Look Youthful by Avoiding These Common Hair Mistakes
How great does it feel to get the perfect
haircut?!? Getting the right hairstyle that suits you can make a big
difference – it can enhance your features while making you look bright
and youthful. However, choosing the right hairstyle is easier said than
done and depends a lot on your face shape and bone structure. For
example, waist-length gray hair might look great on you while a short
hairdo may not suit your personality at all.
The unfortunate truth is that the incorrect hairstyle can end up adding
years to your face. Even a few silly hair mistakes – from ignoring
thinning hair to using too much hairspray – can spoil your appearance.
The good news is that you can easily avoid some common hair mistakes
that might make you age faster.
1. Ignoring thin hair
As we age, our hair thins naturally and
breaks easily. As a consequence, it can often be tough to find the right
style that matches the quantity of hair we currently have. For example,
if your hair has thinned quite a bit and you continue sporting long
hair, it can look stringy. And if it’s too short, then it might end up
looking straggly. So don’t ignore your thinning hair. A bob cut or a
classic pixie cut is usually recommended for women past their 50s who
are experiencing thinning hair. However, discuss this with your stylist.
They will be able to tell you what layers, angles, and lengths would
work best with thinning hair.
2. Choosing the wrong length
The length of your hairstyle can make a
huge difference in the way you look. Women usually tend to cut their
hair short when they get to a certain age. However, older age doesn’t
always have to equate to shorter strands. While a shorter cut may suit
someone with thinning hair, it may not necessarily be the case with
everyone. Longer hair can actually be softer around the face and
neckline for seniors. Also, it will be easier to achieve a more natural
hair color with a longer hairdo to blend when going gray.
Many stylists say that by cutting long layers around the face you can
add more volume to your hair while also highlighting your features. Your
stylist should be able to tell you what length should go well with your
face and hair type.
3. Not changing your hairstyle at all
One of the biggest hairdo mistakes we make
as we grow older is keeping the same hairstyle for decades. Just because
you love that hairstyle which suited you 25 years back, doesn’t mean it
will compliment your looks when you are in your 50s. It’s hence
essential to let go of old versions of ourselves and adopting a fresh
hairstyle that suits our current age. Don’t go for anything too trendy
or too old-fashioned. Hairdressing has evolved dramatically and you must
find the style that suits the current times.
4. Going too dark to cover the grays
As gray hair starts to take over, the first
impulse for many of us have is to cover it up with dark color. However,
hair stylists say that dark colors show overgrown hair roots. Moreover,
if you have fair skin, then the darkness around your face can enhance
the imperfections of your face, making you look older.
Ideally, we should have some softness around the face as we age. And
leading colorists say that lighter, multi-tonal shades help to balance
and blend the grays as they start to regrow.
5. Not choosing the right parting
A great trick to look younger is choosing
the right parting. Hairstylists are of the view that even little tweaks
to your parting can make a huge difference. For instance, a straight
down the middle parting doesn’t work for everyone. But then, a severe
side part can also look rather odd on you, depending on your age. The
wrong hair part can age you significantly. So look for where your hair
naturally falls before choosing a parting. An irregular hair part can
help make you younger, say industry stylists.
6. Too much volume
A little volume on your hair usually looks
beautiful. At the same time, too much of it can have the opposite
effect. Because that can result in an old-fashioned beehive kind of a
hairstyle, taking the sheen out of an otherwise youthful face.
Also,
trying to get volume in the wrong places can make anyone look older.
Backcombing (also known as teasing or ratting), which is achieved by
repeatedly combing the hair towards the scalp, is a good case in point
and should be avoided after a certain age. Talk to your stylist and get a
good volumizing shampoo that will suit your hair and age.
7. Being
apprehensive of bangs
According to renowned hairstylists, bangs
can look great on mature women and are the easiest way to erase a few
years off your face. Apart from being fun and creative, they also frame
your eyes. More importantly, bangs help hide wrinkles as well as
severely receding hairlines. So don’t be apprehensive about getting
bangs only because you are in your 50s or 60s; just pick the best one
that fits the shape of your face.
Ideally, side bangs are perfect for round
face shapes and A-shaped bangs go well with square or oblong face
shapes. Usually, ones that hit at the lower half of the brow, just above
the eye, should complement most face shapes but still speak to your
stylist once before choosing one.
8. Using too much hairspray
Adding unnecessary hairspray to the hair
can also drastically age anyone’s face. That’s because too much
hairspray can end up giving you stiff, unmovable hair, which was fine in
the ‘80s but looks outdated and irrelevant today. Stylists say that a
stiff hairstyle will always make you look years older and you should
hence try to avoid overusing hairspray. In fact, avoid using items on
your hair that produce a firm hold and look for products that still let
the hair move – like mousse, defining paste, or shea butter.
9. Not using the right shampoo
This might sound obvious, but it’s important
to remember. Because your shampoo affects your lifestyle and using one
with the wrong formula can make you look older. Gray and aging hair lack
pigment and can be coarser. Therefore, they need a little more care to
keep them shiny and healthy. So use shampoo and conditioner that color
protects and moisturizes hair instead of one that is suitable for
"normal hair types". Experts recommend looking for a purple pigmented
shampoo made specifically to brighten yellow blondes or grays. There are
also shampoos labeled specifically for gray or silver hair in the
market these days which you can try.
10. Not maintaining a proper diet
Did you know that if your diet is
restricted or unhealthy, it can badly affect your hair? Not getting the
sufficient vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that your body needs
from your diet is harmful to your hair and can make it dry and brittle
which can instantly pile on the years to your face. For example, having
too little protein and iron in your diet can damage healthy hair and
hinder the body's ability to produce new hair follicles. Even something
as simple as drinking lots of water every day can keep your hair
lustrous.
Check and see if you have any deficiency in iron, vitamin D, or other
minerals, and make sure that you maintain a healthy and balanced diet
for healthy hair.