3 Hair Lengths That Will Make You Look Younger

If your goal is to look younger, the beauty space has you covered. There's endless advice out there to keep us looking and feeling young for as long as possible, from preventing jowls as you age with sun protection and taking collagen supplements to promote youthful skin to skipping certain Gen-Z trends to avoid looking older. A huge part of maintaining a youthful look is avoiding the habits and mistakes that can prematurely age you, and one of the easiest ways to do this is with your hair length. 

In an exclusive chat with Glam, beauty guru Bren Robertson, co-host of "The Red Carpet Recap," revealed that Rapunzel-length locks may not be the move if you want to look younger. Rather, Robertson recommends going for shorter styles, like a chic bob, since they highlight the face and create an overall younger look. While super-long extensions tend to flow in and out of style thanks to influencers like Kim Kardashian and Cardi B, Robertson warns that mature women should steer clear of overly long tresses, which can be "aging." This rings especially true for those with thin or sparse hair, while folks who have thicker or more dense locks may be able to get away with more length and keep looking young. As a rule of thumb, adding long layers or wispy bangs can keep longer hair from dragging the face down if you do prefer more length. Meanwhile, hair that's cropped at shoulder level is a happy medium for all hair types when it comes to keeping up that sprightly energy.

Even those with ultra-thick hair should avoid excessively long styles (you know, the kind that graze the hips and beyond). One of the reasons for this is that hair is harder to keep healthy as we age, and dull or dry hair is more noticeable when there's more of it. As such, Bren Robertson recommends a classic bob, which lands barely below the chin. While there are lots of trendy short hairstyles that go beyond a normal bob, the old saying applies: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. "Overly long hair can be very aging, as can overly short on mature women," Robertson shares exclusively with Glam. "Of course, this is also affected by face shape, but there is a reason that the bob is so popular on women over 50. It frames the face and strengthens the jawline while also lengthening the neck." 

Fortunately, the world is your oyster when it comes to choosing the perfect bob cut, whether you end up going for a fun flippy bob or a rom-com bob that can help you channel your inner movie star. The perfect bob for you will be influenced by factors like your face shape, your hair texture, and your overall style and whether that veers edgier or more minimal. A tousled bob with lots of layers, texture, and movement is often a safe choice for shedding the years off. 

Robertson advises against "overly short" hair, so if you do like to keep it on the shorter end, opt for a lengthy pixie, or a bixie, rather than a classic pixie. A bixie perfectly pairs the bob with the pixie and flatters older women with slightly longer layers around the face while capturing the fun, playful essence of a bold short style.

Not everyone is a fan of short hair, and the good news is that a complete chop isn't necessary to keep you looking young. Prefer to go longer? A mid-length style like a shoulder-length cut strikes the perfect balance, and you can make it even more youthful by adding movement and body through layers and bangs. "When I think of bangs for older women, I always think of Goldie Hawn," Bren Robertson tells Glam exclusively. "Her bangs and layers flatter her face and filter the areas that tend to gather wrinkles and fine lines. The longer and more feathery the better. A solid bang sitting above the eyebrows is something to avoid." Something like the elegant face-framing bottleneck bangs, which cascade down the sides of the face, would be ideal. Curtain bangs are also known for being wispy and flattering, and as a bonus, curtain bangs are super-easy to style with a flat iron. 

Regardless of whether you go for a bob, a bixie, or a shoulder-length cut, Robertson notes that your choice of hair color can also impact how old you appear to be. "Move away from super-dark colors as you age," he warns. "Black hair is very aging. Some highlights, balayage, or even lowlights in graying hair add dimension and softness." Melting-honey highlights are a great summery option for sun-kissed hair in the warmer months, while you could opt for a cooler hue in winter, like silver highlights that tend to complement brunette hair really well.