Old looking hair - how to make it look younger?! Pic attached

[RosieLig]

Arghhh - I hate my hair.

I’ve just had it cut into a long bob and had a few caramel highlights in but it looks so old and”classic”.

I am in my 40s but have no grey yet.

Just looking for something that won’t age me. Any suggestions? Maybe the cut is fine and I just need to dry it differently?

Be kind 😳😆

I would take it shorter and more sharper with layering/texturing throughout to lighten it up and give it volume and add some lighter foils to brighten it up.

Personally i think the colour is the biggest problem its very plain, the roots especially look quite greyish, i would do a chocolate brown or reddish brown colour all over, leave out highlights and cut it a bit shorter so it sits around the face.

i also think maybe try a new hair dresser as the cut itself is rather plain ( no layering etc) Also learn to Blow dry it so it looks thick :)

with a bit of practice and love it could look lovely, you have an ice face shape for it.

a nice face shape*

You need some nice chunky lowlights and a Big Hair.

Possibly get the bob cut shorter at the back, more tapered, so that the front has more definition. Perhaps change the parting slightly, and have a longer sweeping fringe, to soften it. I like the colour.

Thank you! It’s quite fine so I tend to try and avoid too many layers or it looks mullety.

Not a huge fan of the highlights. I suit it darker /redder. I have literally tried so many hairdressers. They all give me middle aged hair 😞 Maybe it’s because I’m middle aged but it’s a bit depressing.

Your hair looks nice and that length is very current. Do you have straighteners? They might make it look a bit more "done" sorry I don't mean that in a bad way.
Run them through, lifting at the root and turning slightly inwards at the bottom. Or take 2 inch sections and use them to curl loosely. Add a texture spray to hold slightly.
Always do the curls round your face backwards (away from your face) as curling inwards at the face can look dated/ aging.

Thanks TimesNewRoman

I think I’ll have a shot curling it with my straighteners. I just blow dry it (badly). I’m not very patient with my hair!

Can you get some product in and style it with a bit of wavey scrunchiness like this? (Hopefully pic attaches!)

Mine was similar to yours and I had a textured graduated bob ( according to my hairdresser)
I didn’t go too short the first time but will be a bit braver next time.
I love it

What about a fringe? What is your natural hair colour?

I'd go for a long sidey fringe and some very long layers to give body.

I would darken that up and cut it shorter.... like this. I think the current colour is too bland for you and the cut makes your hair look fragile/ fine.

Definitely a fringe!
Either a longish sweeping side affair or a blunt and chunky no-parting one?

I have similar hair to you. Can you do that choppy waves style like Alex jones from the one show? I can’t myself so straighten mine if I’m going out and it looks a bit more modern.

What method do you use to choose your hairdresser? And what sort of salon do you choose? I like to see the person who will be doing my hair so I go in and book in person. If I like thier style them I say yes, if not I ask for another. Or I've stopped people in the street to ask who cuts thier hair.

Also what do you were to your appointment? I know you get covered in a black gown, and I could be crazy, but so many times before hairdressers have cut my hair to suit what I'm wearing...now I wear something to reflect what I want.

...and do you take pictures in with you? I also take in pictures of what I don't want.

This may all seem like added fiasco (I read a lot of it in Cosmopolitan magazine years ago) but it really seems to work even though reading this back makes me sound like some kind of mad woman

Hi

Thanks! I really appreciate all of your advice.

Dafpunk- I really like that. My hair does have a natural wave and in humid weather goes quite curly.

I do have a bit of a fringe but maybe I need a bit more to cover the Teefal forehead!!!

Re. choosing hairdrsssers- I tend to look online and ask friends. No budget really (within reason!) have tried from Toni and Guy all the way done to a local small place. Good point about outfits. I think they hear me talk about my job and my kids and put me in that category. I am a fairly classic dresser but am trying to defump my wardrobe and my hair at the moment.

Frankiewears- that’s a gorgeous cut. I have gone short before but it just doesn’t suit my face- my face isn’t feminine and gamine enough IYKWIM.

I’d ah e a sharper and shorter bob.

My biggest revelation was to start using straightners, even with my straight hair (very much like yours)

I agree....straighteners or the Babyliss Big Hair which is brilliant for bobbed length hair. If you get one watch some tutorials on You Tube. My hair is long now but people always asked if I'd had it blow dryed professionally.

The Babyliss Big Hair made me look like Anthea Turner but to be fair it was great for adding volume.

You could consider hair extensions - not for length but for thickness and glossiness. You could then have them cut into a chin/shoulder length blunter cut, rather than wispy - similar to your current length. The extensions would create the illusion of making your hair look thicker and shinier. And I'd go darker - more of a chestnut or chocolate brown - to add that glossy/shiny look.

I always think shiny thick hair makes people look younger.

I think highlights are ageing. Overly neat hair is also ageing. Could you try just making it look a bit messier, add some texture to it, perhaps spray some hairspray into your hands and then just scrunch it with your head upside down. I can see you have a slight wave, it would work on your hair. Try a centre parting so it falls differently.

I think go longer actually.

Bobs are so middle aged. I made the mistake of having one in my 30s. Have never looked so frumpy.

longer and some colour is my advice.

My hair condition is similar to yours and looks better after straighteners and a little oil/product at the ends. The best thing I did was get a Brazillian blow dry. Costs around £100 but lasts 3-4 months and improves the weight and condition.

Op, I had the exact same problem as you last year, and I would end up simply tying it back in the warm weather, as I hadn't a clue what to do with it.

However, after a desperate drastic change it is now something like the hair in these pics, and I colour it a dark bronze, with some red streaks through it.

It's fab, and I love, love, love it as it's perfect under my crash helmet!!

.....and I'm 58 by the way