Common Hair Mistakes That Make You Look Older

While aging is inevitable, the way you look as you age is often much more within your control. Beauty and fashion choices can give you a youthful feel, and along with skincare and makeup, one of the best ways to keep looking young is with your hair. Certain styles will naturally make you look younger, like the classic curly bob or soft, medium-length curls, but the real magic happens when you avoid the universal hair mistakes that age us all. Going for an unflattering cut or neglecting to give your locks the TLC they deserve is always going to leave you looking older, regardless of what other anti-aging tricks you have up your sleeve.

To find out what classic errors to stop making, we spoke to Sanda Petrut, stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. In our exclusive conversation, she revealed that the biggest mistakes relate to specific cuts, particular hair colors, and, of course, looking after your tresses. These are the hair moves to cut out of your routine ASAP if your goal is to look forever young. 

According to stylist Sanda Petrut, hair trims — or, rather, a lack thereof — can make or break the rest of your look. "Having infrequent trims will accentuate loss of style/shape and will make the ends look thin, dry and dull," she explains exclusively to Glam. And to be clear, trimming your hair has nothing to do with how long or short your cut is. Everybody needs a regular snip to remove dead ends and keep their hairs from fraying; how much you cut off and how frequently you cut it will depend on whether you're going for a long, short, or medium style. 

Experts generally agree that those with long hair can often leave it eight to 12 weeks before trimming, as long as there's no visible damage. Short-haired folks should opt for trims between once a month and every six weeks, again depending on the condition of your locks, while those with medium hair can push it to eight weeks. Again, the important thing is that you're tending to signs of damage and split ends to remove them before they move up the shaft. 

A flat, sleek look might have been your go-to in your younger years. While the vampy Morticia Addams look definitely has a certain allure, Sanda Petrut confirms that the lack of volume and bounce can make you seem older, particularly if your locks are also long without any layers or framing. "As we age, hair becomes thinner," she tells Glam exclusively. "Having a middle part with flat, thin hair is not flattering. Framing the face will accentuate cheek bones and soften the jawline."

This one's a simple fix: If you prefer long hair that does have a sleeker feel, balance it with some layers that start around the jawline or just above to create some texture and lift around the face. Otherwise, those lengthy locks are likely to drag your face down and add years to your look. Once you've cut your face-framing layers, you can amp them up with viral TikTok hair hacks like over-directing your curling wand to the opposite side of your face. 

Layers can give your hair a lively lift, but you should also proceed with caution; layers that are too short are dated. In our exclusive conversation, Sanda Petrut notes, "Short layers will make a haircut look old-fashioned." This makes perfect sense, as long layers are one of the key cuts that bring about a feeling of youth. A great example is the face-framing step haircut that rose in popularity this summer, where the first layer is chopped between ear and shoulder level. Once you've grown out your hair, there are endless long-layered hairstyles that will freshen up your look, from wearing it half-up and half-down to creating some breezy, beachy waves. 

Bottleneck bangs are usually an effective choice for face-framing, but Petrut recommends proceeding with caution if you're leaning toward a fringe. "Having the wrong bangs or very short layers can also make you look older," she warns, adding that whether or not a bangs style will suit you or age you comes down to several factors. "Choosing bangs will be determined by hair thickness, hair texture, face shape and lifestyle," she explains. 

Speak to your hairstylist about which bangs cut would be the most flattering for you, or experiment with your existing hair. If your locks are long enough, arrange them in a top knot and then play around with the leftover tips on your forehead to simulate different kinds of bangs. You could also get inspiration from pictures of people with bangs who have a similar face shape and hair type to you. Whichever method you decide, don't make the cut until you're confident those bangs aren't going to age you. 

If you live for coloring your hair, love playing around with different tones, or have a go-to shade that makes you feel like a million dollars, you don't have to stop just because you've reached a certain age. That said, Sanda Petrut does recommend steering clear of the extremes, at least if you want to avoid looking older. "Very dark or very light color will age you," she tells us exclusively. "Raven hair is a no after certain age; the color can look flat and accentuate fine lines, whereas very light hair will make you look washed out and the hair can look dry without any shine."

Both black and platinum-blond locks are widely considered to be hair colors making you look older, but the good news is that there are endless tones in between that you can experiment with. Caramel notes, copper, chestnut, and brond are just a few of the fun shades that will keep you looking young. Of course, the most important aspect of looking beautiful at any age is feeling the part, so if you feel your best in a high-contrast color, it's still okay to go against the grain. 

The final mistake that Sanda Petrut recommends avoiding comes down to haircare. You might have overlooked your hair products as culprits in making you look older, but shampoo and conditioner are particularly important pieces of the puzzle. "Using the wrong shampoo and conditioner can make your color fade fast, leaving the hair dull, or if the conditioner is too heavy, it can make the hair flat and lifeless," she shares exclusively with Glam. "For a color-safe shampoo that leaves hair ultra glossy, I like Seaweed Bath Co. Gloss Shampoo, which has awapuhi and lactic acid to remove buildup and enhance shine."

If you have colored hair, opt for a shampoo and conditioner that is specifically designed to prolong that color. But if you're rocking your natural color, focus on ingredients that nurture your tresses, defend against damage, and keep them at their full health. Avoid products that weigh down the strands or leave them looking dry and dull, as that will have even the most youthful head of hair looking haggard and worn out.