The Top 5 Summer Hair Styles for Women Over 50
These pro tips will make your locks luscious.
Summer is almost here and there’s nothing quite like going into the new season with a fresh hairstyle that makes you look younger and feel more confident. And as it turns out, you don’t need a celebrity stylist to help you look like a million bucks, all it takes is a quick color, cut, or style change. So we gathered five celebrity ‘dos worth emulating, complete with before-and-after pictures of their flattering hairstyles, so you can see what a big difference a small change can make! Read on for the pro tips to achieving each one!
To Thicken Hair: Try Buoyant Waves
Styling hair straight can put bald spots and thinning on display since hair lies flat against the head, says celebrity hair stylist Mike Petrizzi, who has worked with Joan Jett and Mandy Moore.
The Hair Tweak: “Infuse hair with soft waves,” says Petrizzi. “Their bounce helps hair move so spots don’t show!” Simply wrap 1-inch sections of hair around a ½-inch curling iron, having curls fall away from the face; comb through curls with fingers.
To Boost Radiance: Try Babylights
Dark, grown-in roots cast shadows on the face, magnifying under-eye hollows and sapping the complexion of any natural warmth.
The Hair Tweak: Lighten up locks with highlights that mimic the way the sun lightens a child’s hair. “This bounces light onto skin, brightening up the face and softening sunken-in spots,” notes Petrizzi. To do: Use the brush from a highlighting kit (like Blond Brilliance Highlighting Kit, Buy from Sally Beauty, $18.69) to paint the formula onto ¼-inch sections from roots to ends. Let process for 30 minutes; rinse.
To Lift Features: Try a Swept-Up Pixie
Since hair texture becomes finer with age, chin-length crops can start hanging lifelessly, says hairstylist Carrie Butterworth, who’s worked with Sigourney Weaver and Mena Suvari. The limp locks then pull facial features down, emphasizing jowls and saggy skin.
The Hair Tweak: “A voluminous pixie,” is one of the most flattering hairstyles, says Butterworth. “It restores the look of fullness to fine strands while pulling focus up for a facelift effect.” Just ask your stylist for a pixie with light, blended layers that’s longer on top and shorter on the sides. Then style by blowdrying 1-inch sections of hair with a small round brush, pulling hair up and out from the root, then brushing the top layer toward the back.
To Conceal Fine Lines: Try Curtain Bangs
A fringeless cut opens up the face to highlight pretty features, but it can also put harsh focus on forehead furrows and fine lines.
The Hair Tweak: “Snip in curtain bangs,” says Petrizzi. “The face-framing style masks furrows while highlighting facial features.” Just ask your stylist for brow-skimming bangs that blend into the rest of hair. Not ready to commit to bangs? Get the benefits with clip-in bangs (like Hairdo Trendy Fringe, Buy from Wigs.com, $33.99).
To Slim the Face: Try a Blunt Bob
Teased-out tresses that hit at or below the shoulders can cause the eye to scan all over, making the face appear fuller.
The Hair Tweak: One of the most flattering hairstyles for a full face is a center-parted, jawline-skimming crop. It creates a linear focal point that draws the eye vertically to elongate and slim the face, says Petrizzi. What’s more, ends that softly curve inward at the cheeks, where a round face is widest, further “contour” a fuller face. Ask your stylist for a bob with blunt, slightly angled ends that rest near the jawline. Style tip: Work a pea-sized amount of shine serum through hair, then flat-iron 1-inch sections, pulling strands inward in a C-like motion at the ends so they flip in toward the neck.
A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.
