A turkey neck, also known as a wattle neck or double chin, is a common sign of aging that many women want to conceal, especially in the summer months when less clothing is worn As we get older, skin loses elasticity and fat accumulates under the chin and on the neck, causing this saggy appearance. While some women embrace their changing bodies, others look for ways to disguise problem areas that make them self-conscious
The good news is that with the right fashion choices, hairstyles, skincare and makeup techniques, turkey necks can be minimized for a smoother, slimmer look. This comprehensive guide shares tips, tricks and product recommendations for disguising a turkey neck during the summer.
Choose Strategic Necklines and Details
Certain necklines and garment details will help camouflage loose neck skin Some strategies include
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High necklines: Look for tops, dresses and jumpsuits with high crew necks, mock necks, turtlenecks or halter styles. These necklines provide more coverage over the neck area.
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Ruffles and details: Ruffled necklines, lace trim, pleats and embellishments around the neck draw the eye upwards and create a smoother appearance.
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Scarves: Lightweight scarves made of silk, chiffon or gauze can be wrapped around the neck in flattering ways. Infinity scarves or european loops are easy summer scarf styles.
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Statement necklaces: Bold, chunky necklaces bring focus to the cleavage rather than the neck. Go for styles with interesting beads, chains, pearls or gems.
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Collared shirts: Popping the collar on a button-down blouse or polo shirt helps disguise neck laxity. Stiff collars work best.
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Shawl collars: Tops with a folded over shawl collar provide extra coverage and frame the face beautifully.
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One-shoulder or off-the-shoulder: These asymmetrical styles draw attention to the shoulders and arms rather than the neck area. Great for a night out!
Choose Flattering Hairstyles
The right cut, part and styling of your hair can help minimize a turkey neck. Consider these options:
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Shoulder length or longer: Longer hair helps hide loose neck skin, especially when worn full at the perimeter of the face. Add lots of volume at the crown.
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Side parts: Creating a deep side part focuses the eye away from the neck and slims the area.
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Face-framing layers: Having longer face-framing layers around the sides softens the jawline. Ask your stylist for this.
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Bangs or fringe: Stylish bangs cover the forehead and draw attention upwards and away from the neck.
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Ponytails and updos: Pulling hair back and off the face is very slimming. Go for voluminous ponytails, buns, braids and chignons.
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Blowouts and curls: Add lots of volume and body with blow-dried locks or bouncy curls to make your neck look longer. Use volumizing products.
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Hair down: Wearing your hair down, rather than pulled back, will help hide neck laxity. Opt for medium to long lengths.
Use Makeup to Contour and Slim
Like a toolbox, the right makeup products and application techniques can transform your turkey neck. Here’s how:
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Concealer & bronzer: Use concealer to minimize the shadow caused by neck wrinkles, then apply matte bronzer underneath the jawline and down the neck to contour. Blend well.
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Cream blush: Smile and apply blush to the apples of the cheeks rather than on the saggy areas. Creams blend better than powders.
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Highlight cheeks: Apply highlighter powder or cream just above the blush on the tops of the cheekbones to draw the eye upwards.
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Eyes and lips: Play up your best features like eyes and lips to draw attention away from your neck. A bold lip color does wonders!
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Avoid shimmer: Shimmery blushes, bronzers and powders emphasize skin laxity. Stick to matte finishes.
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Set makeup: Use a translucent powder to set liquid and cream products. This prevents fading and creasing.
Moisturize and Treat Your Neck Daily
Consistent skincare is key to preventing and treating a turkey neck. Be diligent with these tips:
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Moisturize daily: Use a rich moisturizer containing peptides, antioxidants and emollients. Hydrated skin looks plumper.
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Sun protection: Wear sunscreen on your neck every day to prevent further sun damage. Reapply often.
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Retinoids: Apply prescription retinoids like tretinoin to boost collagen production and increase skin thickness and elasticity.
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Vitamin C: Serums with vitamin C brighten skin and protect against environmental damage. Choose stable formulas (L-ascorbic acid).
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Neck creams: Look for targeted neck creams with ingredients like collagen-stimulating niacinamide and hyaluronic acid for hydration.
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Lasers & ultrasound: Seek professional treatments like ultrasound, radiofrequency and laser skin tightening for dramatic improvement on neck wrinkles and sagging.
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Exercise: Perform daily neck exercises to firm up the platysma muscles. This will improve muscle tone.
Additional Tips and Tactics
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Embrace patterns and prints to distract the eye from your neck. Florals, stripes and polka dots all work. Steer clear of solid, bright colors.
