Is Your Hair Color Making You Look Older? Best Colors and Cut | Madison Reed (2024)

From moisturizers, eye creams, and serums designed to target just about every skin issue out there...to microneedling, laser treatments, and even drinking collagen—though it goes without saying that everyone’s routines and budgets are different, many of us spend a fair amount of time and money trying to turn back the clock on our skin. So...might your hairstyle be able to help with any of the heavy lifting? Turns out, most colorists and stylists think your hair really does influence whether you look older or younger.

7 Hair Tips To Help You Look Younger

We celebrate beauty at every age, and there is no right or wrong approach to personal care. But for anyone who’s curious about howyour cut and color might be secretly making you look older—or could sneakily be helping you look younger!—read on for 7 tips and tricks that might just take years off your hair.

  1. 1. Does Dark Hair Make You Look Older? Add Contrast!

    If you’re trying to look younger, a monotone shade is a big no-no. Hair color that lacks dimension is automatically aging on virtually everyone—and, depending on your haircut, could even give you the dreaded helmet head. Opt for a shade that’s multi-tonal, which will give your color depth and make your hair look healthier and more natural.

    Is Your Hair Color Making You Look Older? Best Colors and Cut | Madison Reed (1)

  2. 2. What Color Hair Makes You Look Younger? Brighten up!

    Ten out of ten colorists agree, shades that are warm-toned read more youthful than cool-toned hair colors. Spicy copper reds, rich caramel brunettes, and soft honey blondes will warm up your complexion for younger-looking skin (hold the retinol).

    Is Your Hair Color Making You Look Older? Best Colors and Cut | Madison Reed (2)

  3. 3. Find Your Most Flattering Cut

  4. Don’t assume a shorter haircut is more “age-appropriate”—a b.s. term if we’ve ever heard one—or that you shouldn’t wear long hair past a certain age. Many stylists think longer layers can actually be far more flattering than a chop that is too short, straight-across, or severe. Real talk, though, your most flattering haircut is your favorite haircut—whether that’s super short, shoulder-length, or long enough to sit on. You do you.

    Is Your Hair Color Making You Look Older? Best Colors and Cut | Madison Reed (3)

  5. 4. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

    This one’s unanimous. The condition of your hair can be far more aging than any color or style. If your hair is too dry, your color looks overly processed, or your split ends are in dire need of a trim, please show your strands some TLC, ASAP.

    Is Your Hair Color Making You Look Older? Best Colors and Cut | Madison Reed (4)

  6. 5. Think Outside the Balayage To Make Yourself Younger

    Listen, we love highlights too, but they aren’t going to help you with gray coverage. If you’ve been relying on your highlights to cover any newly-emerging grays, you’re only going to make your strands more dry and damaged (see: #4). Here’s what colorists recommend instead—a single shade of permanent hair color for gray coverage on your roots, followed by subtle highlights on your mid-lengths and ends to add depth and dimension. Try one of our Light Works® Balayage Highlighting Kit for sun-kissed, face-framing highlights.

    Is Your Hair Color Making You Look Older? Best Colors and Cut | Madison Reed (5)

  7. 6. Does Blonde Hair Age You? Consider Going Darker

    If your hair is too light—think platinum blonde—it can look white or silver at first glance. When in doubt, go a shade or two darker to avoid looking washed out.

    Is Your Hair Color Making You Look Older? Best Colors and Cut | Madison Reed (6)

  8. 7. Bust Brass

    Overly orangey or reddish undertones in your hair color can be aging and may make your color look damaged. Use a hair gloss like coolEspresso to neutralize brassy tonesand improve condition at the same time. Win-win.

    Is Your Hair Color Making You Look Older? Best Colors and Cut | Madison Reed (7)

Do you think the right hair color or cut can help you look younger? Or could you not care less? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.

Is Your Hair Color Making You Look Older? Best Colors and Cut | Madison Reed (2024)

FAQs

Can hair color make you look older? ›

Since you start to lose some of your hair as you get older, thinning hair at your scalp is much more noticeable if you're dying your hair a super-dark color, causing you to look older. Adding in a variety of lighter and darker rich tones will help give you that youthful dimension.”

What color hair makes an older woman look younger? ›

What Color Hair Makes You Look Younger? Brighten up! Ten out of ten colorists agree, shades that are warm-toned read more youthful than cool-toned hair colors. Spicy copper reds, rich caramel brunettes, and soft honey blondes will warm up your complexion for younger-looking skin (hold the retinol).

