Shoulder-length hair is a bit like the Goldilocks of hair lengths. It’s not too long, not too short, and is relatively easy to style, while still allowing you to maintain some length, if that’s your preference. You can get away with a lot more when your hair is at the shoulder — and bad hair days mean you can simply pull your hair up into a ponytail or bun and be done with it.
But you can make hair mistakes that are aging whether your hair is super long, super short, or somewhere in between. When you do, there are also simple ways to fix the problem. These four shoulder-length hair mistakes can age your instantly, stylists warn — here’s how to fix them.
The Ends Of Your Hair Are Straggly
When you chop your hair from very long to a medium cut, you automatically help it look thicker and healthier. Raising the ends of your hair gives your face the illusion of a lift, which is youthful. However, how your hair is cut also matters, especially if you have thinning or fine hair. If the ends of your hair are straggly, this can make your hair look thinner. The solution here is to ask your stylist for a blunt cut with soft lines and edges — this immediately plumps the hair and makes it look healthy.
Not Getting a Cut That Suits Your Hair
Simply cutting your hair to a medium length isn’t enough to give it pizzazz — you also need to work with your stylist to find a style that makes the most of your hair type and your facial features. It’s a careful balance. Too many layers can make your hair look thinner, while not enough layers can leave your hair flat. Talk to your stylist about your hair goals, whether that means more lift and volume and bringing out your natural curls and texture.
Not Using The Right Brushes
You know how your hair always looks supermodel perfect at the salon, and you feel you can never recreate that look at home? Part of the reason is that your stylist possesses serious skills, but another culprit could be that you aren’t using the right brush. Invest in a good set of brushes, including a round brush that can be used for blow drying your hair and lifting it at the roots. The styling tools you use will make a significant difference.
Causing Hair Breakage
You may not even know you’re doing it, but little hair habits can cause split ends and breakage. Avoid using cotton hair towels to dry your hair after a shower (they can be rough), and turn to microfiber towels instead. Don’t tug at wet or dry hair with a brush — be gentle and patient when detangling and use a detangling spray and comb or detangling brush. And before you add any heat to your hair, whether that means a blow dryer or curling iron, coat your hair with a heat protectant spray to prevent split ends and damage.
Shoulder-length hair can look absolutely amazing — with the right cut, good styling habits, and tools that keep it looking its healthy best.
