This article has been updated since its initial publish date to include more expert insight.
Are you a woman over 40 looking to switch up your hairstyle? You’re in luck–we’ve rounded up the four stunning hairstyles and cuts that many stylists say are flattering for mature beauties.
We asked hair experts about the following popular looks on social media: ‘waterfall’ bangs, the ‘mob’ cut, the modern, revamped shag, the ‘rose’ bun and the ‘bixie.’ We have all the tips you need to make these looks work for you!
Read on for suggestions and insight from Gina Rivera, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, Lauren Udoh, professional hair stylist and hair creative director at WigReports, John Belt, hair expert and owner of Belt Salon and Ghanima Abdullah, cosmetologist and hair expert at The Right Hairstyles and Krysta Guerrero, owner and stylist at Base Salon Chicago.
Expert Advice: Top 5 Current & Trendy Haircuts And Styles for Mature Beauties
1. Waterfall Bangs
Earlier this spring, Anne Hathaway wowed fans with a new hairstyle, and Woman&Home dubbed her cut to be 'waterfall' bangs, and from the way that the wispy fringe frames her face and cascades down just under her eyebrows, we think it’s a perfect name!
The Oscar winner's bangs differ from traditional curtain bangs that she’s rocked in the past as they don’t have to be worn parted, and are much bolder. As the outlet notes, this cut is defined by "longer pieces of hair that reduce in length the further inward they get– but still keep a shaggy, textured finish." The publication adds, "think curtain bangs, but just a smidge edgier."
As for why this style is so great for women over 40, Rivera notes that it can hide signs of thinning or hair loss at the scalp and crown, a common area where mature beauties see this occur.
These bangs, she adds, can "also detract from the appearance of fine or limp hair and can add dimension to a style." She points out that they can also "be styled in a variety of ways which can lend to the hair appearing fuller."
2. 'Mob' Cut
You're probably already familiar with the classic 'bob' and its longer cousin the 'lob,' so the 'mob' refers to a 'medium bob,' Udoh explains. She deems it to be a "sleek and stylish choice for many occasions." It's a versatile cut, she adds, that looks "great on almost any face shape and hair type," as seem here on Cate Blanchett.
While traditional bobs often end at the chin and lobs fall at the collarbone, the 'mob' ends in the middle of the neck. "The mob cut can be adjusted to complement your features and create an attractive silhouette," Udoh says.
This not-too-long and also not-too-short cut provides women over 40 with "volume at the crown, with textured layers that frame the face nicely while still maintaining an easy-to-manage style," she notes.
3. Modern, Revamped Shag
A shag is timeless 70s cut that never truly went out of style, but as seen on TikTok and elsewhere nowadays, more modern versions tend to have wavier strands, curtain bangs and a less blunt look when it comes to layering. Rivera describes a shag to be an "amazing cut that is well-recognized for being versatile" for women over 40.
A layered, wavier shag, as seen above on January Jones, offers "nice variations for both longer and shorter hair," Rivera points out. She notes that the choice to "add a bang," and especially a voluminous, curtain, center-parted fringe can "add a fresh surprise to this look," Rivera suggests.
For gals with longer hair, she says that "an added choice is to shorten the hair up a bit to the collarbone or above" to create some texture, and adding subtle layers to soften.
4. 'Rose' Bun
The updo style commonly known as the rose bun, as its name suggests, resembles the flower with one’s long hair pinned up at the back of their head in a coiled look.
The style, as rocked by Bella Hadid above, was dreamed up by hair stylist Lacy Redway, who spoke to Allure about revamping a traditional slicked-back ballerina bun into something more. "Just like flowers, each bun should take its own personalized form," she explained.
"The rose bun style could potentially help hide hair loss or thinning hair as the coils can create volume and texture around the bun," Belt points out. For many women dealing with the stress of hair loss, this style is a quick fix and an elegant choice for any occasion.
Abdullah notes that if you want to show less gray hairs, this style can help you accomplish that goal as well. "If your grays come out randomly in the top of your head, making this high bun or topknot can help conceal them," she says. "Play around with what looks nice on you," Abdullah advises.
5. 'Bixie'
If you can't decide between a bob or pixie, we have good news. You don't have to! A 'bixie' (or bob-meets-pixie) like Kristen Stewart's is very in for fall, and can be a very flattering and chic choice, Guerrero explains.
There are elements of both styles to play with here in this social media-fave cut, and autumn is a great time to find what works for you. "The bixie is a traditional bob haircut that’s combined with a pixie," she says.
"The nice thing about a bixie is its versatility — not only can you adjust the length and opt to have it a little longer, but there is no one way to do it when it comes to the style. The cut is totally customizable based on your preference."
Good to know!
