#1 ADD BANGSIf you’re getting older, one quick and easy trick that can give you a more youthful appearance is to have your stylist add bangs…not the severe straight across kind, mind you, but long stylish side-swept fringe. Side swept bangs are versatile and they complement many different face shapes. They have a softening effect and they can also hide lines on your forehead in a very charming way. Make sure that you stay away from bangs that are too wispy, though, as thin bangs run the risk of making your hair look straggly instead of chic.
#2 ADD HIGHLIGHTS or LIGHTEN YOUR COLOR A NOTCH
If your hair color is too dark, it can make your face appear harsh, accenting lines, dark circles and creases that you may not want to draw attention to. Warming up your natural hair color a bit can have a softening and lightening effect which can make you look younger. So can adding a few lighter colored strands around your face.
A fabulous way to get beautiful face-framing highlights is with balayage. The balayage technique can soften and lighten your hair exactly where you need it. And, unlike foil highlights, balayage highlights are low-maintenance. They’re applied with a special process that is designed to mimic the natural highlights you’d get from the sun so they’ll grow out nicely without leaving roots that need to be retouched.
If you opt for highlights at our salon, ask us about Olaplex. It’s a revolutionary treatment that we use in conjunction with our hair lightening services. It helps to repair and link broken bonds in your hair, adds softness and shine, and helps to control frizz. You can learn more about it HERE.
#3 CAMOUFLAGE YOUR GRAY
Some women embrace their gray. Others (especially those who are pre-maturely gray) just want it to go away. Far, far away. If you fall into the second category, you have lots of options. If you’re seeing just a few stray gray hairs, you can tint them with hair powders and coloring sticks that are available at most beauty supply stores. Another option is to use a colored mascara or a powdered eyeshadow with a brush to blend and camouflage random gray strands to match your natural color.
If you have a higher percentage of gray or white, you can make it all go away and take years off your appearance with a color service at the salon. Our L’Oreal collection offers many choices from permanent hair color to low-maintenance, demi-permanent formulas like DIA Light and DIA Richesse. These demi-permanent options cover gray beautifully, and the color will gradually fade over time so you’ll not end up with that tell-tale line near your roots as your hair grows. The formulas can be customized to give you the exact shade that you’re looking for with rich tones, incredible shine, and NO smelly ammonia in the process.
#4 THINK SOFT NOT RIGIDWearing looser hair styles can also make you look younger. Slicked back hair and tight buns look school marm-ish and severe. Styles that look too fussed over can give you a matronly air. Less structured styles, loose waves, gentle curls, and soft silhouettes are the way to go. A tousled long bob (lob) or wavy chin-length bob with a side part can make you appear younger and can frame your face in a more flattering way.
#5 GO EASY ON THE STYLING PRODUCTS
Wearing stiff styles that are plastered with too much hair spray is a mistake that many women make. Not only does it create an aged look, but all that product is really not healthy for your hair. Try one of the L’Oreal Professionnel flexible hold sprays that we use at the salon. They’ll give you just the right amount of hold to keep your hair in place while still allowing your hair to move and breathe.
#6 CHOOSE THE RIGHT HAIR LENGTH
Contrary to the ever popular myth, you don’t have to cut off all of your hair as you get older. While hair down to the waist does become less flattering as you age, there’s no need to adopt a super short cropped style if that’s not the real you. If you love the pixie cut and it complements your face shape, then go for it! But if your heart sinks at the thought of losing all of your length, then ask one of the stylists at our salon for a long-layered haircut and style that falls right at the collar bone. This length is very flattering and youthful, and it’s long enough to wear in a twist or ponytail, tousled or straight, with lots of versatility.
#7 PAMPER YOUR HAIR
One of the best things that you can do for a youthful appearance is to keep your hair healthy. As you age, your hair loses a lot of its volume, strength, and elasticity. The texture often changes, too. Add the stress of bleaching, heat styling, sun exposure and too-frequent shampoos and you’re left with a head of hair that is brittle, porous, frizzy, and dry. Dry, damaged hair is a styling nightmare, and it can make you look older than you really are.
By starting a healthy care regimen, you can give your hair back some of its youthful bounce and luster. Begin with a visit to the salon to trim away all those damaged, split ends. Then let one of our stylists pamper your hair with a Fiberceutic treatment. There’s a reason why we call this treatment “botox for hair”. It has a patented Intra-Cylane technology that molds itself to your hair’s inner cortex to add body and strength. It transforms extremely weak, damaged strands from the inside out, reconstructing and protecting it.Once the damage has been repaired with your salon treatment, follow these steps to keep your hair looking young and healthy in the weeks ahead:
Wear a hat or scarf when outdoors to protect your hair from UV rays. Just as the sun can damage your skin, it can also damage, age, and weaken your hair. If you’re not a hat or scarf person, look for a conditioner that offers UV protection instead. (We’ve got several products at the salon that offer great UV protection. Ask one of our stylists at your next visit. )
Shampoo less. Shampooing too often can strip your hair of the natural oils that it needs to stay supple, young-looking, and healthy. If you’re a daily shampooer, switch to every other day or less often, and use a gentle sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. Protein enriched products are also great for damaged hair. On your no-shampoo days, use a dry shampoo (applied at the roots of your dry hair) to freshen up your style.
Skip heat styling as much as possible. Blow dryers and heat styling tools are notorious for causing severe damage to the outer cuticle of your hair. This leads to breakage, split ends, loss of shine and the fried hair look. As often as you can, let your hair air dry. Use heat free options such as Velcro rollers or Curlformers to get volume and curl. And always, always, always use a heat protectant spray or serum on your hair before using a dryer or iron.
Once a week use a conditioning treatment with natural oils, such as L'Oréal Mythic Oil Masque. Just a tablespoon amount is all it takes to replenish dull, dry, damaged, and/or chemically treated hair. Mythic Oil is paraben free and contains a blend of argan, avocado, cottonseed and grape seed oils. It leaves your hair feeling intensely nourished, glossy, soft to the touch, and manageable.Lastly, eat healthy, drink plenty of water, and take a biotin supplement. Biotin is a B vitamin that helps grow strong, healthy hair and nails. In just a few months, you’ll see a noticeable difference.
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For more tips, stop by our hair salon in Vero Beach FL! We’re always delighted to help you choose the right cut, style and products to get the perfect look.
