Choose the Right Hair Color in Your 40s

You’ve hit the big 4-0 and it’s a milestone. The great news is that Madison Reed’s hair color gives you more control over how you look, how you feel, and how you maintain your beauty routine. Read on for expert tips to suit your changing style and add color to your life!

Can hair color make me look younger?

Yes! Choosing the right hair color can make you look years younger. Whether your hair is already color-treated or you’re considering coloring your hair to cover stubborn grays, it’s a good time to assess if your hair color is right for you. Sporting the wrong hair color can leave you looking washed out and, if the contrast is sharp enough, accentuate dark circles and wrinkles.

Here’s why: As we age, cell renewal slows down and our complexion becomes duller and paler. These changes often cause a subtle shift in skin tone. We also naturally lose volume in our faces over time, which means that we’re more prone to having hollow-looking areas.

Match your skin tone
The first step to choosing the most flattering hair color is identifying your skin tone. Why is this important? Choosing the right shade can give you the appearance of younger, radiant skin by reflecting light onto the face. It can also enhance the natural flush of your cheeks, making them appear less sunken. If your face shape is angular, the right color can also soften the appearance, combating the look of thinner skin as we lose fat beneath the surface. Here are a couple easy ways to figure out your skin tone:

1. Look at the veins on your forearm. If your veins look blue, your undertone is cool. If they appear green, your undertone is warm.

2. If you prefer the way you look wearing silver and platinum, you most likely have cool skin tone. If you prefer gold, you’re probably warm toned.

3. For even more info, try these tips to determine your skin tone.

Once you know your skin tone, answer a few quick questions to build your Hair Profile and get hair color recommendations tailored to your needs. And if you prefer the hands-on approach of a colorist, Madison Reed’s Color Crew is available to help by phone, chat, and email.

Is there a way to fix coarse or thinning hair?

Most women know they’ll be grappling with grays as they age, but changes to the texture of hair might come as a surprise. Gray hair generally feels more coarse and is more brittle. There are a number of reasons your hair feels different over time. Hormonal changes, especially the decline of estrogen, can cause hair to become drier, coarser, and a lot less shiny. Hair growth naturally starts to slow down and the diameter of each strand shrinks, causing thinner hair.

Environmental damage can occur from exposure to UV rays in sunlight, dry air, harsh winds, and other elements. Your hair regimen also plays a role. Damage occurs from a lot of factors like friction from brushing, heat styling with dryers, curling irons and flat irons, and exposure to harsh chemicals during hair treatments. What can you do about this? Lots!

Update your hair care routine
Use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to nourish your strands and lock in your color. Nutrients like lupine flower protein, keratin (the natural protein found in hair), argan oil, and ginseng root extract provide UV protection, repair past damage, and soften hair so that it feels great.

Your hair care routine could also benefit from a second look. If you wash your hair every day, take a minute to read this guide about how often to shampoo. You could prevent damage and fading if your hair type allows for less frequent washing… not to mention saving yourself a lot of time!

No matter how often you wash your hair, always remember to towel dry gently and resist the urge to rub it back and forth. The friction can cause split ends. You can even use an old, clean t-shirt to squeeze the water out of hair, for a smoother texture than a towel. Then, to minimize the damage caused by blow dryers and irons, use these expert styling tips to look hot without the heat.

Upgrade to a healthy hair color
Bet you didn’t know that changing to a healthy hair color can help you get the best hair of your life! A lot of women think that getting the color they want means using harsh chemicals, but that’s not true anymore because of advances in hair color science. Radiant Cream Color is designed to be an alternative that delivers gorgeous color with ingredients you can feel good about.

The results are so incredible that women everywhere are sharing stories about how it has turned the health of their hair around! Jami, a mom and a redhead, literally went from a salon mishap that broke her hair to making her sisters jealous with her rich, glowing curls.

Along with feeling fab, the right tones can also make hair look thicker by giving it dimension, shine, and an overall more youthful appearance. Choosing your color based on your hair type, skin tone, and personal style will ensure the best results. That’s why Madison Reed makes it easy with a Color Match Quiz and colorists ready to listen and help.

Is it possible to get salon results at home?

Time becomes more and more precious as we enter our 40s. Between family, career, and making sure there’s room to enjoy life, it’s hard to make the time for several hours in a salon chair every month.

You don’t have to choose!

Madison Reed removes harsh ingredients to create a color with a lower chemical profile and adding nourishing elements, while still giving you permanent hair color that looks beautiful and vibrant for a good, long time.

That means you get control back over your schedule because you can color at home and never wait for an appointment again. Go one step further by setting up an automatic color kit delivery, and you’ll hold onto a lot more time and money for the other things that matter in your life.

You can also turn this beauty treatment into a relaxing day to recharge. Get inspired with this complete guide to planning your own home spa day.

Bottom line: Being your most beautiful self doesn’t need to take a lot of time or effort at any age. Get a little bit of pampering and a little bit of glamour all in the convenience of your home, on your own time. 

Looking for inspiration? Check out our hair color ideas page.