15 Hairstyles That Age You & 15 Styles That Bring Back Your Youthful Glow

Your hairstyle can make or break your appearance, sometimes adding years to your face without you even realizing it.

I’ve spent years watching clients transform before my eyes with just a simple haircut change.

The right style frames your features and highlights your best qualities, while the wrong one can emphasize fine lines and make you look older than your years.

Ready to discover which styles are aging you and which ones can help turn back the clock? Let’s explore 30 hairstyles that impact how young (or old) you look.

1. Helmet Hair

Nothing screams “I’ve given up” like a stiff, unmovable helmet of hair. This dated style makes you look like you’re stuck in a time warp from decades ago. The solid, rounded shape creates a harsh frame around your face, emphasizing every line and wrinkle.

The lack of movement and texture in helmet hair adds years to your appearance instantly. When hair doesn’t move naturally, it looks artificial and aging. Plus, that heavy application of hairspray isn’t doing your strands any favors. Many women fall into this trap thinking it’s “neat” or “put together,” but in reality, it’s one of the fastest ways to age yourself. Modern styles embrace some softness and natural movement that breathe life into your look.

2. Overly Teased Crown

Remember the sky-high volume of the 80s? That excessively teased crown might have been fashionable back then, but now it’s just adding candles to your birthday cake. The dramatic height creates an unnatural silhouette that screams “outdated” to everyone who sees it.

The damage from all that backcombing makes your hair look dry and brittle – hallmarks of aging hair. Plus, that artificial volume draws attention upward, creating a disproportionate look that ages your entire face.

Women often tease their crown thinking it adds youthful height, but moderation is key. That extreme pouf at the top of your head isn’t fooling anyone – it’s just telling everyone exactly which decade you’re mentally stuck in.

3. Blunt Cuts With No Movement

A one-length, razor-straight cut with zero texture might seem like a clean, sophisticated choice. Truth is, these severe lines create a harsh frame around your face, making every fine line and wrinkle pop. The stark contrast between your face and this rigid haircut does you no favors.

Hair naturally thins as we age, and a blunt cut can emphasize this by making ends look even sparser. Without layers or texture to create the illusion of fullness, your hair appears flatter and lifeless – both signs associated with aging.

Many of my clients come in asking for these straight-edge cuts thinking they look polished, but they’re actually highlighting facial asymmetries that become more pronounced with age. Adding some subtle layers creates movement that distracts from these natural changes.

4. Tight Perms

Those tiny, tight curls reminiscent of your grandmother’s era are perhaps the fastest track to adding a decade to your appearance. The uniform, poodle-like texture creates a dated look that immediately signals you haven’t updated your style since the Brady Bunch was on television.

Tight perms damage your hair over time, leaving it dry and frizzy. The resulting texture emphasizes the natural thinning that happens as we age, making your hair look even more sparse and brittle than it might actually be.

I’ve noticed many women hold onto this style thinking it gives them volume, but it actually creates a rigid shape that doesn’t move naturally. The stiff, artificial quality of tight perms contrasts sharply with the soft, flowing hair that reads as youthful to our eyes.

5. Severe Center Part

A harsh, straight-down-the-middle part might seem like a simple style choice, but it’s actually a spotlight on facial asymmetry. As we age, our faces naturally become less symmetrical, and nothing highlights those changes more than a severe center part.

This unforgiving style pulls the eye directly to the middle of your face, emphasizing fine lines around your eyes and mouth. For many women, it can make the face appear longer and more drawn – not exactly the fresh-faced look most of us are going for.

I’ve watched clients instantly age when they switch to a strict center part. It tends to flatten the crown area too, removing volume where you need it most as you mature. The overall effect is harsh rather than soft – and softness is your friend when combating signs of aging.

6. Flat Hair With No Volume

Hair plastered to your scalp is nobody’s friend, especially as you age. This lifeless style emphasizes the natural thinning that happens over time and draws attention to every contour of your face – including those you’d rather not highlight.

Volume naturally decreases with age, so when you do nothing to counteract that flatness, you’re essentially waving a flag that says, “Look how my hair has changed over the years!” The lack of lift at the roots makes your face appear heavier and pulls your features downward.

Many women mistakenly think sleek means sophisticated, but there’s a big difference between smoothness and flatness. Without some strategic volume, particularly at the crown, your entire face loses its youthful lift and appears dragged down by gravity – exactly what we’re trying to fight as we age!

