By Brynn Mannino
Age-Defying Strands
Age-Defying Strands
Your hair is one of the first things people notice about you-and it can say a lot about your age. How your strands shape your face and contrast with your skin can easily add-or subtract-years. Fortunately, changing your hairstyle is an easy fix. Even a small adjustment, such as moving your part, can refresh your look, while an edgy new cut can take years off your appearance. From a simple tweak to an entire transformation, follow these ideas from leading salon experts to become as fresh-faced as a 20-something.
The Ponytail
The Ponytail
When styled well, a ponytail is both sophisticated and girlish, explains hairstylist Eugene Smith from the Ted Gibson Salon. Plus, when tied back snugly, it can act as a mini-facelift, notes Suave Professionals Stylist Jenny Cho, as it helps smooth the skin around the eyes and forehead and accentuate the cheekbones. "Wrap a piece of hair around the tie for extra polish," adds stylist Riccardo Maggiore of the Riccardo Maggiore Salon.
Get pointers on how to style the perfect ponytail.
The Side-Swept Bang
The Side-Swept Bang
"Bangs before Botox," says Adrian De Berardinis of De Berardinis Salon. Specifically, you want a piecey, side-swept bang, rather than a blunt bang, which can look retro or harsh on a mature woman, recommends Maggiore. He adds that bangs inadvertently draw attention to your eyes and disguise both crow's-feet and forehead wrinkles-clear signs of older age.
The Side Part
The Side Part
Though a center part can help slim a wider face, Maggiore says it can look "severe" and "plain" on a mature woman, and draw unwanted attention to asymmetry. A side part is more playful, and carves an unexpected hairline around the face, which helps to distract from-and even conceal-imperfections, says Philip Pelusi of Tela Beauty Organics by Philip Pelusi.
Face-Framing Highlights
Face-Framing Highlights
When styled to frame the face, highlights help attract light, which creates a youthful "glow" around your features and brightens your complexion, explains Rodney Cutler, a Redken brand ambassador and owner of Cutler/Redken salons. To keep from looking washed-out, Maggiore suggests a base color that's no more than two shades from your natural hue.
The Bob
The Bob
"A bob works with, not against, bone structure," says Cutler, which is why it is both timeless and, for the most part, ageless. It can be styled in different ways (chin- or shoulder-length, spiky layers), but Cutler says the best way to look young, edgy and confident is to angle the hair in an A-line style-shorter in back and longer in front.
Layers
Layers
The Braid
The Braid
Braids are often worn by young women, but if done right, anyone can pull them off. Try a partial braid that frames a side of the face, a loose side-swept braid, or a long braided ponytail that's wrapped up into a messy bun. The look exudes the simplistic innocence of youth, while its fun texture adds playfulness to a hairdo, says hairstylist Hannah Burdy of Cutler/Redken salons.
Natural Updo
Natural Updo
"An updo looks most youthful on maturing clients when the volume is kept down," says Pelusi. A loose bun-sans hairspray-is the perfect example. Cutler recommends opting for height at the crown, which helps draw the eye upward. However, he adds, "Make sure that the hair is a little disheveled-looking around the edges to lend softness."
Anything On-Trend
Anything On-Trend
Sporting a stylish 'do-such as the current look of soft waves-suggests a fresh, fashion-forward take on beauty, which naturally conveys a youthful perception. "But the trend has to be lifestyle, age and face-shape appropriate," advises Cutler. De Berardinis recommends that you "take cues from celebrities in your age bracket.
A Full-Bodied Style
A Full-Bodied Style
A voluminous style lifts the face by drawing the observer's eyes upward and outward, says Maggiore, while movement gives life to tired tresses. "Limp hair screams, 'I've given up!'" he adds. Volume can also create the illusion of fullness and health, which helps conceal one of the big issues with aging hair: thinning.
Original article appeared on WomansDay.com.
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