Is Your Hair Color Aging You?

by Julie Redfern Davis (Subscribe to Julie Redfern Davis's posts)
Posted Nov 8th 2010 at 7:00AM

Which hair color makes Drew Barrymore look younger, darker roots or true blonde hair? Photo: Getty Images

A few days ago, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror at a department store. I had to do a double take. Was that really me?

I looked old and weathered, not to mention tired.

I normally don't feel like I look old (weathered and tired on occasion, especially after a long day at work or a mom's night out). I approached the mirror in horror--my complexion looked as rough and dull as a worn out doormat. Was I sick or was it was just me?

The next day I loaded up on my favorite bronzer (it always helps me feel radiant and youthful) and swiped on a bright pink lip gloss (another complexion pick me up staple). I still looked anything but luminous.

What was going on? Did my mid-thirties age finally rear its head?

As I went to pull my hair back into a ponytail, it clicked--could it be my hair color? With dark roots a mile long and grays popping out everywhere, was my hair making me look old?

"Absolutely," says Kyle White, lead colorist at Manhattan's Oscar Blandi Salon and colorist to some of the worlds most noted celebrities. "When your hair is too dark, it accentuates every last line. And when it's too light, it can wash you out and age you," he notes.

White, along with many beauty experts, is a firm believer that hair color is the single greatest tool available to women in their quest for youth. It instantly boosts your appearance -- brighter eyes, more radiant skin -- without the pain, irritation, downtime or price tag (a box of home hair color is approximately $10 while salon services can range from $80-200).

He also points out that as we age, our hair gets darker and loses its natural luster (shiny hair is a hallmark of youth). Adding warmth with highlights or treating hair to a shine-enhancing gloss immediately changes the way we feel and look. "We feel younger after having our hair colored because it's the hair of our youth, back again," explains White.

Hair color also adds fullness, which for women with thinning hair is a major bonus.

Here are White's tips to color yourself young:

1. Find a picture from your childhood and copy that hair color. "Nine times out of ten that is the color that flatters you most," says White.

2. If you have dark brown or black hair, try chocolate brown, caramel or toffee highlights. "They add dimension, open the face and instantly make you look fresh and radiant," explains White.

3. If your hair is light brown, face-framing, dark golden blonde highlights will enrich the complexion, creating luminosity and the illusion of lift.

4. As we age, blonde hair has a tendency to become ashy and dull. Pale yellow highlights ("Think the color of melted butter," notes White) bring out the warmth in the complexion, which naturally makes us look younger.

5. There should always be a contrast between your skin and hair color so you don't look washed out or too plate-both of which make lines, wrinkles and spots appear more obvious.

In my own very scientific analysis, to validate the notion of hair color-as-the-fountain-of-youth, I pulled my hair into a tight ponytail to expose only my dark, dreary roots. I polled the women in my office, and all agreed: dark hair completely aged me.

I immediately called White to book an appointment. A few strategically placed highlights later, it was confirmed that I definitely looked "a good 5 years younger."

Roger that.

Now, find out the best way to communicate with your hair colorist to get the results you want.

And click here to find out 4 common bad habits that can age you by 12 years!

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Filed under: Hair, Hair Color
Tags: anti aging, AntiAging, hair color, HairColor, kyle white, KyleWhite, oscar blandi salon, OscarBlandiSalon

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READER COMMENTS

(69)Add A Comment

roberta knowlton, 11-12-2010, 9:09AM

I think the dark roots picture is much nicer than the blond???!!

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Peach, 11-12-2010, 9:18AM

I agree! She kinda looks like a worn out hag in the second picture.

yogasue, 11-12-2010, 10:39AM

me too
i stared and stared and decided the darker roots, and less makeup made her look much younger. who knows which one was "spozed to?!"

BradyBeans, 11-12-2010, 11:29AM

Yup, the pic on the left looks like a woman; the one on the right looks like someone trying to look young by wearing tons of mommy's make-up and her Tammy Faye wig.

gabelle, 11-12-2010, 10:21PM

Actually, I like the picture with the darker hair so much more than the picture with the blonde. As far as I am concerned the lighter hair didn't make her look younger, but it did cheapen her looks to me.

Susie, 11-12-2010, 7:42AM

Copying your haircolor from when you were young is a huge mistake. Especially when you hit your forties and higher. While I do agree on putting in highlites, I believe you do need to lighten your base shade also. Keeps you from having to do color as often.

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Chuck, 11-12-2010, 7:53AM

Both looks are beautiful! To suggest that you can even compare the two looks is silly!! When you change the hair, the make-up, the jewelry and the dress all at the same time, a realistic side-by-side comparison is impossible. This is a typical approch of all these "before and after" pictures. In one picture the person is smiling and in another not! You should only change one variable at a time if you want to evaluate the change.

