6 Hair Mistakes That Women over 50 Should Absolutely Avoid

Have you ever wondered why your good hair days become scarce as you age? Maybe it's because you are too preoccupied and have hardly any time at your disposal to care for your hair. Look no further than this guide if you're in your 50s and drenched in hair woes.

Everyone wishes to look and feel their best regardless of age; however, it's easier said than done. As we add years to our life, we are likely to change our priorities and adopt a more suitable and convenient routine, given our added personal and professional responsibilities.

Sometimes, it only hits us when we see our favorite stars walking the red carpet with impeccable hair, flaunting their new style, or feeling good rocking their gray locks. If you're struggling to enhance one of your most prominent features—your hair—here are six common mistakes you should avoid at all costs to appear graceful, despite your age.

1. Allowing Your Hair to Grow Too Long

Who doesn't love long, flowing hair and those beautiful tresses that Rapunzel tactfully used to escape the evil witch and climb down the tall tower? But, in all honesty, caring for long hair can be daunting because, unlike the Disney princess, our hair follicles tend to lose the ability to heal and recover over time.

Moreover, extra-long hair is more vulnerable to heat and sun damage and can quickly lose moisture and its soft, velvety texture. Dry and brittle hair is likely to break more easily and can also result in split ends, which is bad news for anyone chasing that sought-after epic hair look.

Another issue with caring for long hair is being unable to wash it thoroughly and letting our scalp and roots become breeding grounds for dandruff, product buildup, and other severe hair concerns. Often, people wanting to grow their mane avoid trimming and haircuts, which leads to more damage, making the hair look less healthy.

Finally, instead of enhancing our facial features, long locks can play them down and give us that old, saggy look. To prevent this, you can opt for trims at least once every eight weeks and choose flattering, youthful styles, such as bangs, layers, and shoulder-length cuts.

Layered cuts and side bangs help accentuate our facial lines and contours, enhancing our cheekbones and giving a soft, magical touch. Healthy, fuller-looking hair that bounces and flows is far more attractive than dull-looking, super-straight hair.

2. Opting for Deeper, Darker Tones

As we age, gray hair is likely to follow; no matter what we do, we can't escape it. People often dye their hair in deeper, darker colors to hide the gray areas and appear youthful. But they forget that choosing dark black or brown shades can drain life and color from our hair.

Covering our gray streaks with darker tones may be a no-brainer, but it can dull our complexion, downplay our radiance, and enhance the shadows, bags, and lines. Generally, people opt for deeper colors to appear young, natural, and beautiful, not knowing it can have the opposite effect.

Even if you had jet-black or dark brown locks in your 20s and 30s, avoiding them in your 50s can work in your favor. Choose a color that enhances your face and adds volume and dimension to your hair rather than appearing as if you're using a wig.

One way you can achieve this is by picking shades at least one or two tones lighter than your original color. Another common mistake people make is using the same color throughout their hair's length, which gives an immediate dull appearance. Try highlights or lowlights to add life to your hair for a more natural, fail-proof look.

3. Choosing Lighter Shades

You might have heard the proverb, "Excess of everything is bad." Now apply that to your hair, and you'll understand that just like going too dark isn't a wise choice, opting for lighter tones may not be the best option. Long gone are the days when being blonde was in vogue.

We don't blame you; we've been a fan of blonde hair since Marilyn Monroe, and Grace Kelly emerged as the ultimate fashion icons, rocking their signature looks, respectively. But those were the bygone times, and the new era calls for a new and improved you.

Fast forward to the 2020s, over-bleached and completely dark hair are things of the past, and it's now the era to match and play. While talking to your hairstylist is never a bad idea, choosing deeper base shades and complimenting them with golden streaks can give you a flattering look.

When choosing highlights, go for warmer tones and avoid ashy shades that can instantly lead to an anti-face lift. If you're too attached to your golden locks and reluctant to part ways, use lowlights to achieve a slightly deeper tone and enhance your overall appearance.

