5 Common Hair Color Mistakes That Age You (And the Alternatives You Should Choose Instead)!

Is it possible to look older simply by choosing the wrong hair color? Even if we have the most flattering haircut styled perfectly to frame our face and highlight our best features, the color is the cherry on top that brings the whole look together. Every woman deserves to look and feel her best at all times, so we’ve rounded up the most common hair color mistakes that age you! Learn all the dos and don’ts that will help you maintain a youthful appearance that stands the test of time! 

Can the Wrong Hair Color Make You Look Older?

Have you noticed that when you wear specific colors they make your skin appear paler than usual? For example, if you have a tanned or dark complexion, clothes in cool tones such as pastel blue and gray will make you look sickly and washed out. Inversely, warm colors such as orange, pink, and rich shades of green and yellow will create a beautiful contrast with your skin and flatter your complexion. The same rules apply when choosing a hair color. Depending on your skin tone, certain shades that are too dark, or too bright can make you appear much older than you actually are.

How Do I Know What Hair Color Suits My Skin Tone?

The hair colors that have an aging effect are usually those that blend with your natural complexion. It’s important to take into consideration your skin’s undertone, as well, because your complexion is changeable due to factors such as UV exposure, hormonal imbalance, diets, etc. If you want to rejuvenate your appearance, experts suggest opting for hair colors that are in a shade opposite to that of your undertone. That way you achieve a color contrast that brightens up your face and brings out your features!

If you want to learn more about how to match your hair color to your skin tone and undertone, watch the video guide below!

 

Hair Color Mistakes That Age You

Dyeing our hair does not only have the power to make us look like a completely different person but also adds to or takes away from our age. According to experts, there are 5 hair color mistakes women make them appear significantly older  – let’s see what they are and how you can avoid them!

The Wrong Shade of Blonde

Platinum blonde is a common choice for women with gray hair as it helps give you a nice and even color. The downside is that this cool-toned shade can make your face appear aged and washed out. Regardless of your complexion as you age your skin becomes much thinner, paler, and mattified. Platinum blonde is a really flat hair color that will clash with your skin tone and take away from the warmth that brings freshness and youthfulness to your looks.

What to choose instead: Many people are led by the misconception that gray hair ages them. This belief couldn’t be any further from the truth. With the right haircut, your natural gray locks can help give your hair a lot of depth and dimension, making it look strong and healthy. If you still decide that you want to dye your hair blonde, incorporating lowlights or opting for a balayage is a good way to elevate this hair color in a fresh and youthful way!

Brassy Hair

Vibrant hair colors that are too yellow, too orange, or too red tend to look unnatural and have an unflattering and aging effect. Unless you put the necessary time and effort into maintaining such a color, over time it can make your hair appear unkempt. The intensity of these shades gives your face a reddish tone that, although some may think mimics a youthful blush, actually has the complete opposite effect.

What to choose instead: First off, if the brassy effect was unintended and appeared as a result of at-home hair dying, there are simple tricks you can use to fix that. If you end up with hair that’s too orange, you can fix it by using blue shampoo. In case of an unwanted yellow shade, use purple shampoo to reverse the damage. If you want to experiment with more vivid hair colors, it’s best to opt for soft ash tones such as copper or strawberry blond.

Dark Hair with Light Eyebrows

Jet black hair and dark shades of brown are huge mistakes when it comes to choosing a hair color for an older woman. Surrounding your face with a veil of dark hair will throw a shadow on your face, highlighting all your wrinkles, dark circles, and other imperfections. What can make this color choice even more unflattering is when you have really light or thin eyebrows. This will make your face appear tired and washed out.

What to choose instead: Contrary to common beliefs, salt and pepper hair can actually make you look more youthful. So, if you’ve been thinking about whether to embrace your grown-out gray hairs – take this as a sign to do it! You can blend them beautifully with your natural hair color with highlights which will add dimension to your hair, making it look stronger and healthier!

Read also: How to Transition to Salt and Pepper Hair? 8 Simple and Trendy Ideas for 2023

Single Monotone Hair Color

When you reach the age of 50, 60, and above single solid hair colors tend to make a woman’s face appear pale and rather sickly. Even your natural hair color has subtle highlights, which are impossible to achieve when you’re using a single-color box hair dye. Thinning hair is common amongst older women, so if you’re someone who’s dealing with this side effect of aging it’s especially important to avoid this monotone hair coloring approach.

What to choose instead: For a natural appearance, choose a warm shade that’s closest to your hair’s true color and elevate it with subtle face-framing highlights that are 2 or 3 shades lighter.

Patchy Hair Color

Grown-out roots, brassy blond, and patchy hair strands – an absolute no-go zone! This type of unkempt hair color not only ages you but gives off the impression that you’re rather blasé about your appearance. If you feel like you’ll be unable to maintain a certain hair color or hairstyle, consult with a professional for low-maintenance alternatives that will ease the growing out process for you.

What to choose instead: Golden tones such as dark blond, medium ash, and caramel are a great choice for mature ladies! They will help brighten up your face and minimize the appearance of wrinkles and imperfections.

Read also: Anti-Aging: 8 Rejuvenating Hair Colors for Women Over 60 That Take 10 Years off the Face