You may be side-tracked by the state of your skin or the poise of your posture, but letting your hair slide – literally – can be your downfall in revealing your age.
Here’s the insider tips to snaring the hair colour that suits your age – and your natural tones – so that your and your tresses can age gracefully and gradually.
Cindy Crawford is one of the original supermodels, and at 48, she still holds her own in the super-youthful stakes. Although she has admitted to dabbling in Botox to ward of wrinkles, Cindy has been vocal about her top secret to turning back time. “Rich, lustrous hair looks really youthful” she has said, of her motivation to colour her hair regularly and nix the greys with regular highlights.
And she’s onto something. The first signs of ageing may be evident in the skin, but the hair is quick to follow suit, with increased coarseness and brittleness, notes leading Melbourne-based hair colourist, Malarie Cox. “Texture changes radically which vastly influences how hair absorbs colour and holds onto it once its been applied,” she says. “When the hair shaft is porous colour is quickly absorbed, but it is also released just as quickly.”
The way to remedy this is to care or hair so that is provides a fortified base for colour, and choose the colour that will best counteract any coarseness of texture.
If You Are Brunette:
Much of what will suit you and soften any signs of ageing will depend on your natural skin tone. Obviously darker, European ethnicities can carry of black hair best, but if you are of a lighter complexion and prone to pigmentation and fine lines – but still want to remain raven haired – you are best to keep the hair dappled with lighter, brighter brown tones advises Malarie. “Keep it soft with tones of toffee chocolate,” she suggests. “This way, skin changes such as rosacea and pigmentation are not as prominent as this myriad of hair tones creates a dappled effect to your entire look, and diminishes skin irregusalrities in the process.” If cost is a problem, just a few really graduated foils around the hairline to brighten the face is a great option to keep maintenance low. With these mid-length-to-end of hair highlights, “you are not dealing with regrowth and if the hair is tonal, the varying browns will merge beautifully together long-term.”
Five Brunette Bombshells That Do It Best: Elizabeth Hurley, Julia Roberts, Eva Longoria, Jennifer Lopez, and Sandra Bullock
If You Are Blonde:
If you are naturally blonde, steer clear of the bleach by the age of 40. Unless you are of course, Gwen Stefani – then you quite clearly have carte blanche on any hair, styling or makeup move! “You want to look a ladylike as an older blonde, which you can do by threading in warm, golden shades to warm your skin tone,” advises Malarie.
To get this variation, think of how your hair looks in dappled sunlight or candlelight – some areas are warmer and some are brighter. This light is truly flattering for the face and hair, so go for warm tones of butter and vanilla entwined within your natural light colour to recreate the effect.
Bring in pictures for your hairdresser to work with but be prepared to shift up your makeup a little if your hair takes on a lighter hue altogether. If your skin texture is a little flat as you age, you may have to invest in a warmer base or even a supercharged eye arsenal so that your skin can glow and features really pop, and your blonde hair doesn’t wash you out.
Five Blondes Babes That Do It Best: Michelle Pfeiffer, Uma Thurman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, and Emma Thompson.
If You Are Grey:
If you choose to celebrate – not snaffle out – your natural grey growth, highlights can help the variation at the mid-lengths to ends as the grey comes through at the roots, says Malarie. This will ensure the transition is seamless and chic. “Darker or lighter tints and foils can work depending on what will best compliment your natural root shade,” she notes. “But whatever you choose, maintenance is absolutely essential here.” When choosing your at-home treatments opt for those containing equal amounts of protein with moisture as just using protein-infusing masks and conditioners can make your hair so strong that it snaps easily.
“Always use a violet shampoo and conditioner – designed for grey or blonde hair – which cleans yellow tinge that can become naturally apparent with grey hair” adds Malarie.
Five Grey-Haired Dames That Do It Best: Glen Close, Meryl Streep, Dame Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, and Jamie Lee Curtis.
View the gallery below for anti-ageing hair-spiration:
Prevent hair from ageing images via zimbio.com