Does Short Hair Really Age You? Hairstyle Theory Explained

Can your hairstyle really make you look 10 years younger or older?

Recently, Nicole Smith, an aesthetic physician assistant, released a TikTok video claiming that the hair theory is real. This theory suggests that people may perceive you differently based on your hairstyle. But does this mean short hair really ages you?

“Your hairstyle could be making you look 10 years younger or 10 years older,” says Nicole. To prove her point, she shows real photos of celebrities with long hair alongside photoshopped images of them with shorter haircuts. We swear if we only saw the photoshopped versions, it would be extremely hard to recognize Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, or Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Nicole claims that keeping up with hair trends can create the illusion of a much younger you. She wonders if Catherine Zeta-Jones would look younger with a different hairstyle and immediately answers her own question, noting how a middle-part hairstyle with some length contributes to a more youthful look.

Interestingly, all the “young feel” haircuts feature long middle-parted styles, while the “old feel” haircuts are outdated, short, with unflattering volume around the cheekbones and weird-looking bangs.

“Show some modern short hair, please. A sharp short haircut can make one look younger and on point!” commented one user. “Golden Girls hairdos, of course, make them look older,” noted another user. One even claimed that the “old” photos were altered: “I’m sure this is true, but you are going by pics that have enhanced and darkened wrinkles.”

Nicole hasn’t provided any examples of celebrities with dated long hair who look younger with a short haircut, creating the illusion that only long middle-parted styles make you look younger. We bet photos of Helen Mirren with a rounded bob or Jamie Lee Curtis with a perky pixie would look younger compared to their photoshopped images with long hair.

In fact, a lot of women choose a shorter style as they age, and there’s good reasoning behind it. YouTuber Style Me Jenn, who specializes in beauty and style tips based on unique physical features, proportions, and colors, gives a valid explanation for why women opt for shorter hair as they age. One reason she lists is the proportional changes our faces experience over time. From hormonal changes to gravity pulling our faces down, these factors contribute to our faces appearing visually longer as we age.

Look at your photos as a baby and compare them with those from your childhood, teenage years, and adulthood. You’ll likely notice that your face becomes longer over time. We inherently recognize longer faces as being more mature and shorter faces as being more childlike.

“Long hair also has a tendency to drag our gaze downwards,” says Jenn. That’s why as we age, we might feel better suited for short hair. Short hair creates a visual break that stops the gaze from being dragged down and makes your face look fresher. It lifts and opens up facial features.

Additionally, when hair thins as you get older, long locks can start looking flat and limp. Layers and choppy ends in cuts like bobs or pixies add texture and give the appearance of thicker, abundant hair.

Ultimately, while the right haircut can make you look younger or older, it’s not just about the length. Choose a haircut that reflects your personality and style preferences, ensuring it aligns with your overall look and wardrobe.

For more insights, check out our articles Viral Haircut Sparks Heated Controversy and Short Hair, Long Controversy: Miss France’s Pixie Cut Erupts Into Cultural Debate.

Featured images via @lipsandlattes