Let’s be honest — there was a time when spending hours on your hair felt totally worth it. In those days, the flat iron was your best friend and you chased the trendiest hair colors around. But as we grow older and life gets super busy, that same high-maintenance hairstyle starts to feel less like glam and more like a chore. The truth is, putting in the most effort doesn’t always mean you’ll get the best results (or a look that sticks). In fact, many hairstylists say some of the most time-consuming styles deliver surprisingly low impact. That’s why now is the perfect moment to rethink your routine and consider haircuts and hairstyles that work with your lifestyle, not against it.
Here are four popular hairstyles that may look fabulous on Instagram, but according to the pros, they’re more work than they’re worth.
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1. Platinum Blonde
Going platinum might look like a bold, fresh start, but maintaining this icy hue is basically a full-time job (and a pricey one). Between the constant root touch-ups, toning sessions to battle brassiness, and the deep conditioning rituals to save your scorched strands, it’s a color that demands a lot and gives back… well, mostly stress. For women over 50, when your hair may already be a bit more delicate and your time way more precious, platinum blonde can quickly turn from edgy to exhausting. Plus, softer, warmer shades can actually be more flattering and forgiving to your skin tone.
2. Stick-Straight and Long
There’s something undeniably sleek about waist-length, super-straight hair — but it can take awhile to style and be damaging to your strands. Getting it smooth usually means heat tools like flat irons, which can wreak havoc on already fragile strands. Add in the regular trims, detangling, and the constant battle with frizz or flyaways, and suddenly this simple-looking style starts feeling like a big production. For women over 50, long, lifeless locks can actually drag the face down, to boot.
3. Tight Curls
Tight curls can look super fun and youthful, until you realize just how much upkeep they require. From diffusing to defining to frizz-controlling, these curls take effort. If you weren’t born with coils, trying to create and maintain them can be exhausting and not the easiest fit for a busy lifestyle.
4. Full Blunt Bangs
While full blunt bangs can frame your eyes beautifully, they’re also one of the highest-maintenance cuts out there. Think daily styling and constant trimming every 2–3 weeks if you want them to stay sharp. For women over 50, this style can also pull too much hair from the back of your head, which is unhelpful if you have thinning hair.