7. Overly Short Bangs

Those super-short, straight-across bangs that barely reach mid-forehead aren’t doing your age any favors. They create an awkward frame that draws attention to forehead lines and can make your face appear larger and more exposed – not what most of us are aiming for as we mature.

Too-short bangs often result from DIY trimming gone wrong or from asking for “just a little off the top.” The problem is, they create a childish look that contrasts oddly with mature features, resulting in a disjointed appearance that actually highlights your age rather than diminishing it.

I’ve seen countless clients who thought short bangs would be youthful, only to discover they created a harsh, aging effect instead. These abbreviated fringe bits don’t soften features – they spotlight them in the most unforgiving way possible.

8. Outdated Bouffants

Nothing dates you faster than walking around with a hairstyle that could’ve been featured in a 1960s fashion magazine. Those massive, teased bouffants might have looked fabulous on Jackie O, but today they scream “I haven’t updated my look in half a century!“

The excessive height and unnatural shape of a bouffant creates a disproportionate silhouette that draws attention to itself in all the wrong ways. Not to mention, all that teasing and hairspray leaves hair looking damaged and brittle – two qualities already associated with aging hair.

Many older women cling to these styles out of habit or comfort, not realizing they’re the hair equivalent of wearing support hose with open-toed sandals. The artificial structure and lack of natural movement immediately signal to everyone that you’re stuck in a bygone era.

9. Boxy Layered Bobs

Those geometric, sharp-cornered bobs might seem like a structured choice, but they’re actually aging you significantly. The harsh angles create a rigid frame around your face that emphasizes rather than softens your features – particularly problematic as facial contours naturally become less defined with age.

The boxy shape sits heavily around your jawline, drawing attention to any sagging or loss of definition in this area. Unlike softer, more rounded cuts, these sharp edges create shadows and lines where you least want them.

Many women choose these styles thinking they look “put together,” but that precision comes at a cost. The mathematical perfection of a boxy bob contrasts with the natural softening that occurs in our features over time, creating a disconnect that makes the signs of aging more noticeable, not less.

10. Heavy Curtain Bangs

Those thick, dense curtain bangs might be trendy, but when they’re too heavy, they drag your features downward – exactly what you don’t want as gravity already takes its toll. The excessive weight creates a droopy appearance that ages you instantly.

Heavy bangs cast shadows on your face, particularly around the eyes. These shadows can make dark circles appear more pronounced and eyes look more deeply set – both associated with aging. The thickness also limits styling options, forcing you into the same look day after day.

Many of my clients request these dramatic bangs without realizing how aging they can be. When bangs are too dense and straight, they create a severe frame that emphasizes every line and wrinkle instead of distracting from them. A lighter, more textured approach to bangs gives you the face-framing benefit without the aging heaviness.

11. Extreme Asymmetry

That dramatically uneven cut with one side significantly longer than the other isn’t the edgy statement you think it is. Extreme asymmetry often reads as trying too hard – a dead giveaway that you’re attempting to appear younger than you are.

Severely lopsided cuts draw attention to facial asymmetry, which naturally increases with age. When one side of your hair is radically different from the other, it creates an imbalance that can make your features appear uneven rather than harmonious.

I’ve seen many women embrace these dramatic styles thinking they look fashion-forward, only to end up looking like they’re having a midlife crisis instead. True style comes from subtle statements, not shouting for attention. Extreme asymmetry doesn’t say “youthful” – it says “I’m uncomfortable with my age and trying to distract from it.“

12. Dull Mono-Tone Hair Color

That single-process, flat color without any dimension is doing you zero favors. A one-note hair color creates a solid block that looks artificial and draws attention to the fact that you’re coloring your hair in the first place – hardly the goal!

As we age, our skin loses some of its natural color variation. Pairing that with flat, monotone hair creates an overall washed-out effect that drains vitality from your appearance. The stark contrast between a single-process color and your skin can make fine lines more noticeable.

Many women fall into this trap thinking uniform color looks more natural, when the opposite is true. Natural hair, even gray hair, has multiple tones and dimension. That shoe-polish look of perfectly even color is immediately recognizable as artificial, and anything that looks obviously fake tends to age you faster than embracing a more natural approach.

