Hair can be your best accessory or your worst enemy, especially after 70! I’ve spent decades behind the salon chair watching trends come and go, and let me tell you—some styles are keeping you stuck in a time warp. Ready for a transformation? Let’s ditch those aging cuts and embrace modern shags that’ll have everyone asking for your stylist’s number!
1. Helmet Head Bob
Remember when perfectly round bobs were all the rage? That stiff, unmovable dome is doing you zero favors now, honey! A solid helmet of hair removes all softness from your features.
Those harsh lines actually emphasize wrinkles rather than distract from them. Trust me, I’ve seen clients age ten years with this dated look.
2. The Tight Perm Prison
Ah, those tiny curls that once dominated beauty parlors everywhere! While volume is your friend, those tightly coiled perms scream 1985 faster than neon leg warmers.
The uniform curl pattern looks artificial against mature skin. Plus, the damage from those harsh chemicals leaves hair looking like crispy ramen noodles rather than luscious locks.
3. Blunt-Cut Bangs Blunder
Straight-across heavy bangs might work for 20-somethings, but after 70? Yikes! Those severe lines act like arrows pointing directly to every forehead crease.
Moreover, thick bangs can overwhelm your face and make eyes appear smaller. I’ve rescued countless clients from this face-framing disaster by introducing them to softer, side-swept alternatives.
4. Overly Teased Crown
Height at the crown doesn’t always equal youth! That dramatically teased bouffant style beloved in the 60s now reads as desperately clinging to bygone eras.
Though a little volume can be flattering, excessive teasing creates an unnatural silhouette. The contrast between that mountain of hair and your natural features only highlights age rather than diminishing it.
5. The Wedge Cut Catastrophe
Dorothy Hamill made this geometric cut famous decades ago, but honey, figure skating championships are long over! The severe angles of the wedge cut create harsh shadows on mature faces.
Where’s the movement? Where’s the softness? This stacked-back style with its dramatic weight line screams “I haven’t updated my look since Carter was president!”
6. The Matronly Bun
Whipping your hair into that tight, librarian-style bun might seem practical, but it’s aging you faster than marathon reruns of Golden Girls! This pulled-back severity emphasizes every facial contour.
Furthermore, constant tension from tight styling can lead to traction alopecia. I’ve seen too many thinning hairlines from women who’ve twisted their way into this aging style trap.
7. The Bubble Flip
Oh lord, the bubble flip! That rounded, outward-flipped bob that requires more hairspray than oxygen to maintain. Nothing screams “I’m stuck in 1986” quite like this dated disaster.
The uniform curve around the entire head creates a helmet-like effect. Such structured styles work against your natural movement and texture, making your overall appearance seem rigid and outdated.
8. Single-Length Long Hair
While Cher can rock waist-length strands at any age, most of us mere mortals need some strategy! Super long, one-length hair with no layers or shape drags down your features like gravity’s unwelcome assistant.
The weight pulls your face downward, emphasizing jowls and neck issues. Without movement or dimension, this style screams “I’ve given up” rather than “I’m embracing my age gracefully.”
9. The Solid-Color Dye Job
Listen up, darling! That flat, single-process color from a box might have worked in your 40s, but now? It’s as flattering as fluorescent lighting in a dressing room.
Solid jet black or brassy blonde creates a harsh contrast against mature skin. The uniform color looks artificial and draws attention to fine lines rather than creating the dimensional glow your gorgeous face deserves!
10. The Pixie That Wasn’t
Short doesn’t automatically equal youthful! Those ultra-short, shapeless cuts that hug the head without style or movement can leave you looking like you’ve just enlisted rather than enlisted a stylist.
Without proper texturing, these cuts emphasize every skull bump and ear prominence. I’ve watched too many women age instantly with these severe, shapeless crops that offer neither femininity nor flair.
11. The Modern Textured Shag
Now we’re talking transformation! This contemporary take on the classic shag features soft, feathered layers that move with you. Unlike those dated cuts, this style brings lightness around your face.
The varied lengths create natural volume without teasing or product overload. Those beautiful cheekbones you’ve earned over seven decades? This cut frames them perfectly while disguising any areas you’d rather downplay.
12. The Soft Layered Bob
Forget rigid helmet heads! This shoulder-grazing bob with internal layers creates movement while maintaining enough length to style multiple ways. The softened outline breathes life into your look.
Strategic layers remove weight without sacrificing fullness. When you turn your head, this cut swings and moves naturally, creating that enviable “I woke up like this” effortlessness that’s both age-appropriate and thoroughly modern.
13. The Curtain Bang Shag
Bangs don’t have to be blunt! These face-framing, center-parted curtain bangs blend seamlessly into layers, creating a soft focus effect around your beautiful face. They’re the perfect disguise for forehead lines without the commitment.
The gentle sweep draws attention to your eyes while the connected layers create movement throughout. Plus, they grow out gracefully—no awkward stages when you’re between salon visits!
14. The Tousled Pixie Shag
Short hair doesn’t mean sacrifice! This pixie-shag hybrid features textured layers on top with softness around the neckline and ears. Unlike severe crops, this cut maintains femininity while being wash-and-wear simple.
The piece-y texture creates movement and dimension that flatters mature faces. I love how this style looks slightly different each day—embracing that beautiful unpredictability that comes with confidence and experience!
15. The Mid-Length Layered Shag
The goldilocks of haircuts—not too long, not too short! This collarbone-grazing cut features varied layer lengths throughout, creating volume at the crown where you need it most.
The strategic shaping removes bulk from areas where heaviness ages you. With subtle face-framing pieces, this versatile style works with your natural texture rather than fighting it, giving you that coveted “I still got it” vibe!