Incredibly, your hair starts to age when you’re only 12. Hair is made up of keratins and as their production slows your locks lose substance, becoming thinner, flatter, duller, drier and diffi cult to manage. The most ageing thing of all, though, is when it loses its colour.
**Long gone?
**There used to be a rule that you couldn’t wear long hair once you were over 40. Well, tell that to Sarah Jessica Parker, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Salma Hayek, Julia Roberts and a host of other stars who have refused to cut their hair into a well-behaved bob.
“We can definitely break that old rule now,” agrees top Auckland stylist Natasha Radonich. “Keep your hair in tip-top condition and you can go for whatever style is most flattering for your face. Just remember there’s nothing worse than a mature woman wearing long hair that’s damaged or over-processed.”
In fact, the bob can be a pretty unforgiving cut if it’s too sharp and set. Softer, layered cuts tend to be more flattering on over-forties women. So is there else anything we should avoid? “Haircuts the teenage pop stars are wearing and pigtails!” says Natasha.
Grey or nay?
Some women suit grey hair, says Diane Shaskey, National Education Manager for Matrix Biolage. “If you have cooler skin tones then grey hair with a few lowlights looks great,” explains Diane. “But women with warmer skin tones will find grey drains the colour from the face and the eyes.”
How do you tell if you have a cool or warm skin tone? Check the underside of your arms. If your veins look blue then you’re cool-toned. If they look green then you’re warm-toned. The most low-maintenance way of dealing with grey hair is to stick closely to your natural shade and blend it out with balayage or foils for subtle highlights, playing with a few shades to give it a tonal look. “It’s not about blanket coverage,” says Natasha.
“It’s fine to expose some grey as you mature.” If you’ve decided to go completely grey then your stylist can use the same techniques to keep hair looking good while it’s in the in-between stages . The definite no-nos? Having your hair too dark for your skin tone and wearing stripy, high fashion colours.
**MY BEAUTY SECRETS
**Megan Douglas (47) is the founder of World Organic skincare.
My beauty philosophy is… Beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder. It’s a manifestation of who we are, both on the inside and the outside. If we feel beautiful we truly are beautiful.
The skincare products I can’t live without are… I always like to have a tube of The Organic Skin Co. Calming Calendula Cream with me – it’s an amazing all-rounder. It can be used as a face and hand moisturiserwhen needed, as well as a sMother and healer for scrapes, burns, eczema and bites, amongst other things. And River Veda’s Replenish Rose Attar Elixir Face Oil and Moisture Me Body Lotion.
My haircare secret is… I love Tints of Nature natural hair dye. I couldn’t live without it for the now rather-constant grey touchups! I use Organic Care shampoo and conditioners, which are available at the supermarket and are great value for money. This is important for someone like me who washes my long hair every second day! And finally, nothing can beat a good diet, with lots of flaxseed oil or fish omegas to help maintain hair in good condition.
The must-have products in my makeup bag are… Tweezers, concealer, a Maybelline NY black
mascara and a selection from our new The Organic Skin Co lipsticks and foundations, which are about to be launched.
My favourite beauty treat is… A great sauna or hot yoga class, both of which promote a lot of perspiration and are excellent for a deep cleanse of the skin and general detox, followed by relaxation with no schedules, things to do or places to be.
My biggest beauty sin is… Enjoying a decent-sized glass of wine most days. Even if it does contain antioxidants, it’s not brilliant for the skin.
The best thing my mother taught me about beauty was… That being relaxed, happy and eating good food are the most important beauty essentials, but at the end of the day, never judge a book by its cover. We’re all unique and should be embraced as such.
