The Worst Haircuts For Thinning Hair That Exaggerate Fallout After 50

1. Very Long Hair

No one should ever tell you that you can’t wear your hair past your shoulders after age 50 — that simply isn’t true. However, with long hair comes extra weight and length that can separate the hair on the scalp and make any sparseness on the scalp more evident. Length can also create straggly ends that appear thinner and unhealthy. If you are finding it more and more challenging to create volume at the roots of your long hair, the issue might be resolved with a great haircut. Discuss your options with a stylist you trust. Removing a few inches can create a nice change that makes your hair look healthier and thicker.

2. Heavy Bangs

Bangs are a funny thing — they can make your hair look thicker or thinner, depending on how they are cut. Very heavy, blunt bangs take too much hair from the back of your head, and if your hair is already thin, this will make it look even thinner. The contrast between the heavy bang and thinner hair can be stark and not as flattering as you hoped. This doesn’t mean you should shun bangs altogether; chic Jane Birkin-style bangs that are thinner and more texturized are all the rage right now and can look great on thin hair. A curtain bang is also a good option if you want bangs that grow out gracefully.

3. Blunt Cuts With No Layers

One of the best-kept secrets to styling thin or fine hair is to keep the ends somewhat blunt but add “ghost” layers on top that create volume and movement without looking too choppy. However, blunt ends with zero layering can cause the hair to lay flat and make it appear much thinner. Speak with your stylist about ways you can tow that line between blunt and layered.

4. Very Dark, Overly Processed Hair

Put down all the chemicals if you want thinner hair to look healthier and thicker. If you’ve been dyeing your hair with a dark box dye for years, the flat color can make thin hair look, well, flatter. Couple this with a processing treatment like one that create pin-straight hair and you’re only adding to the flatness.

Multi-dimensional color creates the illusion of more volume, and texture (rather than stick-straight hair) boosts the density of each hair strand.