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fayge, 11-12-2010, 9:27AM

I have white hair, its quite attractive, you need to keep your
eyebrows tinted in your natural color...and wear a little makeup
also, if you are 78, try cutting and shaping your hair, it will
be more youthful looking

LIL, 11-12-2010, 7:54AM

WHAT DOES ONE DO WITH WHITE HAIR??????? I AM 78, AND MY HAIR IS TOTALLY WHITE.....I WEAR IN A LONGER STYLE AND USUALLY PULL BACK WITH A HAIRBAND. IT WASHES ME OUT........BUT IS CERTAINLY NO EXPENSE TO ME TO WEAR THIS WAY. I AM THINKING OF REVERSE FROSTING???? ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS? I HAVE NO HAIRDRESSER........NEVER GET MY HAIR DONE BY ANYBODY....

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Vanessa, 11-12-2010, 8:15AM

Leave it white and love what God gave you. I'm sure you are beautiful the way you are, don't let society cripple your self esteem! Thats all these makeup/hair products/diet ads are made to do; make you feel like crap for who you are so you run out and spend a ton of money on their product while the fat cat company owners sit back laugh and get richer at the expense of your self esteem.

peggy, 11-12-2010, 8:28AM

maybe you should treat yourself you deserve it. I am sure you are beautiful.

peg, 11-12-2010, 8:24AM

I ment get you hair done by a professional. any salon will do what u want.
just make sure when they cut u tell them no more then a inch.

Jill, 11-12-2010, 8:30AM

LIL - I just had my hair reverse foiled yesterday! My stylist took my root color and low-lighted my Florida sun-bleached hair. It looks pretty good - I think I need a few more low-lights and she said I might but it is easier to add than to take away. I suggest you find a colorist/stylist and pick a shade that matches your complexion and then go a little darker. Have her foil it in (same as frosting but easier for longer hair). I promise you will not be sorry!

LAW, 11-12-2010, 9:17AM

Lil..It is very hard to color White hair..it has no underlying pigment for the artificial color molocules to hold on to..A reverse is not an option for you bcause if your hair is totally "white" then you have no dark hair at your roots for the darker color to blend with. You would probably do better with a good, stylish cut, something that will be easy for you to fix at home. The fact that your hair is longer and you wear it pulled back is probably what makes you feel washed out. Good Luck!

Cherie, 11-12-2010, 9:35AM

I am no expert but do know a lot of woman with long beautiful silver locks. Let me tell you nothing is more stunning than silver hair in great condition. First off if your on any medication sometimes yellow discoloration may happen, also multi vitamins with beta carotene could also cause yellowing of the hair.
Here is what they do. Get a sulfate free conditioner, or your favorite one, peroxide 30 percent. And mix 2 ounces of each together mix well.(or just mix equal parts of both conditioner and peroxide.) Apply to hair, once done wrap your hair either in plastic wrap or a plastic cap. Leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse well. Than do an hot oil treatment. Always do a patch test first I do mine 2 inches above the back of the nape of my neck.

gg, 11-12-2010, 4:03PM

Permanent hair-color is best for white or gray hair; to cover white I would suggest a strawberry blond or light golden blond. My professor successfully cover her white hair with a beautiful strawberry blond color, reminds me of a golden movie star from the 1940's.

sandy, 12-19-2010, 11:40AM

you sound like a beautiful lady inside and out, one main thing to do is ask around for a good stylist,one that will listen to what you want and have a few suggestions that you might like as well,, belive me , dont let some one just out of beauty school, you want that one stylist to do what you would like , not what they want . god bless you and good luck. happy holidays.

uontsom, 11-12-2010, 7:56AM

Seems as if what you really want is a woman no other man on earth could possibly find attractive. And you are cheap to boot! Most men should understand that it is not simply about what you think, but rather what a woman feels about herself, dealing with the kids the man. She needs something for herself to feel good about, that very thing you discourage. You should encourage her to pay attention to her looks not downplay them, which also would improve your sexual relationship.

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gillh52, 11-12-2010, 8:34AM

Lil, white hair is gorgeous! Many people who are going grey wish they could just be pure white. There are some shampoos and conditioners especially for white hair. They bring out the shine and eliminate any yellow tinge. If you google "shampoos for white hair" you will find a good list and descriptions. Don't think of changing anything: you are so lucky to have it. Think of Helen Mirren or Vanessa Redgrave. Both so beautiful.

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Holly, 11-12-2010, 8:37AM

Self-esteem is also having the confidence to do what makes you feel better and do what you wish without living up to the expectations of others. If someone wants to dye their hair or not, wear make-up or not, tattoo themselves (though that is not attractive to me) or whatever....it's their choice. As to the first comment...that seems to be ultimately more about advertising a website than extrolling the virtues of his wife. I even went as far as to have plastic surgery....not for everyone but it was something I wanted to do. Let's be realistic....other folks out "in the world" respond better to the thinner, prettier, younger, more groomed person (as long as they're 'nice' too) than they do to the fat, unattractive, older and less groomed. Speaking as a former "fattie", it would irritate me to no end when--considering I was as personable before as after--clerks, waitpeople etc. would treat me better as a thin person than as fat. Not fair but ???.

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