First Olivia Colman stepped out with long, silver curls at the Zurich Film Festival, and now Kylie Minogue is giving us another reason to embrace a little extra length this month. Seen at this year's Academy Museum Gala, Kylie made a gorgeous case for long-haired glamour over 50 – and the possibilities extensions can offer.
The Aussie singer had significantly longer hair than we saw her with just a month ago as she appeared at the glitzy LA event this weekend. Her hair, styled in loose beachy waves, cascaded down to bust level – several inches longer than it was at a media event on 24th September. Last month’s fringe had also been softly blended into her longer lengths to complete the makeover.
Kylie’s new look is likely down to subtly-placed extensions, according to Inanch Emir, founder of INANCH London who is the extensions specialist behind Olivia Colman’s recent hair transformation. While it may be clip-in pieces, the singer has been seen wearing her longer lengths in a recent stage show too, suggesting it's a longer-term enhancement.
Kylie’s longer locks take to the stage
‘Kylie is a true hair chameleon,’ says Inanch. ‘But she always seems to gravitate back towards glossy lengths and effortless volume. The secret is to create this fullness without making the hair look heavy or overly styled.’
Kylie had shorter hair in late September
She adds, ‘Her waves aren’t overly perfect, the volume isn’t exaggerated, and the colour has a beautiful natural dimension. Everything works together to create a look that feels both timeless and modern.’
Kylie has new goddess-like lengths
How to achieve the Kylie look
To achieve a similar effect, Inach favours premium-quality, 100% human hair extensions, matched to the wearer’s natural texture and colour. At her salon, she uses her own Gold Class Hair range, customising the length, shade and texture for each client. A bouncy blow-dry and gentle styling with a large-barrel tong help create those loose, flowing waves.
‘The most important thing is that the extensions move naturally with the client’s own hair,’ she explains. ‘When extensions are expertly applied and blended, nobody should be able to tell where the natural hair ends and the extensions begin.’
Kylie’s hair looked so thick and healthy
And Kylie’s look achieves exactly this. ‘The soft layers around her face prevent the hair from looking too heavy, while the volume through the mid-lengths and ends gives it that gorgeous, lived-in texture,’ explains Inanch.
Kylie is also the perfect example of why women should never feel they have to cut their hair shorter as they get older, she adds. ‘It’s not about age – it’s about choosing the right length, shape and volume to complement your features.’
How can hair extensions enhance mature hair?
It’s more about thickness, less about extra inches when you're older – this isn't about bum-skimming Love Island lengths. For anyone who has noticed their hair looking finer, adding extra body via extension is often what achieves the desired effect rather than mermaid lengths.
The colour and styling are so soft and pretty
‘As we age, hair can naturally lose some of its density, which can make achieving longer, fuller hairstyles more challenging. Extensions offer a wonderful way to restore that volume and create the luxurious, healthy-looking hair that many women desire,’ says Inach. ‘Hair extensions can be incredibly flattering and rejuvenating, adding flexible movement and fullness around the face.’
Who can have hair extensions?
‘The most flattering extensions are always those that complement the individual rather than simply following a trend,’ says Inanch. ‘I consider the client’s face shape, height, natural hair density and lifestyle.’ Your hairdresser should help you find a finish that suits both your hair and your everyday routine.
If your hair is fine or thinning, a consultation is an essential starting point. ‘Not all extension methods are suitable for fine or thinning hair, and choosing the correct application technique is essential,’ Inanch explains.
‘I often recommend carefully placed micro-bonded extensions. These use very small, discreet bonds that can be customised according to the client’s natural hair density, allowing us to add volume and length without unnecessary bulk.’ She stresses that the weight, distribution and placement of the extensions must be carefully calculated to avoid putting the natural hair under excessive tension.
How to ensure hair extensions look natural
Once you've chosen a realistic length, the colour match is key. ‘I rarely recommend using one flat shade throughout, as natural hair contains subtle variations in tone,’ says Inanch. ‘Blending several complementary shades creates depth, dimension and a much more believable finish.’
Olivia Colman has also proved that mature hair looks great with added length from extensions
Good aftercare is just as important. ‘Beautiful extensions should continue to look and feel natural between salon appointments,’ she adds. She advises brushing extensions gently and regularly, using a good-quality, extension-compatible conditioner and leave-in conditioning spray to maintain softness and shine, and braiding hair at night to avoid snagging.
What’s the takeaway advice?
For women inspired by Kylie’s look, extensions could offer a way to capture that same glamour in a style that feels entirely their own. ‘What I particularly love is that we’re seeing more women over 50 embracing their individuality and refusing to conform to outdated beauty rules,’ Inanch says. ‘It’s all about celebrating confidence, individuality and timeless glamour.’