9 Tricks For Younger-Looking Hair

Must-dos for healthy, sexy hair

Don't let your anti-aging regimen stop at your face.

Your hair and scalp are often-overlooked areas that evolve as you grow older, thanks to shifting hormones, dietary changes, certain medications, and external damage from sun and styling, among other factors. Whether you find your hair becoming coarser and dryer, finer and flatter, or just a little (or a lot!) grayer, as it changes, so should your product regimen and styling routine. Here, your guide to keeping strands shiny, strong, and bouncy, no matter what your age.

1. Fight signs of sun damage

It’s no coincidence that the hair along your part, which sees the most sun exposure, seems to age faster than the hair hidden underneath. The sun sops moisture from hair and dries out the scalp, zapping shine and making color look dull and faded, says celebrity stylist Sherri Jessi. Shielding your strands from UV light, especially around your hairline and part, will help lock in moisture and preserve your color. Try a sunscreen-pumped styling cream like Rusk Deepshine Luster ($15; Ulta stores), which absorbs rays while smoothing the hair with moisturizing marine extracts, strengthening proteins, and protective UVB inhibitors. Smooth a dollop throughout strands, focusing on your part and hairline. And try moving your part around—an inch up or down every few days—to minimize localized sun exposure.

2. Choose the right cut

It’s a myth that you have to wear your hair short once you reach a certain age, says Marc Anthony, owner and founder of Marc Anthony Salons. The most important thing is choosing a style that plays up your best features. Before deciding on a haircut, Anthony suggests taking a look at the way fine lines form on your face. If they spread out horizontally, like crow's feet, long hair could actually be beneficial—the extra length gives the illusion of shorter crow's feet, says Anthony. However, if your lines travel down, like "the 11s" between eyebrows, long hair might emphasize droopy eyes and laugh lines around your mouth, making you look more tired. Try a sweepy bang, a bouncy layered bob, or a flippy pixie cut—these styles draw the eye out toward the parameter of your face, away from your trouble zones.

 3. Take your vitamins
"Healthy hair is shiny hair, and shiny hair is young hair," says Devin Toth, stylist at the Ted Gibson Salon in New York City. He suggests using shampoo, conditioners, and hair masks fortified with vitamins A, B, C, E, and nutrients such as calcium and magnesium to help repair damage, lock in moisture and boost luster from the inside out. Check the ingredient label to make sure the formula doesn't contain sulfates—these harsh cleansers, found in many shampoos, can strip hair of its natural oils. We like Organix Acai Berry Avocado shampoo ($12, drugstores), which is sulfate free and infused with antioxidant vitamins.

4. Think swingy, not stiff

The stiffer you make your hair with wafts of hair spray or globs of gel, the older you look. The number one way to avoid grandmotherly "helmet hair" is to stop overusing products, says Ashley Hanna, editorial stylist for mizu new york. For a softer, more natural look, don't overapply spray directly to the hair. "[Position the bottle] far away from your hair, and mist hair for a light hold that doesn't look crunchy," Hanna says. You can also swap your extra hold hair spray for a lighter formula—we like Pantene Pro-V Classic Style Touchable Hairspray ($3.99; drugstores). If your hair is curly, avoid weighing it down with sticky gels. "This gives you that hard and crunchy look that we want to stay away from," Hanna says. She recommends choosing a cream-based product or very lightweight mousse. To give your hair movement when styling at home, avoid curling it under with a round brush while drying, and try blow-drying hair away from your face, says Hanna. If you want to achieve volume, use Velcro rollers to create height without overcurling the ends. "If you have bangs, do not round-brush your bangs!" says Hanna—that style makes you look dated.

5. Try a ponytail

"Pulling your hair away from your face in a single sleek pony always makes you look young and refreshed," says Larry Sims, got2b celebrity stylist. Positioning your ponytail at just the right angle can give you an instant face-lift. To get the perfect high pony, start by putting your pointer finger at the very top of your head. Then measure one pinky-length back from there and secure your hair here for a sleek, classic look. To smooth down renegade flyaways around your hairline, brush a dot of moisturizing gel like got2b ultra glued styling gel ($5.49; Walmart) over strands with a soft bristle toothbrush.

6. Reassess your routine

Hormones are the ultimate double-edged sword—they stimulate both hair growth and hair loss. As we age, the production of androgens (hormones present in both men and women) increases, changing the look and feel of hair follicles; for some of us they get thicker, and for others experience thinning hair. "Over time, adjust your product regimen," says Dean Banowetz, celebrity stylist and Bosley Professional Hair Products spokesperson. If your hair is becoming coarser and dryer, stock up on heavier, more hydrating conditioners packed with emollient ingredients like glycerin, soybean oil, and cottonseed oil. Try Aveda Dry Remedy Moisturizing Conditioner ($24; aveda.com), which contains vitamin-rich buriti oil. In addition, boost your biotin intake (the recommended dosage is 30 mcg a day). Biotin, which you can get from whole grains, fruit, and eggs, may help promote hair health by increasing metabolism so that the nutrients you consume reach your hair follicles too.

7. Divide and conquer

If you wake up in the morning "looking your age," try this quick trick from celebrity stylist Thom Priano of Garren New York salon: Boost volume and mask thinning buy creating a zigzag part where your usual straight part goes. Start on clean, dry hair by placing the end of a rattail comb where you want the zigzag to end at the back of your head. Hook your hair at that spot, then draw the zigzag with the end of the comb, separating your hair as you go. "This creates a slightly messy style that’s current with today’s trends and looks fresh and youthful," Priano adds. To keep stubborn hair from falling back into your usual part, spray a very light mist of hairspray at either side of the part.

8. Watch your diet

"What’s happening on the inside of your body shows up on the outside and in your hair," says Jessi. Consuming a diet full of good fats like salmon and walnuts, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, will help improve the health of your hair and scalp. Here are a few other foods that pack a beauty punch:
Dark green vegetables: Spinach, broccoli, and Swiss chard are brimming with vitamins A and C, as well as iron, which protect against hair loss.
Lean meats: Protein is the building block of hair. Without enough in your system, you may experience greater hair loss.
Low-fat dairy: Foods such as yogurt and cottage cheese contain calcium, which promotes hair growth.

9. Go after your grays

Nothing screams "I color my hair!" like an all-over, single-hue dye job. Highlights in varying shades provide a more youthful, modern look, and you may not need to spend money on a full head of them to get pretty results. Secure a youthful hue with gray blending, a technique that you can request at a salon or do at home with a hair color kit (try Clairol Natural Instincts, $9, drugstores). If your hair is dark with just a few silver strands here and there, make them hard to pinpoint by adding highlights (brown, light brown, blonde) around your hairline. If you’re predominately gray, apply lowlights in your natural color (look at childhood photos to find the best shade match), using the same technique to give the appearance of fewer grays.