Many hairstyles can unintentionally add years to your appearance. Finding the right haircut that suits your facial features and lifestyle can make a significant difference in how youthful and vibrant you look.
Here, hairstylists reveal 32 haircuts that might be aging you and offer suggestions on refreshing your style.
1. Flat Bob
The flat bob, often cut at a single length, lacks the dynamic movement essential for a fresher look.
This style can weigh down your features, making your face appear more drawn. Adding layers or opting for a slightly asymmetrical cut can inject life into the bob, making it a youthful choice.
2. Overly Layered Shag
While layers can add volume, too many can create a chaotic look reminiscent of past decades.
An overly layered shag often lacks structure, causing an unintentional frizz. Simplifying the layers or opting for a modern lob can give hair a sleeker, more sophisticated appearance that’s suitable for mature women.
3. Heavy Bangs
Heavy bangs can cast shadows, making your face appear smaller and accentuating fine lines.
Opting for wispy or side-swept bangs can open up the face, enhancing features subtly. These alternatives provide a softer frame to your face, adding elegance and youthfulness without overwhelming your facial structure.
4. Tight Perm
Tight perms can sometimes resemble the iconic styles of the 80s, which aren’t always flattering.
Looser curls or waves from modern perm techniques can offer a more relaxed, natural appearance. These contemporary styles maintain texture without the rigidity, allowing for an effortlessly chic and age-appropriate look.
5. Long, Untrimmed Locks
Long hair that’s not regularly trimmed can become lifeless, dragging down your overall appearance.
Regular trims and incorporating layers can revitalize long hair, adding movement and volume. This approach ensures your long locks remain a statement of style rather than a sign of neglect, helping maintain a fresh look.
6. Pageboy Cut
The pageboy cut, with its bowl-like silhouette, often harkens back to a bygone era.
Modern variations with texture and asymmetry can transform this traditional style into something chic and contemporary. Embracing a little messiness can make the pageboy relevant again, showcasing a stylish and youthful vibe.
7. Center-Parted Straight Hair
Center-parted straight hair can emphasize facial asymmetries and flatten your look.
Switching to a side part or adding soft waves can enhance volume and add a sense of playfulness. These tweaks offer a dynamic change that infuses life into your hairstyle, ensuring it complements your features beautifully.
8. Tight Braids
Tight braids can exert tension on the scalp, causing discomfort and a dated look.
Opt for looser braids or braided updos to achieve a softer, more relaxed style. This approach not only reduces scalp tension but also adds a touch of elegance, making it suitable for a range of occasions.
9. Ultra-Sleek Ponytail
An ultra-sleek ponytail, while neat, can look overly strict and unapproachable.
Instead, consider a looser ponytail or add texture for a more relaxed feel. This small change can transform your ponytail from rigid to radiant, softening your overall appearance while retaining elegance.
10. Blunt Cut with No Layers
Blunt cuts without layers can look heavy, lacking movement and fluidity.
Introducing layers or soft curls can rejuvenate your hairstyle, adding energy and bounce. These modifications allow for a more dynamic hairstyle that’s easy to manage while giving off a youthful, vivacious vibe.
11. Pixie with No Texture
A pixie cut without texture can appear flat and uninspired.
Incorporating choppy layers or adding some volume at the crown can enhance its appeal. These adjustments offer a modern twist, ensuring the pixie remains a stylish choice that exudes confidence and sophistication, regardless of age.
12. Round Afro
A perfectly round afro can sometimes feel dated, echoing the 70s disco era.
Introducing some asymmetry or texture can modernize this iconic style, making it feel fresh and contemporary. By embracing the natural shape and adding a personal touch, the afro becomes a statement of individuality and modern elegance.
13. Tight Topknot
A tight topknot can appear severe, potentially pulling on the scalp uncomfortably.
Opt for a looser, messy bun to exude an effortlessly chic vibe. This relaxed style not only alleviates tension but also adds a touch of youthful charm, making it perfect for both casual and formal settings.
14. Straight, One-Length Hair
Straight, one-length hair can sometimes appear lifeless, lacking dimension.
Adding layers or subtle waves can introduce movement, providing a fresher look. These simple changes create a hairstyle that’s vibrant and full of life, enhancing your natural beauty without overwhelming your facial features.
15. High-Volume Teased Hair
High-volume teased hair, though once popular, can seem dated in today’s fashion landscape.
Opting for sleek, volume-controlled styles can create a polished, modern look. This approach maintains sophistication and keeps your appearance current, reflecting style rather than nostalgia.
16. Severe Side-Part
A severe side-part can create an uneven balance, drawing attention away from your natural features.
