A good haircut can do more than update your look—it can make everything feel a little more polished. And while there’s no shortage of skin care or in-office treatments promising a more refreshed appearance, your haircut is often the easiest place to start.
Featured Experts
- Rick Wellman is a professional hairstylist and the founder of Salon Project
- Aaron Grenia is a professional hairstylist and the co-founder of IGK Hair Care
- Melissa Timperley is a professional hairstylist
- Michelle Cleveland is a professional hairstylist
- Kayla Lofaro is a professional hairstylist
What Makes a Haircut Look More Youthful
Hairstylist and founder of Salon Project, Rick Wellman, says haircuts of all lengths can help create a more youthful effect—it’s not about length anymore.
“Youthful haircuts are all about movement, softness and strategic face-framing,” says hairstylist and co-founder of IGK Hair Care, Aaron Grenia. “The goal isn’t to look ‘younger’ in a literal sense, but to create lift, lightness and dimension around the face.” For Wellman, “the key to a carefree youthful look is to not over-style, over-curl or over-work the haircut. Let it move and be you!”
Why Hair Health Matters Just as Much
Choosing the right cut is only part of it; how your hair looks and feels matters just as much. “Condition is paramount for a youthful look,” says hairstylist Melissa Timperley. “There’s nothing worse than long hair that’s dry or scraggly, as it ages your face within.”
“Shine and condition play a huge role in how youthful a haircut looks. Even the best cut can fall flat if the hair looks dry or dull,” says hairstylist and co-founder of IGK Hair Care Aaron Grenia. “Reach for glosses (I always recommend the IGK Expensive Clear Gloss Top Coat ($34), lightweight conditioners and heat protectants, which are key to maintaining that fresh, healthy finish.”
Another tip from Timperley: opt for a hair color that reflects light, which can help lift and enhance the shape.
Haircuts That Help You Look More Youthful
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Bob
“Bobs are all the rage right now, especially for mature women. A classic European Bob has been my number-one requested style so far this year,” says hairstylist Michelle Cleveland. “This cut is flattering to most face shapes and its shorter length (mid-neckline and above) helps to redirect the eye up, which ‘visually’ lifts the face, creating a more youthful, elegant appearance.”
Courtesy of NYC The Team
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Blunt Edges
“Blunt edges and invisible layering techniques can help a haircut look thicker if you're struggling with volume,” says Timperley. She notes that with blunt edges, it’s essential that the client likes where the line falls. “For example, for a bob, you need to be really confident with where the length sits, taking into account face shape, jaw, nose, facial features, etc.” Wellman adds that blunt bobs in particular “give that brave and youthful modern edge.”
Courtesy of Harrison
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Soft Layers
“Layers instantly bring life back into the hair,” says Grenia, who adds that soft layering around the face can be especially impactful. Plus, soft layered cuts “avoid that heavy, weighed-down look that can feel aging,” he adds.
Timperley says that using invisible layering techniques is a great way to help hair look thicker without taking weight away from the edges. “Cutting layers into the hair provides movement and ‘lift’ to the face, creating a softer, more youthful look,” says Cleveland. Whether you want long layers or a layered bob, it’s a great option. “With hair in great condition, there's absolutely no reason why older people can't enjoy longer tresses,” says Timperley.
Courtesy of Remi Cachet
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Lob
“A lob [aka a long bob] that sits between the collarbone and shoulders is universally flattering,” says Grenia. “Keeping the ends slightly textured, rather than too blunt, makes it feel effortless and fresh, while still polished.”
Courtesy of Kayla Lofaro
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Pixie
“We are seeing pixies and hybrid cuts with soft volume giving an uplifting effect to the eyes and cheekbones, creating almost a mini lift appearance,” says Wellman. Grenia adds that “for clients ready to go shorter, the key is keeping the texture soft and airy rather than too structured. A slightly longer top with movement around the face keeps it feminine and modern.”
Photo by Roland Denes on Unsplash
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Choppy Layers
Layers can work in a few different ways when it comes to mature hair. “Choppy layers and bangs are a great way to get that younger look. They instantly can accentuate bone structure, cheekbones and soften the forehead,” says Wellman. “Styling this cut with movement, without over-curling, is key to keeping it fresh and modern.”
Hair credit: Aaron Grenia/Photo credit: @igksalons
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Bangs
“Fringes can be a fabulous way to hide any forehead wrinkles and to give a more youthful look,” says Timperley, adding that they come in many shapes and can suit almost everyone. Grenia adds that bangs can also instantly soften features and draw attention to the eyes. She especially recommends curtain bangs “because they blend into the rest of the haircut and grow out beautifully, giving a subtle, youthful effect without a big commitment.”
You can pair bangs with any of the other haircuts on the list. For example, hairstylist Kayla Lofaro recommends a “mid-length cut with shorter layers and some fringe for a youthful look.”
Courtesy of Kayla Lofaro
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Bouncy Blowout Shapes
Grenia says bouncy blowout shapes with internal layers work because they’re designed to move, creating bounce and volume, which can completely change how youthful the hair looks. “Volume should be at the crown, with softness through the ends to give that lifted, healthy appearance,” he adds.
IG: @ahappyjustin
