Photographer: Gage Skidmore
The big question is, if you are over 55, should you cut off your hair and wear it short? No necessarily. The rules remain the same, find a style that flatters your best features and plays down those features that are not so good.
The first thing to establish for yourself is what shaped face you have because the shape of the face will dictate the kind of hairstyles that will be flattering to you. Some hairstyles will look good on you and others will not.
Faces come in long, round, square, oval and heart-shaped and all have their own unique considerations unless you have an oval face and then you can wear your hair however you like.
Long face
A long face tends to be dragged ever further downwards by long hair. Don’t let the length go further than the chin or you may end up looking like a horse. If you want to wear your hair long then opt for waves, which will give some width to a long face.
Round face
Don’t wear short, curly hair that will make your face appear rounder than it is. You can wear your hair long.
Square face
A square face has an angular jaw so you will want to get some texture in the form of curls or choppy ends to soften the corners of your face.
Heart shaped faces
Heart shaped faces have pointy chins so you want to draw attention to your eyes and cheekbones.
Oval face
An oval face looks good in everything although if you have thick hair, avoid a blunt cut or else you will have a head in the shape of a pyramid. Keep the layers off the top of your head.
Finally, consider your body type when considering your new hairstyle. If you are tall with thin, straight hair then a pixie haircut may have you looking like a pin head and if you are small and petite, maybe you should avoid super long hair that can overwhelm you and make you look like a character from The Adams Family. Whatever style you choose, will give you a lift and that’s what a midlife makeover is all about.
