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As Fleabag said, hair is everything. Need further proof? The kerfuffle surrounding the Princess of Wales’s recent brush with the foils says it all.
Like Kate, I’ve gone blonder as I’ve got older. I’ve chosen to move away from my natural shade of mouse because I find blonde more flattering.
Plus, since I’m never going to colour my greys every six weeks, highlights allow me to eke out my salon appointments. Of course, going blonder is far from the only anti-ageing option – and can be a disaster if you get it wrong.
My biggest hair mistake? Popping to a salon in France for a quick root touch-up only to emerge with a helmet of crispy straw the colour of Bird’s Custard. Not only did it destroy the condition of my fine shoulder-length hair, it added years to my face.
I know I’m not the only one who’s messed up, so I asked London’s top stylists for the most unflattering hair faux pas they see. Read on for their anti-ageing dos and don’ts…
THE A-LINE BOB
Michael Van Clarke has his own award-winning line of hair-health products and a luxury salon in London’s Marylebone (vanclarke.com).
He says: ‘Forget the facelift – getting a better hair shape beats surgery. Right now, we are seeing a lot of women with A-line bobs and a few clunky steps posing as layers, but this style really doesn’t work as hair gets older and fluffier at the ends, and so wider at the bottom.
Like the Princess of Wales, Katherine Spenley has gone blonder as she’s got older. She’s chosen to move away from herb natural shade of mouse because she finds that blonde is more flattering
This can create a rather depressing, heavy-squat look, when what’s needed more than ever is lift and energy.
‘Graduated, precise, delicate layers around the face, flowing into longer layers at the back, will free the hair to flow with youthful swing.’
SQUARE-FACE FRINGE
Tom Smith is the co-founder of Aevum salon (aevumsalon.com) and an ambassador for Evo Hair and Calecim Professional.
He says: ‘Many women in their 40s and 50s are tempted to cut a full fringe to cover their wrinkles, believing it to be “cheaper than Botox”. But since everyone’s face squares off as gravity takes its toll, a full fringe can make your face look heavier.
‘Instead, opt for sweeping lightweight and textured fringes and face-framing styles. Choppier edges and curved angles are far better than blunt lines. It’s also a great way of maximising shape in the hairline, which often gets finer and weaker over time.’
THINKING YOU’RE 21
Richard Ward is an award-winning royal and celebrity hairdresser, best known for looking after the Princess of Wales’s hair. He has his own salon in Chelsea, (richardward.com).
He says: ‘The mistake a lot of women make when getting older is wearing their hair too dark. They try to go with the same colour they had at 21 – but our skin tone changes as we get older and the colour you once had simply won’t work for you anymore.
‘The solution is easy: go two or three shades lighter than your original colour to match your skin tone.’
IGNORING HAIR HEALTH
Edward James looks after celebrities including Cara Delevigne and Joanna Lumley at his four salons across London (edwardjameslondon.com). He says: ‘I see clients who worry endlessly about colour and put condition second.
‘But without healthy hair, colour will never shine the way it should. Even the best colour in the world won’t do its job if the hair isn’t smooth and glossy enough to reflect light.
Edward James says, at home, the secret to healthy hair is looking after your scalp and keeping elasticity in the hair fibre, so it bends, bounces and shines rather than snaps
‘Think of a glossing treatment as your hair’s reset button. It’s best used twice a year, after a summer in the sun, or when winter’s central heating has left your hair feeling parched.
‘Modern glossing treatments smooth the cuticle, add shine, and drench the hair with hydration. At home, the real secret is looking after your scalp (healthy roots equal better hair) and keeping elasticity in the hair fibre, so it bends, bounces, and shines rather than snaps.
‘My go-to favourites: Aveda’s Scalp Solutions Balancing Shampoo and Refreshing Protective Mist (£22.50 and £36) for scalp health, and Philip Kingsley’s Elasticizer (£21 for 75ml) for restoring strength and flexibility.’
RUSHING CHANGE
Jo Hansford, who boasts the Queen as a client, founded her Mayfair salon more than 30 years ago and has an MBE for outstanding service to the hairdressing industry (johansford.com).
She says: ‘Many women in their 50s deal with big life changes such as menopause, divorce or grief and often feel it’s time for a makeover.
‘This is a fabulous way to get a boost, but when making drastic changes, always go slowly (a couple of shades up or down colour wise or midway with the hair cut, rather than straight from long hair to a bob).
‘This allows you to get used to the change before moving to the next stage.
‘It’s also a good idea to use wigs and hairpieces to see if a dramatic change will suit you.’
