Hairstyles that make you look younger

Long hair does not age you on its own; flat, heavy, one-length hair does. The hairstyles that make you look younger add lift at the crown, movement around the face and shine. A women's haircut at OLLIN Beverly Hills is $225–275 with a blow-dry and style. Call (424) 204-9095 to book.

Does long hair age you?

Long hair does not age you by itself; long hair that hangs flat, heavy and all one length does. Hair tends to grow finer with age, so extra length pulls it straight down past the jaw and the eye follows that line downward. Long hair keeps looking fresh when it has three things: layers that begin around the cheekbone or collarbone to frame the face, enough thickness at the ends that they don't look see-through, and shine. If your last two inches look thin or wispy, cutting them off usually takes off more years than a new color would.

Do you look younger with longer or shorter hair?

Shorter hair often looks younger, mostly because a shorter cut is easier to give lift and shape, not because of the length itself. A cut that ends between the chin and the collarbone puts volume next to the cheekbones and jaw, where a face loses fullness with age. Very short hair can age you too when it sits tight and flat against the head. Try this before you cut: pin your hair up loosely to the length you're considering and look at your jawline in daylight. If the jaw looks sharper, go shorter. If your face looks more exposed, keep the length and add layers.

What is the most flattering hair length for a 50-year-old woman?

Shoulder length, or a long bob that lands between the chin and the collarbone, is the most flattering hair length for most 50-year-old women. It is long enough to wear up, down or tucked, and short enough to hold body at the root, which matters because hair often turns finer and drier through the fifties. It frames the jaw and neck instead of covering them. There are exceptions: thick, healthy hair can carry length past the shoulders with long layers, and a petite frame or a narrow face often suits a chin-length cut.

What is the most flattering haircut for an older woman?

The most flattering haircut for an older woman is a soft, layered cut with movement, most often a textured bob, a lob or a shoulder-length shag, rather than one named style. Each one builds height at the crown, let pieces fall at the cheekbones and finish the ends softly instead of blunt and heavy. For fine or thinning hair, a bob with light internal layers looks fuller than a long cut. A soft pixie works on strong bone structure. Curtain or side-swept bangs soften forehead lines; our guide to bangs and face shape covers who they suit, and this year's haircut trends shows how they're worn now.

What hairstyle makes you look 10 years younger?

Soft, textured cuts with face-framing layers take off the most years, because they put movement and light around the face. A chin-length layered bob lifts the jawline, a textured pixie opens up the eyes and cheekbones, and a long shag with layers starting near the cheekbones keeps your length without the drag. What ages a cut is weight: one heavy, blunt length well past the shoulders pulls the face down. Soft bangs over the forehead help as well; our guide to bangs and face shape shows which fringe suits you.

What gives away your age the most?

The hands, the neck and the skin around the eyes give away age the most, according to dermatologists, because the skin there is thin, gets constant sun and loses fat and collagen early. Hair is the giveaway you can change in a single appointment. Dullness, a flat line of gray at the root, color that has turned brassy and ends that have thinned all read older than a few lines. A gloss brings back shine, and at our Beverly Hills salon it is $75–100. Face-framing highlights, $250–350, put light around the eyes, right where people look first.

How to take 20 years off your face?

Nothing takes 20 years off your face, not a haircut, a cream or a procedure, and a page that promises it is overselling. What reliably makes a face look years younger is daily broad-spectrum sunscreen and a retinoid for the skin, two habits dermatologists widely recommend, plus a haircut and color that put lift and light near the eyes and cheekbones. The hair part is the fastest: crown volume, layers that frame the face, color a shade or two softer than a harsh dark dye, and a shiny finish. Fillers, lasers and other medical treatments are a conversation for a board-certified dermatologist, not a salon.

What makes a woman look younger?

Even, healthy-looking skin, bright eyes, good posture and shiny, full hair are what make a woman look younger, and hair is the one you can change this week. Shine reads as health. Volume at the crown and around the cheekbones stands in for the fullness a face loses over time. Warm, dimensional color is kinder to skin than one flat shade, which is why colorists often suggest going one or two levels lighter than your natural shade once gray starts coming in. Our guide to hair color for older women covers which shades soften, and gray coverage explains the options when you'd rather blend than cover.

To book a haircut or color consultation, call (424) 204-9095, or text (323) 804-8011 for urgent hair needs. We're at 8912 W Olympic Blvd, open Tuesday to Saturday, 7am to 6pm. Book at OLLIN Beverly Hills →