My challenging hair

Day 8 of the New Year Style Challenge asks us to consider whether our hairstyle enhances our style.  This is a tricky one for me, as my hair has always been challenging.  I had hoped that once I was over 60 my hair would turn a lovely silver colour and would become thick and coarse.  It may sound strange to anyone with thick hair, but if your hair has been fine all your life you will probably sympathise with me.

It wasn't too bad when I was younger because although my hair was fine it was reasonably thick, which tended to confuse hairdressers when I walked into their salon. It used to take me a long time to dry my hair so,  although I kept my hair long when I was younger, once I started running in my late thirties I tended to go for shorter styles.

My face shape is long, closest to an oval shape, so I looked at the guidelines for that shape and was delighted to see that one of the celebrities with a similar shaped face was Anne Hathaway. Yes, Anne Hathaway of the cute pixie crop. Having fine hair, which sadly is a lot thinner nowadays, as well as being short in stature, long hair is no longer a good style for me. A short layered cut seems to suit me more now that I'm over 60.  You may notice that in all of these picture I have a fringe (or bangs as some people say). For those of us with long faces, a fringe makes our faces look more balanced. Luckily it is particularly good for over 60s as it hides some of our wrinkles and disguises a receding hairline!

In my late teens, with my youngest brother

In my late thirties - not a flattering outfit!

My style is casual chic, so the shorter hairstyle shown below is ideal for both my lifestyle and my fashion style. What about you ? What influences your choice of hairstyle?

Over 60 and over here!

Crowning glory or another story?

One of the best ways to update your look is to get a new hair style, and one of the easiest ways to look way older than your years is to have an unflattering style. This is true at any age, but even more so when you are over 60. Before I continue with a few of the common faux pas, I would like to make it clear that there are always exceptions to any rules and if you can get away with breaking the rules, go ahead and do so!

1.  Wearing your hair too long

You think having long hair will make you look more youthful, but that is rarely the case. If you have any facial lines that are drooping in a downwards direction, long hair will drag them down even more. Long straight hair can be particularly unflattering, even on the gorgeous Nicole Kidman! Imagine what that hairstyle would do to a less than beautiful over 60s woman.

2. Dyeing your hair the wrong colour

One of the most common mistakes is to dye your hair too dark. Stark almost black hair next to an ageing skin is never going to be a good look. If the colour flattered you in your 20s and 30s, the chances of it still looking good in your 50s or 60s are probably nil.

However, as you can see in the above photo, this is one rule that I habitually break! My hair is naturally very dark and I still think I look better with darker hair. Living in Spain, I have found that the sun bleaches my hair after a couple of weeks even though I don't sit  out in the sun, however when I go to the hairdressers every six to eight weeks I insist on her using a darker tint to restore my "natural" look.

Some older women go the other way and become blonde, assuming that will automatically make them look younger, but even going blonde can be hazardous if you pick the wrong shade. The most flattering look is to choose a shade that suits your natural colouring and  have highlights. Be guided by your hairdresser on this one.

3. Using too many hair products

One of the problems for many over 60s is thinning hair, so the temptation is to use as many products as possible to add some volume. My hair has always been fine, though luckily it was thicker when I was younger so it's still not too thin, but I do use volumizing products to add some body to my hair. The danger though is, if you use too many products, the sheer weight of them will drag your hair down. A better solution may be to have layers in your hair - again, this is something to discuss with your hairdresser.

4. Permed hair and the helmet effect

Nothing is more ageing on an over 60 woman than stiff, permed hair. I'm talking about the sort of hair style that doesn't move, even in a gale force wind. A natural style, with plenty of movement, is so much more flattering. British readers may recall the character Bet Lynch, played by actress Julie Goodyear in the soap series "Coronation Street".  This is one hair style that over 60s should definitely avoid!

A cut above

How do you choose a flattering hairstyle when you reach a certain age?  Should you go grey gracefully or are you dyeing to try out a new colour?  There are certain rules, but my mantra is that rules are made to be broken and we are all individuals anyway.

Rule number one is to go several shades lighter as you become older.  I have tried this however I prefer myself darker, as somehow that is more "me".  My daughter Kate also feels that I look younger when my hair is darker, even though that is against the rules.  What do you think?

A lighter shade of pale

This is my natural colour - more or less!

Rule number two is to keep your hair shorter, which is what I do.  The reasons I follow this rule are: my hair is very fine, so if it's too long it loses any shape; I am vertically challenged and long hair doesn't suit me as much. However many older women keep their hair long and it suits them. Jane Seymour, Raquel Welch and Goldie Hawn spring to mind.

Rule number three is to spend the most money you can afford on a good cut. This is certainly a rule that all chic Frenchwoman follow religiously.  Living in a Spanish town for the last four years, this has proved to be challenging at times, even apart from the language difficulties.  No self-respecting Spanish hairdresser will let you leave without blow drying your hair into submission, adding as much volume as possible, and emptying most of the contents of the hairspray onto your locks.  I have found a new hairdresser who so far seems willing to listen to my requests, and who limits the amount of hairspray - though this may be more to do with the financial "crisis" here than the whims of her customer.

 Rule number four is to listen to any advice, but reject it unless it resonates with you.  My Spanish hairdresser is a case in point.  When she suggested cutting my hair even shorter I thought it might look a bit harsh on me, however as it is now very hot here in Spain I agreed, on the basis that I can grow it back again.  My friend Lesley's daughter told her in no uncertain terms that her hair looked dreadful and to get it sorted!  She was exaggerating, of course, but now that Lesley has had a decent cut and her hair is a flattering light shade she looks years younger.