11 Hairstyles That Make You Look Younger

From pixie cuts to long, angled layers, we chatted with the pros for the styles that will take years off your face.

Person with black curly hair with a short pixie cut wearing a black patterned dress
Photo: Getty Images

Finding the perfect, most flattering haircut is a challenge for all ages. You want a style that is going to make you feel your most confident, flatter your features and help you look your best.

"When we age, we want to have a more glowing effect with our skin and our hair," says Natascha Hemple, salon field trainer for The Salon by InStyle Inside JCPenney. "When I have clients that want to change their look to appear more youthful, I ask them what they dislike about their look now. Then, I focus on their face shape and the areas that seem to make them look older."

But going back to the cut you had when you felt your youngest probably isn't the best route to go. So instead, test out these ageless styles below — from pixies to hair that hits below the collarbone, we chatted with the pros to learn about a few hairstyles that'll take years off your face. Get ready to get ID'd.

01 of 11

Long Pixie Cut

Halle Berry with a long pixie cut wearing a strapless silver gown
Getty Images

Hemple recommends trying a short cut with some volume, like Halle Berry's long pixie here. Her pro tip? Keep the strands tousled and soft, rather than spikey.

02 of 11

Stacked Bob

Cameron Diaz with a stacked bob hairstyle
Getty Images

Try a stacked bob that is shorter in the back and longer in the front like Cameron Diaz's cut here. Hemple says that the asymmetric cut will complement practically any face shape. Plus you can wear it straight, curly, or tousled.

03 of 11

Curly Pixie Cut

Gabrielle Union with a curly pixy cut hairstyle
Gabrielle Union/Instagram

If you have coils or curls, embrace them by opting for a long pixie cut with your natural texture. Gabrielle Union recently went for the big chop, and the result is a chic, effortless 'do.

04 of 11

Pixie Cut

Kris Jenner with pixie hairstyle wearing a black dress and pearls
Neilson Barnard/Getty

"A lived-in pixie that has a little length around the face is a flattering style for short hair. It's particularly youthful because it's a no-fuss hairstyle," says Brian Zinno, education director at the Antonio Prieto Salon in New York City. He adds it works on many face shapes, and is particularly low-maintenance, which means you don't have to stress about styling it every single day. When looking for a celeb picture to bring to the salon, we think Kris Jenner is a no-fail option.

05 of 11

Tousled Bob Cut

Viola Davis with a short, tousled bob hairstyle
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

If you're most comfortable with bob-length hair, go for a chin-grazing style that incorporates layers. "It's youthful because while it's a bob length, the layers around the face keep it soft and flowing without the usual angular lines of a bob, and the layers in the crown or around the perimeter give lift and movement." We love Viola Davis's soft, layered, and tousled bob, while Zinno says that Helen Mirren is another example of this gorgeous look.

06 of 11

Shoulder-Length Cut With Layers

Jennifer Aniston with her layered, long hairstyle wearing a beaded gown
Allen Berezovsky/Getty

"Jennifer Aniston has had this length, and what makes it look youthful is when the ends are shattered to keep it from looking blunt and heavy around the perimeter," says Zinno. He suggests longer angles around the face and below the jawline to keep the look flowing and soft.

07 of 11

Medium-Length Cut with Long Layers

Eva Longoria with wavy, longer layers wearing a strapless black dress
Todd Williamson/Getty

Eva Longoria has also demonstrated soft, shattered angles in the past, which she seamlessly wore between sleek and straight styles and in effortless, loose waves. Hemple says long layers always give off a youthful appearance. She adds that off-center or side parts that "fall naturally in place can make the eyes seem wider to give you a more youthful appearance. "

08 of 11

Medium-Length Cut with Side Fringe

Julia Roberts with long layer hairstyle with face framing layers
Mark Davis/Wireimage

"A favorite timeless hairstyle for long hair is cascading layers flowing from a shorter length around the face — a long fringe or side bang — to longer to the back," says Zinno. "This creates movement in the style and opens up the face." He suggests this cut styled in soft waves just like Julia Roberts.

09 of 11

Long Cut with Waves

Christie Brinkley with long, layered hairstyle with soft waves wearing a white linen top
Jerritt Clark/Wireimage

As far as how long is too long? Zinno suggests keeping your length around the breastbone area. And Hemple adds that waves or bouncy style, like Christie Brinkley's here, "open all facial features to compliment a bright open look that makes you look rested."

10 of 11

Low Messy Bun

Keri Russell wearing a low, messy bun hairstyle
Steve Granitz/Wireimage

Zinno says that youthful-looking updos should be kept slightly undone and casual and never too tight or polished. We love this low coif seen on Keri Russell.

11 of 11

High Ponytail

Jennifer Lopez wearing a high ponytail and an orange sequined turtleneck
Sean Zanni/Getty Images

Jennifer Lopez's high, snatched ponytail has a lifting and tightening effect on the face. Curl the ends to give the style a soft, effortless vibe.

Updated by
Tessa Petak
TessPetak
Tessa Petak is a Brooklyn-based writer who helps to cultivate InStyle's illustrious news coverage across a wide range of topics including celebrity, fashion, and entertainment. She also produces and composes celebrity profiles and features for the site and InStyle's digital issues.
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