Best Hair Color for Any Age

Even though I am a natural blonde, I have spent most of my 20s changing hair color-- going from blonde, to brunette and bleaching back to blonde. Now, having done plenty of experimenting with my color (and going through many haircuts to trim off damaged tips), I am finally getting to the point where I am sticking to blonde for awhile. If you like to change up your look, here are a few tips in choosing the best hair color for any age:

20s:

Experimenting with hair color in your 20s is the best time to try it, since you are changing your look just because you feel like it, and can actually get away with trying various colors. Since you don't have gray hair, coloring it is simply a matter of changing your appearance when you get tired of your look. If you want to experiment with color but do not want to go too drastic, choose a hair color only one or two shades lighter or darker from your natural color. If you are brunette and want to go lighter, I suggest getting it professionally done to avoid that orange/red tint you can get from not lightening properly. Add dimension to any hair color you choose by adding lowlights and highlights throughout, as opposed to a monochromatic shade. Since you will probably switch your hair color around numerous times, stick to semi-permanent colors to reduce damage to the hair and allow you freedom in choosing new hair color.

30s:

In your 30s, you still want a fresh color without going too drastic. One way to lighten up the face is by adding dimension to your color through the addition of a lighter color around the face and on the hair tips. If you have dark hair, add streaks around the face one or two shades lighter to enhance the face without looking like a zebra. One important tip for hair color in your 30s is to keep the hair healthy and shiny. As the hair ages, it loses strength in the follicles and becomes increasingly damaged as you continue to color your hair. Use deep treatment conditioning masks weekly to maintain sheen and vibrant hair color.

40s:

Once you hit your 40s, hair color is often about covering up those pesky gray hairs. If you are brunette and starting to find gray hair, choose a multidimensional hair color to cover gray. If you color your hair with monochromatic color, it is inevitable that your natural color and gray hair will become two different shades, not hiding the gray entirely . Using a multidimensional color will mask grays and allow them to blend seamlessly with your new shade. Enhance your beauty by choosing face-framing lowlights. To preserve hair color, nourish and strengthen strands, use a leave-in conditioner each day. If you have darker skin, choose deep brown hair color to illuminate skin, while if you are a lighter skin color, dark blonde and light brown shades keep your skin from appearing washed out.

50+:

For women 50 and over, hair color should stay more consistent and offer full gray coverage. Use soft variations of your natural color, and select a permanent shade to cover gray and keep your hair colored longer. Glazing treatments will increase shine in your hair and keep follicles smooth.