease your fine hair at the roots so that it didn’t fall flat. With age we can experience more hair shedding and thinning and the crown of our hair can start to show signs of sparseness. The hairstyles we choose make more of an impact at a mature age and can take us to great heights (literally, as in we can achieve more volume at the roots) or cause our hair to fall flat, as well as reveal any bald patches we may be developing.
These four voluminous hairstyles are among the best for mature hair because they remove dead, thin ends and give your hair’s roots much-needed volume. We also include three examples of hairstyles that can have the opposite effect — and can make thinning hair look worse.
1. Short Pixie
The short pixie takes cares of stringy ends in a flash and leaves you with a cropped, chic cut that gives your face an instant lift. There are many variations of the pixie, so finding one that works for your hair type is important. If you have sparseness on the scalp, asking your stylist to leave the top slightly longer will give you styling options so that you can cover these areas.
2. Layered Bob
There are few hair issues that can’t be solved with a chin-length bob. The most classic of all haircuts is the perfect length for creating volume and a lift to the face, and adding long layers will provide much-needed movement to hair that tends to fall flat. Just be careful not to overdo it: choppy ends can make your hair look thinner.
3. Asymmetrical Bob
The asymmetrical bob works well on thinning hair because it creates an instant style that doesn’t need much manipulation when you’re getting ready in the morning. This cut features one side that is longer than the other side, with sharp layering that adds movement and body but has a more blunt line to keep your hair looking fuller and healthier.
4. Shag
The shag haircut features very light but abundant layering that can remove excess weight and keep your hair from looking flat. The challenge with a shag is knowing when to stop with layers, though, as too many can give the ends a stringy appearance. Keeping your length on the shorter side — around the collarbone or slightly longer — will also help give it a thicker appearance.
5. Avoid: Tight Ponytails
Many mature celebrities appreciate a high, tight ponytail because it creates a lifted look to the cheekbones and eyes without surgery, which is all well and good, but it’s not the greatest hairstyle for thin hair (and it’s worth remembering that many celebs achieve this look with the help of extensions). Tight hairdos pull at the scalp and can cause breakage and shedding. If you love to wear your hair off of your face, try loosening the elastic band or using clips that don’t pull.
6. Avoid: Flat Ironed Hair
Flat ironing your hair will achieve shine, but at the expense of volume. Not only does introducing intense heat to your hair cause damage such as split ends, but it creates (as its name implies) flatness at the roots and strands, which isn’t the most flattering for mature hair.
7. Avoid: Overly Long Hair
What’s “too long” when it comes to long hair? The definition of “overly long” will vary from person to person, but generally speaking, if you can see the area where your hair becomes stringy and loses body and definition, this is a good place to consider cut that will make your hair appear healthier. We tend to think of long hair as useful, but super-long hair can look more aging when it is accompanied by split ends and stringiness.
