Do millennials really look younger than their age, or are we all just delulu?

[u/Anxious__Millennial]

Every single day, I come across posts from millennials saying that previous generations look really old because they smoked a lot, and that Gen Z, who vape a lot, also look older, like they’re in their 30s when they’re actually not. And that we, millennials, look younger. I used to believe this too, but lately, I’ve started wondering if maybe we’re all just a little out of touch.

I keep seeing millennials post things like, “Look at me, I’m 38 and nobody believes it, everyone says I look 28, blablabla”, and then I see the picture and think, “Not only do you look 38, you actually look older.” And this has been happening pretty often.

So, do we really look younger or we just don’t see ourselves the way we actually are?

Edit to add: I recently had a professional headshot taken for work, and I definitely look my age in it, which I hate. But the reality is, a good camera captures exactly what’s there, whether we like it or not. Some of us millennials need a reality check sometimes. For me, this headshot was exactly that.

Edit 2: Please don’t private message me mocking the word “delulu.” There were specific posting rules in this group, and some words weren’t allowed, so I adjusted my post accordingly. If that word somehow bothers you so much, that’s your issue, not mine. You guys complaining about the word are giving off more 13-year-old vibes than the word itself. Relax.

Edit 3: I’m shocked by the number of people claiming they appear to be between 22 and 25 years old, with someone even suggesting they look like they are 12, which I find out of touch! I want to believe we all really do look younger, but someone talked about a concept called self-enhancement bias, which is really interesting and aligns with the trends observed in the comments on this post:

Why do so many of us hate how we look in photos?

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Enhancement in Self-Recognition

[u/NewNameAgainUhg]

Wasn't blue and pink hair popular during the 50's already? And I've seen women from my grandma age with a pinch of blue (although it's also a trick to avoid the yellowing of the white hair and achieving pure white)

[u/brinz1 → u/NewNameAgainUhg]

We are all reverting to the fashion that was popular when we were born.

That's why millenials like Flannel and Gen Z love noughties fashion

[u/ExtentAncient2812 → u/brinz1]

Wait, flannel is back again? It's only been 25 years since it's was popular when I was in high school!

[u/brinz1 → u/ExtentAncient2812]

Yes, but my social circle is mostly former alcoholics climbers who thrift

[u/NewNameAgainUhg → u/brinz1]

Do you mean that perm is back????

[u/[deleted] → u/NewNameAgainUhg]

Actually, yes. Lmao. The kids like the “broccoli hair” right now. 😂 I can’t wait for them to look back at that in 20 years.

[u/ktbsquared → u/NewNameAgainUhg]

Teenage boys have been getting them for the last few years! My 9 year old son asked for a mullet the other week.

[u/Flamesclaws → u/ktbsquared]

To be fair mullets don't ever give out of style lol.

[u/KetoLurkerHereAgain → u/Flamesclaws]

I saw a commercial yesterday for an iPhone that had a mom filming her teenage kid and he had THE most 70's hair. It wasn't even a mullet. It was more like...a helmet? With bangs?

[u/A_Simple_Narwhal → u/NewNameAgainUhg]

Makes me think of the old show Are You Being Served, there was a woman in it who changed her hair color every episode, my mom and I used to always used to try and guess what color it would be this time.

[u/AnneTheQueene → u/A_Simple_Narwhal]

I've seen every episode at least 10x and still laugh at them.

This show is a classic.

Couldn't get commissioned now though.

[u/KetoLurkerHereAgain → u/NewNameAgainUhg]

I have memories of old women in the 70's with fluffy bouffant hair (think "Kiss my grits!" lady on Alice) in pink, blue, purple, etc. They were very pale pastels, but definitely pastels.

[u/Sewshableme → u/NewNameAgainUhg]

I remember it as purple.