Softening the part or adding gentle waves can enhance symmetry and create a harmonious appearance. These adjustments ensure your hairstyle complements your facial structure beautifully, adding a touch of youthfulness.
17. Wispy Ends
Wispy ends can make hair appear thin and frail, detracting from a robust look.
Regular trims and a nourishing hair care routine can improve thickness and health. By maintaining the ends, your hair will look fuller and more vibrant, providing a strong and polished finish to any hairstyle.
18. Excessively Gelled Hair
Excessively gelled hair can appear stiff and unnatural, losing its natural flow.
Opting for lightweight styling products can retain hold while allowing movement. This change ensures your hair looks lively and touchable, adding a youthful and more organic feel to your overall style.
19. Straightened Curls
Straightening naturally curly hair can remove its unique character, resulting in a flat appearance.
Embracing natural curls with proper styling techniques can enhance volume and definition. These practices celebrate your natural texture, creating a lively and vibrant style that’s both youthful and distinctive.
20. Overly Bleached Hair
Overly bleached hair can look dry, brittle, and sometimes harsh against mature skin.
Opting for softer highlights or balayage can add warmth and depth, enhancing your natural beauty. These techniques provide a healthier look, emphasizing shine and vibrancy without overwhelming your features.
21. Bowl Cut
The bowl cut, while iconic, can sometimes feel juvenile and outdated.
Modern variations with added texture or an asymmetrical trim can rejuvenate this style. These subtle changes introduce a contemporary flair, transforming the bowl cut into a chic, fashionable choice for those seeking something bold yet refined.
22. Long Layers with Middle Part
Long layers with a middle part can occasionally appear flat and lack movement.
Incorporating face-framing layers and a side part can enhance dimension and volume. This simple modification ensures your hairstyle is vibrant and full of life, complementing your facial structure beautifully.
23. Tight Updo
Tight, formal updos can seem severe, often drawing attention to every line and feature.
Loosening the style or adding soft curls can create a more relaxed and approachable look. These changes allow your natural beauty to shine, providing a youthful elegance suitable for both casual and formal events.
24. Flat Ironed Bob
A flat ironed bob can appear rigid, lacking the natural bounce and life.
Adding layers or using a round brush while blow-drying can introduce volume and softness. These techniques help maintain the bob’s sleekness while ensuring it remains vibrant and full of life, highlighting your features beautifully.
25. Short, Tight Curls
Short, tight curls can sometimes feel reminiscent of older, less contemporary styles.
Loosening the curls or opting for a softer wave can modernize the look. These changes celebrate your hair’s natural texture while ensuring it aligns with current trends, offering a stylish and youthful appearance.
26. Uneven Bob
An uneven bob, if not styled intentionally, can appear disorganized and unpolished.
Smoothing out the layers or embracing a sleek finish can enhance its sophistication. These adjustments ensure the bob looks deliberate and stylish, providing an elegant frame to your face that’s both modern and flattering.
27. Puffy Blowout
A puffy blowout can sometimes seem like a relic of the past, lacking contemporary elegance.
Opting for a sleek or tousled blowout can modernize the style. This approach maintains volume while ensuring your hair looks polished and current, enhancing your overall appearance with a touch of youthful flair.
28. Short, Blunt Fringe
A short, blunt fringe can create a harsh line, drawing attention to the forehead.
Softening the fringe with a slight curve or opting for longer, side-swept bangs can create a more harmonious look. These alternatives frame the face gently, offering a sophisticated and youthful upgrade to this classic style.
29. Double Processed Hair
Double processed hair can often appear dry and over-styled, compromising its natural shine.
Opting for single process with highlights or a gloss treatment can add dimension and preserve hair health. This approach ensures your hair looks vibrant and lively, maintaining its beauty without unnecessary damage.
30. Long, Straight Gray Hair
Long, straight gray hair, if not well-maintained, can appear dull and lifeless.
Adding layers or subtle waves can introduce movement and shine, creating a more vibrant look. These changes celebrate the beauty of gray hair, ensuring it looks chic and full of life, rather than dull or unkempt.
31. Short, Cropped Cut
A short, cropped cut can sometimes lack texture, appearing flat and uninspired.
Incorporating layers or using texturizing products can enhance definition and style. These enhancements ensure even the shortest cuts look fashionable and full of character, making a bold statement while maintaining a youthful appearance.
32. Overly Styled Curls
Overly styled curls can appear stiff, losing their natural bounce and vitality.
Embracing a more relaxed curl styling method can add fluidity and life to your hair. This approach maintains the elegance of curls while ensuring they look lively and touchable, offering a fresh and youthful appearance.