Stylish seniors need stylish hairstyles, but it can be tough to find a look that suits.

Lucy Barcelos, Master Stylist at Carreiro the Studio in Victoria has many senior clients, and she believes they can carry off any cut, short or long. “I'm definitely encouraging women not to cut their hair off simply because they feel like their age is telling them to cut it off.”

“I think an older woman with a smart-looking long layered cut looks fabulous,” she adds.

Gone are the days where women chop their hair when they reach a certain age. A short, smart haircut is very attractive when it’s done right, but not on everyone, notes Barcelos. “Medium to longer lengths are beautiful on grey haired women, as long as the hair is regularly trimmed and taken care of with good products.”

Senior-friendly shampoo and styling products are key.
“If clients are choosing to stay grey, using a shampoo with a purple tint will ensure their hair stays true to the silver without going yellow. Also using an anti-aging or anti-thinning shampoo is a good thing,” she says.

Seniors should not use shampoo that will over-strip their hair of natural oils, and using shampoo and conditioner that helps with hair loss is beneficial for women going through menopause. Anti-oxidant shampoos work well for hair that is losing its lustre. When styling, volumizing products work best for blow-drying. Mousse or root-lifting gels are also good choices.

Barcelos also says some of her clients are embracing their foxy silver locks, and not bothering to cover them up.

“Some women are deciding not to colour their grey hair, which is nice to see, or not doing full colours and maybe just lo-lighting their hair instead.”

Those who do colour are using ash-based colour to add depth, or just adding a playful splash of colour.

“Women who are colouring should always have a highlight added in as well. This will create the softness they need around the face, because solid, dark colours accentuate fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps minimize that ‘skunky’ look as the grey starts to grow in again,” Barcelos advises.

What’s certain is that more and more seniors are maintaining a style that suits them, not a stereotype.

JULY 2012 SENIOR LIVING MAGZINE