Lauren Conrad's Look: Golden waves and a sweet bow. Beyoncé Knowles' Look: Spiral curls, bold highlights.
In Your 20s
Lauren Conrad's Look: Golden waves and a sweet bow. Beyoncé Knowles' Look: Spiral curls, bold highlights.
Anything goes
WHAT’S GOING ON With your locks at their fullest and healthiest, “Now’s the time to experiment with modern, fashion forward hair,” says stylist Nick Arrojo of Arrojo Studio in New York City. Don’t fear color, heated appliances or styling products. In this decade, hair bounces back quickly. (A good conditioner, like Biolage Hydratherapie Conditioning Balm, and a heat protective spray, like Redken Hot Sets 22 Thermal Setting Mist, help, too.)
WHAT TO TRY Long locks, short crops and everything in-between. One-length styles (with few or no layers) tend to be more conservative, while shorter, layered choices are edgier. Visit your salon every six weeks to keep your cut and color fresh.
WHAT TO AVOID Anything too wild, if you work in a formal office. Take your cues from the women above you. “It’s important to choose a look that suits your workplace and career path,” says Aurelio Ayala, a Regis Creative Director.
Jennifer Garner's Look: Loose, natural waves. Eva Mendes' Look: Lush bangs and simple-to-put-up layers.
In Your 30s
Jennifer Garner's Look: Loose, natural waves. Eva Mendes' Look: Lush bangs and simple-to-put-up layers.
Easy does it
WHAT’S GOING ON If you’re juggling a career and kids, wash-and-wear hair is key. Accepting that your hair is curly (or straight) and working with it, not against it, will make styling quicker and easier.
WHAT TO TRY Short, choppy shags you can air-dry; shoulder-length styles with face-framing layers you can pull back. Hide the odd gray with a semi-permanent salon color, such as Sebastian Cellophanes. Do keep the hue natural.
WHAT TO AVOID High-maintenance styles that require too many products and tools; color that strays too far from your natural hue.
Mary J. Blige's Look: Long on top, short in back. Kyra Sedgwick's Look: Soft and shoulder grazing.
In Your 40s
Mary J. Blige's Look: Long on top, short in back. Kyra Sedgwick's Look: Soft and shoulder grazing.
Know yourself
WHAT’S GOING ON Your hair is finer, limper and, likely, grayer. No need to cut it all off-the “no long hair after 40″ rule is outdated. But working women may want a polished, short style.
WHAT TO TRY If your hair is still healthy, feel free to wear it just below the shoulders. Layers and bangs add volume and softness. If you’re quite gray, consider permanent color. (Try Pureology NanoWorks Shampoo and Hair Condition, with sunscreen and antioxidants, to extend the life of your color.)
WHAT TO AVOID Very long, one-length cuts will just drag down your features. A very dark or overly bright haircolor will wash you out.
Photos: Getty Images
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14 Comments at "Gorgeous Hair at Every Age"
why stop at 40 – what about 50, 60, and even 70???????
seems prejudice.
Yeah! I’m 52 and need to find a cut that will help me look my best as I transition to old age. And I don’t want to be limited to blue poodle perms.
Aloha; I’m 52 and live in Hawaii… I have very thin fine blone and grey hair, and am looking for a Great style that won’t take long to do….. I have always used hot rollers in my hair for the 30+ years that I worked… but I do not do that any longer. Can you help me ?
Mahalo
Carolyn
I’m 59 and have fine thin reddish blonde hair with a few wiry grey hairs. My hair is medium length currently. I need a hair style to fit my face and lifestyle. My husband and I live in a 5th wheel trailer and travel the United States and Canada. Sometimes we have electricity and sometimes we are places where solar supplies our needs. I need a low maintenance cut. I have a little natural wave and curl. Lee
I guess life ends at 49… Who knew?
Every age does not stop at 40. I am very surprised that your magazine would insult the 50 and beyond ages
I agree with all the comments about stopping your article, “Gorgeous Hair at Every Age” at the 40s. There are millions of women that care about how their hair looks for DECADES
after 40 + y.o.!! I’m 56, still having fun, and care ALOT about how my hair looks and looking for an update!
wow ……….. does everyones hair fall out when you get over 50? i am 61……… i still hair hair and would like to see the latest in hairstyles for women ….. pu lezzzzzzzzzzzzzz
i guess you just never leave your 40′s. i know my 90 year old mother doesnt need the hair at work advice and she doesnt wear the bubble do either. im in my 50s and my hair seriously needs some advice…but apparently it isnt available.
I’ve been looking for a new style for over a year & all the newer styles with lots of texture my stylist tells me I have TOO much hair. What about women over 50 who still have thick hair and don’t want a short cut!? I’d like something that actually comes below my chin for once and isn’t a boring bob.
Hi Wendy,
Bobs need not be boring!
Have you seen pageboy bob cut from the Peek-a-Boo Color makeover feature in the current issue?
I has great face-framing features, versatile bangs and is longer is the back!
Take a look and let me know what you think!
Here is the link:http://www.thehairbookonline.com/index.php/from-the-magazine/peek-a-boo-color/
A color and shine service can really update you look. Do you color your hair?
Ladies . . . You’re right!
If we say every age we should mean it!
Look for more posts and articles in the future about great hair after 40!
Thanks so much for your feedback! Greatly appreciated!
Hi, I am a 67 yr old black female. My hair is soft fine & limp. The back is long, however, it is very thin on the top. I actually have bald spots on the top, I think from damaging weaves. Do you think that you can help me find a cut or style that I can feel good about. I would just like to color, wash and wear at this point. Any help would be appreciated
I just turned 49 and yah even though I am chronologically old I dont feel it so I like to look abit younger
it is however hard to find a good hairstlye and a good stylist.
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