Hair styles change as we grow older, reflecting our evolving personalities and lifestyles. Many trendy cuts and colors that seemed perfect in our twenties suddenly feel out of place after 35.
Let’s explore which hair trends tend to fade away as we enter a new chapter of life.
1. Super Long Locks
Rapunzel-length hair often gets the chop after 35. Extremely long hair requires intense maintenance and can drag down facial features as we age.
Many women opt for more manageable medium lengths that still offer styling versatility without the heavy upkeep.
2. Rainbow-Colored Hair
Bold blues and vibrant pinks typically transition to more subtle hues. Professional settings and changing priorities often influence this shift.
Many 35+ individuals still express creativity through hair color, but with more sophisticated techniques like balayage or subtle highlights.
3. Dramatic Undercuts
Those edgy shaved sections become less common as career and family life take center stage. Growing out an undercut can be awkwardly time-consuming.
Many former undercut enthusiasts shift to textured cuts that offer dimension without the commitment to regular barbershop visits.
4. Blunt Bangs
Heavy, straight-across bangs often get replaced by softer framing options. Maintenance becomes tiresome, and forehead lines can be accentuated by harsh lines.
Side-swept or curtain bangs offer a more forgiving alternative that blends naturally with the rest of your hair.
5. Ultra-Thin Eyebrows
Remember the pencil-thin brows of the 90s? Most women embrace fuller, more natural eyebrows after 35. Over-plucked brows can make faces appear older and more severe.
Fuller brows frame the face better and require less daily maintenance.
6. Top Knots Every Day
Daily tight top knots often disappear from the regular rotation. The constant pulling can lead to traction alopecia and thinning along the hairline.
Loose, lower buns or ponytails become the go-to styles for busy days without the scalp tension.
7. Chunky Highlights
Those bold, stripy highlights from the early 2000s fade away in favor of natural-looking dimension. Chunky stripes can look dated and harsh against maturing skin.
Subtle balayage or babylights create a more sophisticated, sun-kissed effect that’s both youthful and age-appropriate.
8. Severe Center Parts
Perfectly straight middle parts often give way to softer, slightly off-center alternatives. A harsh center part can emphasize facial asymmetry that becomes more pronounced with age.
Slight side parts create a more flattering frame for the face while still looking modern.
9. Super Sleek Straightening
Daily flat-ironing routines typically ease up after 35. Constant heat styling damages hair, which becomes more noticeable as natural volume decreases with age.
Many women embrace their natural texture or opt for heat-free styling methods that protect hair health.
10. Pixie Cuts With Long Bangs
The edgy, asymmetrical pixie with long sweeping bangs often evolves into more balanced short styles. That specific punk-inspired look can appear dated rather than edgy after a certain age.
Modern, well-proportioned pixies with softer edges flatter changing face shapes.
11. Dip-Dyed Ends
Those dip-dyed bright ends typically fade away after 35. The stark contrast between natural color and vibrant tips can look less intentional and more like grown-out color.
Subtle ombré or dimensional color throughout creates a more polished, deliberate effect.
12. Tight Spiral Perms
The crunchy, tight curls of traditional perms rarely survive into our late 30s. These rigid curls can look aging and damage hair over time.
Softer wave perms or natural curly styling methods create movement without the dated 80s poodle look.
13. Zigzag Parts
Remember those trendy zigzag parts from the early 2000s? They vanish after 35, looking more like a throwback than a current style choice.
Straight or slightly curved parts offer a cleaner, more sophisticated look that works better with evolving personal style.
14. Ultra-Layered “Rachel” Cuts
The heavily layered Friends-inspired cuts typically get left behind. Those choppy, face-framing layers can emphasize fine lines and require significant styling to look polished.
More subtle layering techniques create movement while maintaining volume where needed.
15. Harsh Black Box Dye
Flat, one-dimensional black hair color often gets replaced with softer alternatives. Solid black can look severe against maturing skin and highlight gray regrowth more noticeably.
Rich browns with subtle dimension appear more natural and require less frequent touch-ups.
16. Crimped Hair Texture
Those zigzag crimped sections popular in the 90s and early 2000s fade away. The artificial texture reads as outdated rather than playful after a certain age.
Natural-looking waves created with modern techniques offer texture without the time-capsule effect.
17. Super-Short Baby Bangs
Those ultra-short micro-bangs typically grow out after 35. While edgy and fashion-forward, they require constant maintenance and can emphasize forehead lines.
Softer, longer bangs that blend with the rest of the hair create a more versatile, flattering frame.
18. Hair Mascara Streaks
Remember those temporary colored streaks from the 90s? They disappear from most hair routines after 35. The chunky, often unblended streaks look more like a festival accessory than an everyday style.
Temporary color now comes in sophisticated spray or powder forms for occasional fun.
19. Extreme Hair Accessories
Butterfly clips, massive scrunchies, and plastic headbands typically get stored away. These youthful accessories can look incongruous with more sophisticated personal and professional styles.
Subtle pins, elegant scrunchies, and minimalist clips offer practical solutions without the juvenile associations.