The Styling Details, Prep Tips and Face-Framing Techniques That Make These Looks Feel Soft, Polished and Effortless
Healthy shine, soft movement and touchable styling are key details clients over 50 are asking for right now—especially when it comes to blowouts, ponytails and updos that feel polished without looking overly styled. For stylists, that means focusing less on stiffness and overdone volume and more on a healthy-looking finish, strategic face framing and movement that keeps the hair feeling current.
Vanessa Drozda (@vidabeautybabe), salon owner and Joico Artist of more than a decade, recently showcased her signature approach to healthy-looking hair on Netflix’s “Age of Attraction.”
“My approach to hair completely changed in my 40s,” Vanessa explains. “I began focusing more on health and condition, because youthful hair is shiny, healthy and silky.”
Vanessa’s styling philosophy centers on softness, movement and strategic face framing to keep styles polished without looking overworked. “Keep hair soft and touchable and stay away from those stiff, teased looks,” she advises.
Below, Vanessa shares the prep tips, placement techniques and styling steps behind three elevated hairstyles for women over 50.
1. Soft, Glossy Blowout
“This shiny blowout is my go-to, everyday look,” she says, explaining that softer curls and face-framing movement are what keep the finish polished and effortless.
Step 1: Start With Moisture and Color Protection
“I have a non-negotiable…and it’s starting every cleanse with Joico K-PAK Color Therapy Shampoo,” Vanessa explains. “The formula is gentle, but it keeps my color vibrant for twice as long and leaves hair super healthy.”
She follows with Joico K-PAK Color Therapy Conditioner, focusing on moisture to help avoid dullness and dryness. “I like to leave it in for three to five minutes,” she shares.
Step 2: Prep For Shine
Vanessa applies Joico Dream Blowout Glass™ throughout wet hair before drying. “It’s a heat protector up to 450 degrees [Fahrenheit],” she says. “Dream Blowout Glass also seals in moisture and fights humidity and frizz for up to 72 hours.”
Vanessa’s pro tip: Use it solo before the hair is fully dry to maintain softness and movement through the final style.
Step 3: Focus on Soft Movement Around the Face
To create the finished shape, Vanessa uses softer curls and movement around the face instead of overly structured styling. “Keep hair soft and touchable and stay away from those stiff, teased looks,” she advises.
For stylists using a traditional dryer and iron setup, Vanessa recommends a 1.25-inch round brush to create bounce and smoothness without overworking the hair.
Looking for more? See all the long hairstyles clients over 50 are asking for.
2. Effortless Updo With Face-Framing Detail
Vanessa’s approach to updos is all about softness, movement and shape that still feels effortless. Instead of creating a tightly structured style, Vanessa keeps the finish airy and touchable with loose ends, soft bends and face-framing detail.
Step 1: Start With Day 2 or 3 Hair
Vanessa builds this updo on day two or three hair, using Dream Blowout Glass beforehand to help preserve shine, softness and humidity resistance between styling days. “This protects me from humidity, and days later, my hair is still shiny and moisturized and ready for my updo,” she explains.
Step 2: Protect the Hair Before Restyling
Before using any hot tools, Vanessa applies Joico Heat Hero throughout the hair. “It protects hair up to 450 degrees [Fahrenheit] and has a built-in split-end mender,” she says. “Not only am I avoiding hair damage, but I’m also helping to heal it.” She then adds a few fresh curls through the ends to create softer texture and movement throughout the updo.
Step 3: Keep the Shape Lifted and Soft
To maintain a more lifted shape, Vanessa sweeps the hair into a high ponytail before creating the bun. “Keeping the ponytail elevated creates the illusion of an instant facelift,” she explains.
Instead of wrapping the bun tightly, Vanessa leaves the ends loose and fanned out for a softer finish. She also pulls out face-framing tendrils at the corners of the eyebrows to keep the style from feeling overly severe.
Step 4: Lock In Shine Without Stiffness
To finish, Vanessa uses Joico Hold Hero to give the style hold while maintaining softness and shine. “This ultra-hold and mega-shine finishing spray gives the updo stability without that stiff or crispy look,” she says.
3. Bouncy Ponytail With Soft Texture
A polished ponytail can completely change the overall shape of the face—especially when placement, movement and shine are part of the strategy. Vanessa calls this one of her favorite quick styling looks because it creates lift while still feeling soft and wearable.
Press play to watch the tutorial:
Step 1: Prep With Heat Protection and Shine
Before styling, Vanessa applies Heat Hero throughout the hair to help protect against heat damage while maintaining a glossy finish. “It’s my ultimate armor against heat damage, protects hair up to 450 degrees [Fahrenheit], leaves hair with a glossy finish and helps conceal split ends,” she explains.
Step 2: Add Soft Bend Through the Ends
Vanessa curls the hair through the midlengths and ends before finger-combing through the shape to keep the finish soft instead of overly structured.
Step 3: Focus on Ponytail Placement
Using a paddle brush and spiral ponytail holder, Vanessa secures the ponytail high on the head to create a more lifted effect. “I want my pony to land at a 45-degree angle from my cheekbones,” she advises. “This is going to draw the eye upwards and give an instant facelift result.”
Step 4: Create Extra Lift
To elevate the shape even more, Vanessa adds a second ponytail holder roughly two inches above the base to help support the ponytail and create additional lift and bounce.
Step 5: Finish With Hold and Shine
Vanessa finishes the style with Hold Hero for long-lasting hold and reflective shine without making the ponytail feel stiff. “This ultra-hold and mega-shine finishing spray keeps every glossy hair in place without that stiff or crispy look,” she says.