What is the best hair color for aging hair? ›

If you're looking to stay true to your aging roots, a light blonde shade is always the way to go. This color blends seamlessly with ashy browns and grays.

What hair color makes you look better? ›

Put simply, the color tones we choose for our hair should be in harmony with those of our skin. Warm skin tones look best against warm hair colors, and cool tones look best in cool hair colors. Sounds simple, right? Well, kind of, once you've figured out the undertones of your skin - and that's where we come in.

What color hair should a 70 year old woman have? ›

Silver, ashy, blond, and platinum are indeed the most popular hair color choices for women over 60. And with good reason! Instead of coloring to hide your grey hair, you can choose to embrace it. I've seen way too many women with poorly colored dark brown hair color that just doesn't look natural or flattering.

Should you go darker or lighter with hair color as you age? ›

Our skin gets more sallow with age and a few highlights a shade or two lighter around your face can refresh your complexion, but going too light can be just as aging as going too dark. It's important to maintain a contrast between your hair color and your skin tone.

What color makes a woman look younger? ›

'Creams, off whites, tans and golds reflect light onto the face and make us look younger. Dusky pinks and pale lilacs can also work wonders in turning back the clock,' Orla says. Colours to avoid for aging include blacks and greys which can throw shadows on the face and make you look older.

What is age beautiful hair color? ›

AGEbeautiful is our professional hair color formula with Biotin, melanin, keratin peptide, silk protein and a patented conditioning technology to replenish hair with the essential components that are lost with aging.

What haircut makes you look younger? ›

According to Thompson and Wilson, a bob is not only universally flattering but is also one of the hairstyles that make you look younger because “it softens facial features and opens up the face,” which, in turn, reduces the appearance of wrinkles.

Does shorter hair make you look younger? ›

Does short or long hair make you look younger? Long hair can enhance facial features by diverting attention away from wrinkles or age spots and adding volume to your hair. Short hair does not need to age you, though, as the style and texture of shorter hairstyles can add a youthful appearance.

Is it better to go blonde as you age? ›

Our Designers at One Salon concur that it's usually flattering to lighten your hair a bit as you age. Furthermore, going blonder makes it easier to conceal gray new growth. However, going too light can be as unflattering as going too dark.

How to make old hair look younger? ›

12 Ways to Get Younger Looking Hair
  1. Go easy on wet hair. ...
  2. Keep things cool…. ...
  3. Protect your hair from the sun. ...
  4. Go au natural. ...
  5. Find the Perfect Cut and Opt for Additional Volume. ...
  6. Take your vitamins. ...
  7. Monitor your diet. ...
  8. Consider highlighting instead of all over color.
Jan 20, 2024

What is the prettiest hair color ever? ›

Most Attractive Hair Colour According to Women
Hair colorPercentage
Brunette38%
Blonde36%
Red18%
Black5%
1 more row
Mar 7, 2023

What hair color is most attractive to guys? ›

Brunette, chestnut, and other brown shades are some of the most preferred hair colors for men. Brunettes might be getting men's attention because they give the impression of not being afraid to speak their mind; they are honest and truthful, but it also looks like a very natural color.

What color hair looks younger? ›

According to Korab, "A rich red, such as auburn or copper, will enhance brunettes and redheads. This gives the appearance of younger and more radiant skin by reflecting light around the face with its warm tint. The deep red has a kick of fiery vibrancy no matter if you go subtle or ultra-bright."

What hair makes you look younger? ›

Shoulder-length hair (or longer) with layers

Forget what you thought about long hair past the age of 40—thick hair actually looks more youthful and polished when it falls shoulder-length or longer. Shorter hair has a tendency to expand at the ends, leaving you with an unflattering triangle effect.

Does gray hair make a woman look older? ›

5. Don't assume that grey hair makes you look older. Hair naturally loses pigment as we age, but stylist Paul Falltrick points out that the notion that grey hair makes you look older is increasingly becoming a misnomer: "Grey shades can be stereotyped as ageing, but a clean-looking grey is stunning" he says.

Does hair color change your appearance? ›

It can also affect your facial features and make your face look more structured or striking! Light hair can brighten your face and soften your features but can leave you looking washed out if the wrong tone is chosen.

Do I look better with light or dark hair? ›

In general, darker skin tones are well-suited for dark hair colours, and lighter skin tones are best suited for lighter hair colours. We can't deny the appeal of going against the rules sometimes, in which case you should read along for some valuable knowledge on skin tones, undertones and overtones.

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