13. Long Hair With No Shape

Super-long, completely straight hair with zero layers or shaping might have worked in your 20s, but now it’s just dragging you down – literally. This shapeless style pulls your features downward, emphasizing any sagging that comes naturally with age.

Without layers to create movement and body, long hair tends to look limp and lifeless – especially as it naturally thins over time. The weight of all that length stretches out whatever natural volume you have, leaving your hair flat at the crown where fullness matters most.

Many women believe long hair makes them look younger, clinging to it as a symbol of youth. The truth is, it’s not the length that ages you – it’s the lack of shape and movement. All that heavy, unstructured hair creates a curtain effect that drains vitality from your appearance rather than enhancing it.

14. Very Stiff Updos

That perfectly coiffed, immovable updo might seem elegant for special occasions, but it’s actually adding years to your appearance. When every hair is locked in place with industrial-strength hairspray, the result is a matronly, rigid look that screams “mother of the bride” rather than “vibrant woman.”

Stiff updos create harsh lines around your face, emphasizing rather than softening your features. The tight pulling can accentuate fine lines around your eyes and forehead, while the overall effect lacks the softness associated with youthful looks.

Many women request these formal styles thinking they look sophisticated, not realizing they’re channeling Queen Elizabeth rather than modern elegance. Today’s most flattering updos incorporate some looseness and face-framing pieces that move naturally, creating a softer frame that’s much more forgiving as we age.

15. Overly Gelled Styles

Hair that’s plastered to your head with excessive product isn’t just uncomfortable – it’s aging you dramatically. That wet-look, slicked-back style might work on fashion runways, but in real life, it emphasizes every contour of your skull and face in the most unforgiving way possible.

The shine from all that gel draws attention to thinning areas and makes your hair look perpetually greasy rather than healthy. Plus, the stiffness creates an artificial quality that contrasts sharply with the natural movement we associate with youthful hair.

I’ve noticed many women use excessive product thinking it helps control frizz or flyaways, not realizing they’re creating a much bigger problem. That crunchy, can’t-run-your-fingers-through-it texture isn’t polished – it’s aging. Modern styling embraces some natural movement rather than attempting to cement every strand in place.

16. Soft Layered Cuts

Magic happens when hair frames your face with gentle, feathery layers. This style instantly softens your features by creating movement that distracts from fine lines. The beauty of well-placed layers is how they add bounce and life to your hair.

I love how layered cuts create the illusion of fullness, especially important as hair naturally thins with age. The dimensional effect adds body exactly where you need it most. These soft perimeters avoid harsh lines that can emphasize aging features.

The best part? Layers make styling easier as they naturally fall into place. You’ll spend less time fighting with your hair and more time enjoying compliments. With face-framing layers, your cheekbones get subtle emphasis while less flattering areas fade into the background – it’s like having a built-in filter for your face!

17. Shoulder-Length Bob With Volume

The sweet spot for many women is this perfectly balanced cut that hits right at the shoulders. This length offers the versatility of longer styles while providing the face-lifting benefits of shorter cuts. The key difference-maker is that beautiful volume at the crown.

A shoulder-skimming bob with body creates a youthful frame that draws attention up and away from the neck and jawline. The slight lift at the roots counteracts gravity’s effects on your features. When cut with subtle layers, this style moves beautifully, avoiding that heavy, aging look of one-length cuts.

My clients consistently look years younger after switching to this flattering length. It requires minimal styling while offering maximum impact. The volume doesn’t need to be excessive – just enough to create dimension that catches the light and adds life to your overall appearance.

18. Curtain Bangs With Texture

Unlike their heavier counterparts, textured curtain bangs open up your face like beautiful drapes framing a window. These soft, center-parted bangs that gently sweep to each side create a face-flattering frame without the harshness of straight-across styles.

The magic is in their airy, piece-y texture that moves naturally. They draw attention to your eyes while softly blending into the rest of your hair. This style offers versatility too – you can wear them more open on days you want to show off your features or closer together when you prefer more coverage.

I’ve watched clients look instantly refreshed after adding these bangs to their style. They’re especially fantastic for disguising forehead lines without looking like you’re trying to hide anything. The soft graduation from shorter to longer creates a beautiful contour effect that sculpts your face in the most flattering way.

19. Tousled Lob

Nothing says effortlessly youthful like that perfectly imperfect long bob with beachy texture. The tousled lob hits that magical spot between chin and shoulders, creating a frame that lifts your features while maintaining enough length for versatility.

