The Best Hair Colors For Older Women (Some Might Surprise You)

One of the most significant changes that comes with aging is the effect it has on our beauty routines. A good skincare routine, for example, will start to feature different products once you hit 40. Many people update their makeup game after a certain age, too, since the skin begins to have different needs as time goes on. While your haircare regimen might not evolve as much as you age, you may want to reconsider what hair color you ask for at the salin. Some shades complement older women beautifully, and it would be a shame to overlook them.

To find out which hues are the most flattering for mature women, we spoke exclusively to makeup artist Amber Renee, who knows a thing or two about matching colors to faces — and who suggests not writing off colors just because you assume they wouldn't suit an older face. "Some of the best hair colors for older women may be the ones you'd never expect," she says, adding that tints like silver and white "add brightness, dimension, and sophistication to their look" despite society's preconceived notions about these tones. Since we're all individuals, the perfect shade for you might be something random you never would have thought of, but these tried-and-tested hues are a great place to start experimenting.

Thanks to society's undying obsession with resisting the aging process, many women might not feel comfortable letting their hair go when it starts to turn gray or white, but Amber Renee believes that these icy shades provide a great color base for older women. For instance, gray hair is typically believed to be one of the hues that makes women look older, but if you introduce some highlights or color accents, you'll "add dimension and make the hair look more vibrant," according to Amber Renee. Herringbone highlights are one of the best ways to take advantage of this effect, but you and your colorist can get creative with how you bring out the best in your grays. 

"Silver fox looks great on older women as it brightens their complexion and makes them look youthful," Renee adds in our exclusive conversation. When it comes to hair color, silver and gray are used interchangeably by some, and the differences are generally open to interpretation. But while what we know as gray hair tends to refer to flatter shades, hues that are cool, creamy, and reflective are often thought of as silver. To find a happy balance that's just right for you, find some inspo of shades within this gray-silver realm online and take them to your colorist to discuss. Renee also emphasizes that letting your hair go all-over white is more flattering than people think. "White is perfect for older women who want a clean and crisp look," she notes. 

Regardless of your age, the hair color that suits you most may be surprising, so try to keep an open mind when experimenting. That said, high-contrast colors, or those that are starkly different from or clash with your skin tone, can draw attention in the wrong way since they tend to highlight imperfections. As Amber Renee tells Glam exclusively, the goal is "to distract from fine lines and wrinkles, making the face look smoother and more youthful." So, going for tints that blend with or complement your skin is a great strategy. To this end, brunette hues are a safe go-to for many older women, and there's a wealth of shades to explore. A true chocolate brown suits just about everyone, while those with cooler undertones tend to look great with ashy or mushroom brown. Brond is also one of the most complementary hues for women over 50 for this reason, and you can adjust it to cool or warm based on your skin. 

Fire-truck red may provide too much contrast, but there are plenty of reddish tones to explore that look wonderful on older women and are subtle enough not to draw attention to fine lines and wrinkles. Think copper, burgundy, and light auburn for richer colors that flatter you while giving you a little edge and personality at the same time.