Hair can make or break your look at any age, but especially after 50 when your face and hair texture change.
Many women experiment with different styles throughout their lives, only to look back at photos and wonder, ‘What was I thinking?’ Let’s explore some hairstyles that women over 50 often regret trying, and learn what might work better instead.
1. Super Short Pixie Cut
Chopping off all your hair might seem liberating, but an extremely short pixie can emphasize facial aging rather than minimize it.
Many women discover that a bit of length provides necessary softness around the face. A slightly longer pixie with texture often flatters mature features better.
2. Helmet Hair
Remember those stiff, heavily sprayed helmet-like hairstyles popular in the 80s and 90s? The rigid, unmovable look ages the face instantly.
Volume is wonderful, but that shellacked, immobile dome creates harsh lines around the face. Softer movement looks more youthful and contemporary.
3. Bob gravemente smussato
Sharp, one-length bobs without layers can create a harsh line that draws attention to neck wrinkles and jowls.
Many women report that this unforgiving style accentuates rather than camouflages signs of aging. Adding soft layers and texture creates a more flattering frame for mature faces.
4. Jet Black Hair Dye
Going too dark creates a stark contrast against aging skin that can highlight every line and wrinkle.
The harsh shade often looks obviously artificial on older women. Softening to dark brown or adding dimension with subtle highlights creates a more natural, flattering effect.
5. Platinum Blonde Overprocessing
The damage from bleaching already-fragile mature hair can leave it looking like straw. Extremely light blonde often appears harsh against aging skin too.
Many women regret the maintenance nightmare and resulting hair breakage. Softer honey or champagne blonde tones typically complement mature complexions better.
6. The Mullet Comeback
The ironic mullet revival might work for 20-somethings, but many mature women who’ve revisited this trend quickly regret it.
The dramatic contrast between short and long sections often looks disjointed rather than edgy on older women. More balanced cuts typically create a more sophisticated look.
7. Permed Tight Curls
Those tiny, uniform curls reminiscent of the 80s can add years to your appearance instantly. The dated style often creates an aging helmet effect.
Women who’ve tried revisiting this look frequently regret the damage and outdated appearance. Looser, more natural waves tend to be much more flattering.
8. Wispy Thin Bangs
Sparse, stringy bangs draw attention to forehead lines while failing to provide any real face-framing benefit.
The thin texture often looks unintentional, as if hair is simply falling out. Fuller, softer fringe or side-swept bangs generally offer more flattering coverage and style.
9. The Triangle Cut
Hair that’s shorter at the back and longer at the sides creates an unflattering triangular silhouette when viewed from behind.
This shape tends to widen the appearance of the face and neck. Many women who’ve tried this cut quickly realize it’s neither flattering nor easy to style.
10. The Matronly Updo
Tightly pulled-back buns or updos can create an instantly aging effect by pulling the skin and emphasizing facial sagging.
Many women discover this style makes them look severe and older than they feel. Looser, softer gathered styles with some face-framing pieces create a more youthful impression.
11. Excessive Teasing and Backcombing
Creating height through aggressive teasing damages hair and often results in an outdated, artificial-looking style.
The ratted texture can look messy and unkempt rather than voluminous. Modern volumizing products and techniques create healthier-looking lift without the dated appearance.
12. Blunt, Heavy Bangs
Thick, straight-across bangs can create a harsh line that emphasizes rather than softens aging features.
Many women find this style makes their face look wider and draws attention to crow’s feet. Softer, side-swept fringe typically offers a more flattering alternative.
13. The “Give Up” Super Short Cut
Cutting hair extremely short simply for convenience often results in an unflattering, masculine look that many women later regret.
While low-maintenance styles are appealing, super short cuts require regular trims and can actually be high-maintenance. A slightly longer, shaped cut usually offers better versatility.
14. The One-Color Solid Dye Job
Flat, single-process color lacks dimension and can look artificial against mature skin. The uniform shade often highlights rather than conceals grays as roots grow in.
Many women discover that multi-dimensional color with subtle highlights and lowlights looks more natural and flattering as they age.
15. Long, Straight, Unstyled Hair
Simply growing hair long without shape or style can drag down features and emphasize thinning that often comes with age.
Many women who’ve tried this approach find it unflattering and aging. Adding layers, movement, and face-framing pieces can transform long hair into a more youthful, flattering style.