The slightly messy, undone quality of this cut mimics the natural texture many of us had in our youth. Its deliberately imperfect finish avoids the aging effect of overly structured styles. The movement in this cut catches the light beautifully, creating dimension that flat, one-length cuts simply can’t achieve.

My clients love how this style looks amazing even when they’ve just rolled out of bed. A quick spritz of texturizing spray and you’re good to go. The casual confidence it projects sends a message that you’re comfortable in your skin – perhaps the most youthful quality of all.

20. Feathered Pixie Cut

Short doesn’t have to mean severe! A pixie with soft, feathered edges creates a playful, youthful frame that highlights your best features. The textured layers around the face soften your look while the shorter back elongates your neck for an instant lift.

Women often fear short cuts will age them, but the opposite is true when done right. The feathered texture creates movement that’s inherently youthful, while the reduced weight allows for natural volume that many longer styles can’t achieve. This cut draws attention to your eyes and cheekbones rather than problem areas.

I’ve seen remarkable transformations when clients embrace this style. There’s something liberating about the lightness it brings – both physically and visually. The feathered edges avoid the harsh lines of traditional pixies, creating a softer silhouette that flatters rather than hardens your features.

21. Long Layers With Movement

For those who love their length, long layers with beautiful movement offer the perfect compromise. Unlike one-length cuts that drag down your features, strategic layers throughout create lift and bounce that counteract gravity’s effects on your face.

The graduated lengths prevent that heavy, aging curtain effect while maintaining the feminine appeal of longer hair. These layers create natural volume at the crown where it matters most. The subtle variations in length catch the light differently, creating dimension that flat, unstructured cuts lack.

My long-haired clients are amazed at how much younger they look after adding proper layers. The right cut should create movement even without styling – your hair should swing and bounce naturally as you move. This inherent vitality translates to your overall appearance, keeping your look fresh rather than weighted down.

22. Chin-Length Bob With Side Part

The classic chin-length bob gets a youthful upgrade with the simple addition of a side part. This small change creates asymmetry that’s incredibly flattering, drawing the eye diagonally across your face rather than horizontally (which can emphasize aging lines).

This length hits the sweet spot – long enough to style multiple ways but short enough to create natural lift. The side part creates volume at the crown without any teasing or product. When cut with subtle point-cutting at the ends, this bob moves beautifully rather than hanging in a rigid, aging line.

I recommend this style constantly because it’s truly universally flattering. The off-center part allows for a gentle sweep of hair across the forehead, softly disguising lines without looking like an obvious cover-up attempt. The overall effect is polished yet relaxed – a combination that reads a youthful.

23. Subtle Highlights Or Balayage

Forget flat, single-process color – dimension is your best friend as you age. Subtle highlights or balayage create natural-looking variations in tone that mimic how the sun naturally lightened your hair in youth. This multi-tonal effect instantly adds life to your look.

The strategic placement of lighter pieces around your face brightens your complexion, creating a subtle glow that’s far more flattering than harsh, all-over color. The dimensional effect also creates the illusion of thickness and volume – especially important as hair naturally thins over time.

My clients are often amazed at how much younger they look with just a few well-placed highlights. The beauty of balayage is its low-maintenance grow-out, avoiding that aging harsh line of demarcation. The soft blend of tones looks natural even as your roots appear, meaning fewer salon visits and less damage from frequent coloring.

24. Angled Bob With Softness

The geometric precision of an angled bob gets a youthful makeover when the edges are softened. This modern take maintains the face-slimming angle from back to front but avoids the harsh lines that can look aging. The slight graduation creates a frame that directs attention to your best features.

The forward angle naturally creates movement, preventing that static, helmet-like appearance that adds years. When cut with texturizing shears at the ends, this bob has beautiful softness that moves naturally. The longer front pieces elongate your face while the shorter back creates lift at the nape.

I love recommending this style because it offers the polish of a structured cut with the youthfulness of softer edges. The angled silhouette creates a strong visual impact without the severity of blunt cuts. It’s the perfect balance of sophistication and playfulness that keeps your look current rather than dated.

25. Side-Swept Fringe

Nothing frames eyes more beautifully than a gentle side-swept fringe. Unlike straight-across bangs that can look harsh, this diagonal sweep creates a soft curtain that draws attention to your eyes while casually disguising forehead lines.

