MomSkoop
Reaching your sixties is a time to celebrate who you are and embrace a style that makes you feel confident. But some haircuts from decades past can actually make you look older rather than fresher. Stylists agree that ditching outdated styles and choosing modern cuts can take years off your appearance while highlighting your best features.
1. The Helmet Hairdo
Stiff, heavily sprayed hair might seem like it keeps everything in place, but it actually ages you. When your hair looks frozen in time, it draws attention to lines and creates a harsh frame around your face.
Modern hairstyling is all about movement and softness. Ask your stylist for layers that add dimension and use a light-hold spray instead of industrial-strength products.
2. The Teased Crown
Sky-high volume piled on top of your head was everywhere in the 1980s. Back then, bigger really did seem better. But now, that towering crown just screams throwback—and not in a good way.
Your hair naturally thins as you age, so forcing dramatic height can make it look even more fragile. Instead, work with volumizing mousses or root-lifting sprays that give natural bounce.
A layered blowout creates lift without looking like you raided a time capsule.
3. The Overly Short Pixie
Chopping everything off might seem like the ultimate low-maintenance move. However, a pixie cut that’s too short and severe can actually emphasize facial angles in unflattering ways, making features appear sharper than you’d like.
Hair softens your face, so when you remove too much length, you lose that natural frame. A better approach is to ask for texture and choppy layers that keep some length on top. This adds movement and personality while still being easy to style.
You’ll get the convenience of short hair without the harsh, too-cropped look that can feel cold or overly masculine.
4. The One-Length Bob
A blunt bob cut straight across at chin level might seem classic, but it often has the opposite effect you want. That heavy, uniform line can pull your face downward and emphasize sagging rather than lifting your features.
Gravity is already working against us—why help it along with a haircut? Stylists recommend breaking up that solid line with layers or an angled cut that slopes gently. This creates the illusion of lift and draws the eye upward instead of down.
5. The Outgrown Perm
Remember when tight spiral curls were the ultimate low-maintenance style? Those days are long gone. An old-fashioned perm with uniform, crunchy ringlets looks more retro costume than modern chic.
Mature hair is often more delicate, and harsh chemicals can leave it looking fried and frizzy. If you love texture, consider soft beach waves created with a curling wand or ask about a modern digital perm.
These gentler techniques give you natural-looking movement without the poodle effect.
6. The Pageboy Cut
Straight-across bangs paired with rounded edges might remind you of childhood haircuts—and that’s exactly the problem. This style can look costume-like rather than sophisticated, especially with mature features that need more softening.
The geometric shape creates a bowl effect that rarely flatters anyone past their twenties.
A side-swept fringe instantly updates the look and feels more grown-up. Wispy, textured layers around the face also break up that rigid line and add movement. You want a cut that works with your natural beauty, not one that makes people think of historical reenactments.
7. The Over-Layered Shag
Layers can be wonderful for adding movement—until there are so many that your hair starts disappearing. Excessive layering thins out your hair, making it look sparse and frizzy rather than full and fabulous.
As hair naturally loses some density with age, you need to protect what you have. Too many choppy layers remove weight and create a stringy, unfinished appearance that’s hard to manage.
Ask your stylist for long, blended layers instead. These add dimension and body without sacrificing fullness.
8. The Long, Heavy Ponytail Look
Long hair can be beautiful at any age, but if yours is thinning, extra length can actually work against you. A heavy ponytail emphasizes sparse spots and can make fine hair look even more delicate than it is.
The weight of long hair also pulls it flat against your scalp, removing any natural volume.
Cutting to a mid-length style instantly creates the appearance of thicker, healthier hair. Add face-framing layers that draw attention to your best features rather than focusing on length. Sometimes less really is more—a shorter cut with body looks fuller and more youthful than long, limp strands pulled back.
9. The Super Straight, Flat Ironed Style
Pin-straight hair might look sleek in magazine photos, but on mature hair, it can highlight every bit of dryness and thinning. That poker-straight finish also tends to fall flat against your head, removing any dimension or life.
Heat styling at high temperatures can further damage delicate strands, making them look brittle. A little bit of wave or bend instantly adds softness and creates the illusion of fuller hair.
Try using a large-barrel curling iron for loose bends or let your hair air-dry with some texturizing spray.
10. The Over-Curled Blowout
Walking out of the salon with perfectly set ringlets might feel glamorous for a moment. But those tight, uniform curls can quickly cross the line from polished to pageant-ready—and not in a way that feels modern or wearable.
Over-curled hair looks too formal for everyday life and can appear stiff rather than natural. The key is loosening things up with a paddle brush after styling.
Brushed-out waves give you that effortless, beachy vibe that’s totally on-trend. You still get body and bounce, but it looks like you woke up gorgeous rather than spent hours with hot rollers locked in place.