4. Going Overboard With Styling Products

Aging hair is often characterized by its thin, dry, wiry, and dull texture. People might feel too overwhelmed when choosing hair styling products, thinking that the more they invest in them, the better their hair will be.

Like in any other arena of life, balance is the key, especially when caring for your lovely locks. Washing your hair all too often, pouring dollops of shampoo, conditioner, and hair treatments, and soaking your scalp with all kinds of products can sometimes do more damage than good.

Mature, gray hair requires nourishment and care, which can only come from wise choices. Less is the new more, and keeping things simple may be the best approach instead of stacking your shelves with a myriad of hair care products and using them in excessive amounts.

To lock moisture in your hair cuticles and strengthen your strands, picking hydrating and protein treatments as recommended by your stylists can be a good place to start.

Try using shampoo, conditioner, and hair mousse in contained amounts, opt for hair oils to prevent dryness, and pick a heat protector, dry shampoo, and hair spray only under rare circumstances.

5. Turning a Blind Eye to Hair Damage

Overlooking or delaying addressing a problem doesn't magically eradicate it or improve things. As we grow older, our hair changes and loses its melanin, moisture, and smooth texture. Over the years, our strands can become frizzy, brittle, and thin, lacking strength and breaking easily.

Heat and sun damage are the most common factors, and often, they stem from too many blow-outs, using flat and curling irons, increased or continued exposure to UV rays, and other hair styling treatments.

Using excessive heat to dry our hair can ruin its natural elasticity, thereby weakening its protein structure and soaking up all the moisture, making it appear dull and dry. If you're suffering from brittle hair and split ends in your 50s, avoiding frequent blow-outs and choosing to air dry sometimes can be helpful.

Moreover, opting for deep, nourishing hair treatments and choosing products that can replenish your hair and nurture your scalp and roots without causing further damage can enable you to have smooth, silky, and healthy locks.

6. Going All Gray without Planning

While it's good to live on the edge and make room for spontaneity, without planning, we would simply be headed down a blind alley. Aging is a natural phenomenon, but whether or not you choose to cover your silver streaks is your choice.

Over time, people have gradually learned to love and embrace their grays instead of splurging on hair coloring treatments. From Hollywood icons to family, friends, and even folks you might know from your social circle, gray hair is not much of a stigma any longer.

However, nourished and healthy silver strands still look much better than wiry, brittle ones. If you're ready to go all in on your gray hair, do so with thorough planning. Consulting your hair stylist is helpful for people who don't know where to begin.

For others, choosing the right products, sticking to the "less is more" approach, using hydrating and nourishing products, and opting for trimming at least once every two months can do wonders. The golden rule for haircuts is picking a flattering style that would amplify your facial features.

Caring for Your Hair in Your 50s

Like skin, our hair needs our undivided attention, care, love, and gentleness. Ignoring our hair or mindlessly spending on multiple hair products can lead to early damage, premature graying, breakage, hair loss, and stunted growth.

As we age, our hormone levels experience fluctuation, which affects our hair texture, color, and quality. Increased hair fall can lead to dry, itchy scalp and bald patches, which isn't less than a harrowing sight and a wake-up call for many. So, why not do something about your precious hair while you still can?

If you're in your 50s and clueless about how to care for your hair, start with the basics. Pick a shampoo and conditioning treatment designed for aging and mature hair. Please ensure you don't apply the conditioner to your scalp and only the hair strands.

Use combs and brushes with round plastic prongs or nylon bristles to prevent hair breakage. Brushing your tresses daily regulates the blood circulation in your scalp and prevents frizzes and tangles, breathing life into your dull hair.

Many women don't even realize that their hair care routine can make them appear older and less attractive. Now that you've read the whole article, can you identify which mistakes you tend to make?

We would love to hear your thoughts, so please don't hesitate to write to us or leave your feedback in the comments section on Facebook. In the meantime, check out how Salma Hayek, 56, is proud of her silver strands, doesn't pretend she's younger, and proves age is just a number in pictures.