The angle of side-swept bangs creates a naturally flattering asymmetry that keeps your overall look modern. They blend seamlessly into the rest of your cut, avoiding that obvious “I got bangs” look that can appear dated. When cut with a point-cutting technique, these bangs have soft, piece-y ends rather than a severe edge.

My clients love how versatile this style is – you can wear it more swept for an open look or closer to your eye for more drama. The diagonal line across your face creates visual interest that distracts from signs of aging. Plus, they grow out beautifully, transitioning to face-framing layers without that awkward in-between stage of straight bangs.

26. Textured Shag

The modern shag has made a massive comeback, and for good reason – it’s incredibly youth-enhancing! With its tousled layers and piece-y texture, this cut embodies effortless cool while creating natural volume throughout.

The beauty of the textured shag is how it works with your natural hair pattern rather than fighting it. The varied lengths create movement that’s inherently youthful, while the face-framing layers soften your features. The deliberately undone finish avoids that too-perfect look that can age you.

I’ve seen remarkable transformations when clients embrace this style. Heavy hair suddenly appears lighter, both in weight and visual impact. The layers throughout create body and bounce even in finer hair types. There’s something innately youthful about this cut’s rock-and-roll attitude – it projects confidence and a certain carefree quality that defies aging.

27. Natural Waves With Volume

Embracing your natural wave pattern might be the simplest path to a more youthful appearance. Those soft, bouncy waves create movement and dimension that flat, over-processed styles simply can’t match. The key is enhancing your natural texture rather than fighting it.

Waves naturally create the illusion of fullness and body – particularly important as hair density changes with age. The varied pattern catches light differently throughout your hair, creating dimension without any color treatment. When cut with layers that work with your wave pattern, the result is effortless volume exactly where you need it.

My clients who stop battling their natural texture often look years younger almost immediately. There’s something inherently youthful about hair that moves naturally. The soft, rounded edges of waves also create a more flattering frame for your face than the harsh lines of severely straightened styles.

28. Soft Curls Around The Face

Strategic curls focused around your face create a gorgeous frame that softens your features instantly. These face-framing tendrils draw attention to your eyes and cheekbones while gently disguising areas you’d rather not highlight.

The curved lines of these soft curls contrast beautifully with the natural angles of your face, creating a flattering softness. Movement near your face creates a distraction from fine lines and wrinkles, as the eye is naturally drawn to things that move. The dimension these curls create catches the light beautifully, bringing brightness to your complexion.

I recommend this technique frequently because it’s so customizable. You can adjust the size and placement of the curls to highlight your best features. Even women with straight hair can achieve this look with minimal styling time. The result is a soft, feminine frame that’s inherently youthful without looking like you’re trying too hard.

29. Wispy Bangs

Unlike their blunt, heavy counterparts, wispy bangs create a soft veil that disguises forehead lines without screaming “I got bangs to hide my wrinkles!” Their light, airy texture allows glimpses of skin between the strands, creating a natural, unforced look.

The piece-y nature of these bangs makes them incredibly flattering for most face shapes. They can be customized in length – from brow-skimming to lash-grazing – depending on what features you want to emphasize. Their subtle presence draws attention to your eyes without creating a harsh horizontal line across your face.

My clients love how low-maintenance these bangs are compared to blunt styles. They don’t require daily styling to look good, and they grow out beautifully, blending into layers as they lengthen. There’s something inherently youthful about their casual, quality – they suggest a carefree attitude rather than a rigid adherence to perfection.

30. Modern Pixie With Volume

Today’s pixie is nothing like your grandmother’s cropped cut! The modern version features longer pieces on top with beautiful texture and volume that create a youthful, dynamic silhouette. This contemporary take maintains the face-opening benefits of short hair while avoiding the severe, aging look of traditional pixies.

The additional length on top provides styling versatility that classic pixies lack. You can sweep it to the side, create piece-y texture, or even add subtle waves for different looks. The volume at the crown creates height that naturally lifts your features, counteracting the downward pull of gravity.

I’ve witnessed remarkable transformations when women embrace this style. There’s something incredibly confident and freeing about this cut – it says you’re secure enough to show your features rather than hiding behind your hair. The focus shifts to your eyes and bone structure in the most flattering way possible.