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Pay attention to posture. Stand up straight with shoulders back. Good posture instantly makes you look slimmer.
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Blending your makeup from the jawline to neck helps create a seamless, slimming effect.
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Adding visual “weight” at the bottom half of your body helps balance out a fuller upper face and neck area. Try wide-leg pants, full skirts and chunky shoes.
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Look for tops and dresses made of drapey, weightless fabrics like silk that won’t cling to your neck. Stay away from anything too stiff.
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Avoid plunging necklines that put the focus directly on your chest and neck. Stick to higher modest cuts.
With some creativity and diligence, turkey necks and double chins can be concealed for gorgeous summer style even as we age. The key is drawing attention away from problem areas using flattering styling choices from head-to-toe and taking proper skincare measures. Experiment with the tips in this guide to look and feel your best all season long!
Hide Your Aging Neck with a Scarf
This year I fell back in love with wearing scarves if I didn’t like how the top looked on me. Scarves are probably the nicest way to hide our necks and frame our faces with more added color.
This rope style infinity scarf from Necknots has been worn so many times with so many of my tops because of it’s camouflaging abilities as well as it’s uniqueness.
You can read more about this fabulous scarf here: One Versatile Infinity Scarf
I actually wore a long silky leopard print wrap from Chico’s like a scarf for this Thanksgiving post with my granddaughters. I was trying to find a scarf that matched this camel colored dolman sleeve oversized sweater and decided on the long scarf.
Related Post: Counting My Blessings This Year at Thanksgiving
This liquid leather jacket from Clara Sunwoo has a stand-up collar that helps to hide my neck but I added a scarf as another option.
Related Post: Liquid Leather by Clara Sunwoo
The floral scarf from J.Jill that I recently wore in two colors is now on sale!
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You can find this entire outfit on sale at J.Jill!
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Wear A Higher Neckline or Pop Your Collar to Hide your Aging Neck!
Turtlenecks, mock turtlenecks, cowl necks, and higher necklines will also hide your aging neck and decolletage.
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If you are looking for a stylish and chic look to hide your aging neck, always remember the timeless popped (upturned) collar as another way to look classy. I love to starch my collars to keep them up.
Hide Sagging Jowls & Turkey Neck With Simple Makeup Tips
FAQ
How to make turkey neck less noticeable?
- An anti-aging skin care routine, including neck creams and lotions can help minimize collagen loss and tighten your skin.
- Laser skin resurfacing uses heat to rejuvenate your skin.
- Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound to lift and tighten your skin.
How to cover your neck in summer?
Bandana! I’ve recently started wearing them and they are amazing for covering my neck on jackets and coats that just have a lower collar. For extra warmth you can wear a neck gaiter and then wear the bandana overtop that.
What can I do if I have a turkey neck?
Turkey neck exercises: Daily neck exercises can strengthen neck muscles, which may help improve your neck’s appearance. For ideas on moves you can try, ask a dermatologist. Botox® for turkey neck: As the platysma muscles weaken, vertical bands or cords can appear on your neck. “The muscles become tight and enlarged,” Dr. Newman explains.
How do you wear a turtleneck?
To cover up a saggy neck, try wearing a top with a low neckline that distracts from your neck. A deep V-neck or a shallow scoop neck that’s low near your breastbone are good alternatives to a turtleneck.
Can a saggy turkey neck look younger?
Nothing ruins a great outfit like a peek of wrinkling, saggy turkey neck. But with just a few tricks of the trade, your neck can look younger than ever using accessories and a simple ultrasound treatment. Here are our smart tips for turning back the clock on your skin:
What is the best way to hide your neck?
Scarves are probably the nicest way to hide our necks and frame our faces with more added color. This rope style infinity scarf from Necknots has been worn so many times with so many of my tops because of it’s camouflaging abilities as well as it’s uniqueness. You can read more about this fabulous scarf here: One Versatile Infinity Scarf
Can Ultherapy help hide a turkey neck?
Plus, your good taste and attention to fashion trends will make your age even more undetectable. When you’re sick of rooting around in your closet for accessories that can hide your turkey neck, there’s an FDA-cleared non-surgical solution to the rescue: Ultherapy’s ultrasound skin tightening treatment.
What causes a turkey neck?
Dr. Newman says these six factors can cause turkey neck: Aging: Your skin naturally loses elasticity as you get older. “Gravity takes over, and the skin on your cheeks starts to drift down,” explains Dr. Newman. “Your cheek skin then pools underneath your jawline and in your neck.”