After 40 you’ve earned the right to wear your hair however you want. There are no right or wrong styles if that hairstyle and haircut makes you look and feel like the best version of you. But if you have mature hair that is starting to show signs of thinning and perhaps even bald spots in areas around the crown or top of your head, you also know all too well the challenge of finding a good haircut and style that makes the most of your hair. Attempting to conceal sparseness can be a game in persistence — in other words, it can take a long time to find the right style for your changing hair’s needs.
Knowing which hairstyles to avoid when you have thinning hair is half the battle. These seven hairstyles are commonly mentioned as among the worst if you have thinning and shedding hair.
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1. Too-Long Hair
Breaking up with very long hair that you’ve maybe had for years can be traumatic — no joke. Long hair becomes an identity and a very comfortable one. But it’s important to be clear-eyed here: if you’re noticing the ends of your long hair are straggly and thin and it just isn’t looking as healthy and thick anymore, cutting a few inches can make a huge difference. Baby steps: start with a few inches, and if you feel bolder, a shoulder-length cut with long layers. This is considered a great compromise hair length that allows you to retain length, but within reason.
2. Tight Braids
Braids are a creative and beautiful look, but unfortunately, they also throw a spotlight on areas of your scalp that have less hair. Tight braids, in particular, pull on the hair follicles and can cause even more shedding and thinning.
3. Blunt Bangs
The thing about bangs is: they’re absolutely fantastic for concealing thinning hair, but it’s important to choose the ideal bangs style for your hair type and face. If you have less hair at the crown, you don’t want to overdo it by pulling too much hair from the back to create very thick, blunt bangs. This will only make you appear as if you have less hair overall. A slightly thinner bang with a more texturized Jane Birkin style may work better for you.
4. Center Part
A center part excuses low-maintenance, free-spirited confidence. However, it also shows a widening part that may be due to thinning and shedding. The good news is that side parts are a big trend now, plus they’re better at making your hair appear thicker and denser.
5. Flat-Ironed Hair
Flat-ironing your hair may make it look shinier, but this will come at the expense of volume. The straighter and flatter your strands, the more apparent thinning will appear. Swap your flat iron for heatless curls to give your hair a voluminous boost instead.
6. Slicked-Back Ponytail
A slicked-back ponytail instantly reveals any and all thinning at the crown and isn’t the kindest to baby hairs that may be starting to sprout around this area, as well. Keep the ponytail, but position is lower and pull out a few pieces of hair in the front to frame your face and conceal thinning.
7. Overly Choppy Haircuts
Layering your hair gives it instant volume and movement, but only if your stylist is adding strategic layers that take your thinning hair into account. This often means keeping the bottom of your hair in a blunt line to avoid making it look straggly and thin. Too many layers does not mean your hair will look fuller, though — it can create the opposite effect and appear choppier and thinner. Ask your stylist to be mindful about how many layers they cut so that they work seamlessly with your hair type.
