Cutting hair shorter is often the go-to hairstyle for mature women, with chic pixie cuts known to highlight cheekbones and flatter contours of the face.

But Gary Douglas, co-founder of Hail Your Hair, has revealed an alternative for anyone dealing with the brunt of ageing locks.

Speaking previously to Express.co.uk, the hair expert highlighted that grey tones often aren’t the main annoyance for mature women, but rather thinning, brittle hair.

He explained: “As women begin menopause, they will likely experience a drop in oestrogen and progesterone levels. This can cause hair thinning and hair loss.”

Luckily it’s easily remedied with a simple change in style, and it doesn’t have to mean going super short.

When discussing the most suitable hairstyles for mature hair, Gary highlighted the appeal of bobs and layers.

“This classic haircut can look super flattering on older women when cut and styled correctly,” he remarked.

Gary said: “Styling a bob with layers, gentle waves and texture adds a touch of youthfulness while enhancing volume.”

However, bob haircuts should be approached carefully. The hair expert urged: “Avoid bobs with longer pieces in the front as this draws more attention to the neck area where you may first see signs of ageing”.

As for those who would rather not part with the length of their hair, Gary advised against sporting long locks without layers for those who are older.

“As our hair tends to thin with age, older women may want to avoid very long hair without layers,” he said.

Gary added: “Introducing light and gradual layers with long hair will add freshness and movement, helping your hair look healthier and giving a more youthful appearance.”

“That being said, every individual is different and we all have different styling preferences it’s always best to seek the advice of your hairdresser if you’re considering a significant change.”

Maintaining a new hairstyle is just important for people of any age but even more so for those with brittle and thin hair types.

Gary highlighted that aside from skipping out on nourishing strands with conditioner, air-drying locks naturally is one of the biggest hair care blunders.

He explained that it’s a common misconception that “air drying your hair is better than using a hair dryer”.

He said: “When hair is wet, it swells in size and can absorb a huge amount of water in comparison with its weight. This causes hair strands to become weaker and more susceptible to damage and breakage.”

To avoid this, he recommended drying hair with a hair dryer while employing the best heat-protectant practices; namely using a lower temperature and keeping the nozzle a safe distance from strands.