Beware! These 5 Hair Fails Are Making You Look OLDER

Trine Jensen-Burke

Your hair is your pride, they say.

And that is all sorts of true if what you have got going with your tresses is working for you.

We all know the right cut and colour can have transformative powers, but while the right hair can make you look much younger than you really are, beware the hair faux pas that pile years onto your face. Yikes.

Here are the hairy mistakes you should not be making, mamas:

1. Going the wrong shade of blonde

Going blonder can often seem like the first step towards more youthful-looking hair, but it is crucial that you choose the right shade of blonde.

Sometimes going too blonde can actually end up bringing out more wrinkles in your skin, and many hairdressers recommend a nice blend of brunette tones with a few blonder parts added in, as darker shades often have more shine and silkiness.

2. Bad highlights

Yeah, yeah, we know you have always heard that highlights are youthful and will make you look positively teenager-y again, but did you know that highlights in the wrong shade or done the wrong way can add years to your face?!

Anything too yellow or orange will be very harsh, meaning you should always aim for subtle and discreetly sun-kissed.

Another great tip is to not start your highlights at the very top of your head, in at the root, but instead have them start a little bit further down. This will look more like natural highlights and will make re-growth less visible.

3. An uncomplimentary haircut

If your haircut does not take your natural face shape into consideration, you could be in trouble. For instance, long hair, parted at the centre, will, if you have a narrow face, make most people look much more drawn and tired.

The best thing is to have a chat with your hairdresser and ask about haircuts that will suit your face and bone structure.

4. Hair that doesn’t move

Regardless of the haircut or style you have your heart set on, make sure it has movement. Layering will make most haircuts seem less harsh and make sure your hair falls softly and moves.

This is why blunt cuts suit very few of us, advises the experts.

Adding movement goes for wearing your hair up as well. Scraping your hair back can be rather unflattering, especially as we get older. Try to go for a looser up-style and leave a few strands falling loose around your face. Hello 10-years-younger you!

5. Colour that clashes with your skin tone

Ideally, your hair colour should complement your skin tone, as anything that clashes can make you look drawn, tired, and therefor also older. Remember also that a hair colour that suited you at 21 might not look the same at 31 or 41 as our natural skin tone changes with age.

Talk to your hairdresser and find a colour that is natural, gorgeous and perfectly YOU.