Everyone, regardless of age, wishes to seem and feel their best; yet, this is easier said than done. Given our increased personal and professional duties, we are likely to shift our priorities and adopt a more appropriate and comfortable schedule as we age!
It sometimes hits us only when we witness our favorite celebs on the red carpet with perfect hair, flaunting their new style, or looking wonderful in their gray locks. If you’re struggling to improve one of your most noticeable features—your hair—here are six typical blunders to avoid at all costs if you want to appear graceful, regardless of your age.
1. Allowing your hair to grow excessively long. Who doesn’t adore Rapunzel’s long, flowing hair and those lovely tresses she used deftly to flee the evil witch and scale the tall tower? However, caring for long hair can be difficult because, unlike the Disney princess, our hair follicles lose their ability to heal and recover over time.
Furthermore, extra-long hair is more susceptible to heat and sun damage, causing it to lose moisture and its soft, velvety texture quickly. Dry and brittle hair is more prone to breaking and can also result in split ends, which is bad news for anyone attempting to achieve the sought-after epic hair look.
Another issue with long hair is being unable to thoroughly wash it, allowing our scalp and roots to become breeding grounds for dandruff, product buildup, and other serious hair issues. People who want to grow their mane often avoid trimming and haircuts, which causes more damage and makes the hair look less healthy.
Finally, rather than enhancing our facial features, long locks can mask them and give us an aged, saggy appearance. To avoid this, get trims at least every eight weeks and choose flattering, youthful styles like bangs, layers, and shoulder-length cuts.
Layered cuts and side bangs highlight our facial lines and contours, enhancing our cheekbones and adding a soft, magical touch. Hair that is healthy, fuller-looking, and bounces and flows is far more appealing than hair that is dull and super-straight.
2. Choosing Deeper, Darker Tones. Gray hair is unavoidable as we age; no matter what we do, we can’t avoid it. People frequently dye their hair in deeper, darker colors to cover up gray hairs and appear more youthful. They forget, however, that choosing dark black or brown shades can deplete the life and color of our hair.
While covering our gray streaks with darker tones may seem like a no-brainer, it can dull our complexion, diminish our radiance, and accentuate our shadows, bags, and lines. People generally choose deeper colors to appear young, natural, and beautiful, not realizing that it can have the opposite effect.
Even if you had jet-black or dark brown hair in your twenties and thirties, avoiding them in your fifties can benefit you. Rather than looking like you’re wearing a wig, choose a color that complements your face and adds volume and dimension to your hair.
One method is to choose shades that are at least one or two tones lighter than your original color. Another common mistake is using the same color throughout the length of their hair, which results in a dull appearance. To add life to your hair, try highlights or lowlights for a more natural, fail-safe look.
3. Selecting Lighter Colors. You’ve probably heard the adage, “Excess of anything is bad.” Apply that to your hair, and you’ll realize that, just as going too dark isn’t a good idea, going for lighter tones isn’t always the best option. The days of being a popular blonde are long gone.
We don’t blame you; blonde hair has been a favorite of ours since Marilyn Monroe and Grace Kelly emerged as the ultimate fashion icons, each rocking their signature looks. But those were bygone days, and the new era necessitates a new and improved you.
In the 2020s, over-bleached and completely dark hair are a thing of the past, and it’s time to match and play. While consulting with your hairstylist is always a good idea, choosing darker base colors and accenting them with golden streaks can give you a flattering look.
When selecting highlights, opt for warmer tones rather than ashy shades, which can result in an anti-face lift. If you’re too attached to your golden locks to part ways, use lowlights to achieve a slightly darker tone and improve your overall appearance.
4. Excessive Use of Styling Products. The texture of aging hair is often thin, dry, wiry, and dull. People may become overly concerned when selecting hair styling products, believing that the more they invest in them, the better their hair will be.
Balance is essential in all aspects of life, especially when it comes to caring for your lovely locks. Washing your hair too frequently, lathering on dollops of shampoo, conditioner, and hair treatments, and soaking your scalp in various products can sometimes do more harm than good.
Mature, gray hair requires nourishment and care, which can only be obtained through wise decisions. Less is more, and keeping things simple may be the best approach rather than stacking your shelves with a plethora of hair care products and using them excessively.
To lock moisture in your hair cuticles and strengthen your strands, start with hydrating and protein treatments recommended by your stylist.
Use limited amounts of shampoo, conditioner, and hair mousse, choose hair oils to prevent dryness, and use a heat protector, dry shampoo, and hair spray only in extreme cases.
5. Disregarding Hair Damage. Ignoring or postponing addressing a problem does not magically solve or improve the situation. As we age, our hair changes and loses melanin, moisture, and smoothness. Our strands can become frizzy, brittle, and thin over time, losing strength and breaking easily.
Heat and sun damage are the most common causes, and they are frequently caused by overuse of blow-dryers, flat and curling irons, increased or continued exposure to UV rays, and other hair styling treatments.
Excessive heat can damage our hair’s natural elasticity, weakening its protein structure and absorbing all the moisture, leaving it dull and dry. If you’re in your 50s and have brittle hair and split ends, avoiding frequent blow-outs and opting to air dry can help.