The point of everything isn’t to look young — it’s to look amazing. And sometimes all it takes is a new haircut to lift your spirits, take you out of a rut, and make you feel fabulous. If you’re over 40 and feel like you’ve tried it all — you’ve cut it short, you’ve grown it long — you may be looking for something that’s a modern-day classic. These are the 11 timeless haircuts that you won’t feel the need to change after two months — or even two years. These haircuts are great at any age and have stood the test of time.
Birkin Bangs
Birkin bangs, affectionally named after French superstar Jane Birkin, are long, blunt, and soft bangs that blend beautifully into long layered haircuts. They give an aura of playfulness and, yes, youthfulness, if that’s right up your alley.
Long Pixie
The long pixie haircut, shown here on Audrey Tautou, is a delightfully fun cut that lets you play with the texture in your hair. This cut keeps the sides and back short and chic and encourages length at the top — just enough so you can decide whether you want to slick it back, to the side, or in undone spikes.
Blunt Bob
It’s a challenge to find a haircut that’s as much of a classic as the bob. The blunt bob has blunt ends that can help make thin hair look thicker and fuller, and it stop right along the jawline to help give your face and features a lift.
Shag
Natasha Lyonne looks fantastic with her shag haircut because it allows her natural texture to really shine through. This cut is lifted straight from the ‘70s and features shorter layers around the face that are usually feathered for a lighter feel. These layers are also usually cut with a razor.
Center-Parted Medium Hair
Center hair parts are often seen as “do not’s” if you have long hair because they can emphasize sparseness at the scalp on thinner hair. But once you cut your hair a bit — even to the shoulder or right above or below it — a center part can look chic and elegant.
Long, Layered Hair
Just because you reach a certain age doesn’t mean you are obligated to cut your hair. If you love the look of long hair and can maintain it with regular trims and a routine that includes conditioning and maybe a mask here and there, by all means, keep it long. Cutting long layers into your hair is a good way to give it shape and movement.
Angled Bob
The angled bob is proof that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel: sometimes you can just tweak a classic slightly to come up with another modern classic. This style keeps its chin-length shape and adds architectural structure with layers that are angled toward the face or that are shorter on one side and longer on the other.
Voluminous Curls
Any haircut that brings out your curls, or allows you to create effortless heatless or heated curls, is a classic keeper. Curls and waves give your hair instant volume and can help thinning hair feel and look more voluminous. Talk to your stylist about adding layers that will help encourage curl or wave patterns.
Shoulder-Length Hair
Some consider shoulder-length hair the “perfect” length because it isn’t so long that it will drag down your features, nor is it so short the you may wonder if you have the features for that particular cut. It works on everyone, is great for showcasing natural texture, and is easier to maintain than long hair. Plus: you can still throw it up into a bun on mornings when you just can’t deal.
Lob
Ah, the lob — the great compromise between shoulder-length hair and a bob. The lob sits around the collarbone, so it will make thin or fine hair look bulkier. It can be worn blunt or with layers, straight or curly, pulled half back or in a headband. It’s truly a versatile modern classic and a wonderful first step toward shorter hair if you want to cut off some length, but aren’t ready to take the plunge and try a bob or pixie yet.
Long, Wavy Hair With Side Bangs
There’s no hair style that isn’t turned into a more major STYLE with the addition of side-swept bangs. Call these an early aughts hair obsession that never really went away — it just reinvented itself. If you want to make one small change that will still make you feel like you did something different with your hair, consider side bangs.
