This article has been updated since its initial publish date to include more expert insight.
The first week of spring 2024 is almost here, and what better way to celebrate warmer weather than with a revamped new ‘do? We rounded up three trendy haircuts and three colors that can currently be found on BeautyTok, Instagram and, of course, sported by your fave stylish celebs. We also checked in with professional hair stylists and hair experts to learn more about these looks that are currently all the rage, and tips for rocking them over 40.
Read on for suggestions and insight from Adriana Tapia, color specialist at Pierre Michel Salon, Lauren Udoh, professional hair stylist and Hair Creative Director of WigReports, Shantella Rios, hair expert and founder of Tame Ur Mane Studio, Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles, Gina Rivera, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites and Dr. Roshan Vara, hair transplant surgeon and co-founder at The Treatment Rooms.
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1. 'Mob' Haircut
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 this cut to be a "sleek and stylish choice for many occasions." It's a versatile 'do, she adds, that looks "great on almost any face shape and hair type." While traditional bobs often end at the chin and lobs fall at the collarbone, the 'mob' ends in the middle of the neck, as seen here on Angela Bassett. "The mob cut can be adjusted to complement your features and create an attractive silhouette," Udoh adds.
This not-too-long and also not-too-short cut provides "volume at the crown, with textured layers that frame the face nicely while still maintaining an easy-to-manage style," she points out. Rios adds that the 'mob' gives a "youthful appearance" as it promotes symmetry and when cut to suit your face shape, won't draw attention to wrinkling or signs of aging. You can wear it "sleek and structured as well as wavy and tousled," she suggests.
2. Butterfly Cut
If you have naturally thinner locks, a timeless, 90s-esque blowout can bring life to flatter strands, Abdullah says. This TikTok-trendy cut, often referred to as the 'butterfly style,' seen on Sydney Sweeney, is the "epitome of the 90s blowout," Abdullah notes. This haircut, she adds, can "double or triple your volume" at any age because short layers are used on the "top of the cut to make the hair really stand out."
Then, Abdullah notes that "slightly longer layers are used from the mid-lengths to the bottom to encourage the hair to fall just right." This cut not only works "great for long hair," Abdullah stresses, but also "for adding volume if your hair is thinning." As thinner tresses or hair loss is very common with age, this clever style can help draw attention away from any bald patches and emphasize the symmetry of your facial features, instead.
3. Shaggy Bobs with Wispy Bangs
A shag is "another amazing cut that is well-recognized for being versatile" for mature beauties, Rivera says. A quintessential shag, as Taylor Swift rocks here, offers "nice variations for both longer and shorter hair." For even more volume, movement and interest, Rivera suggests "adding a wispy bang" as this can "add a fresh surprise to this look." For those with longer hair or lobs, she says that "an added choice is to shorten the hair up a bit to the collarbone or above" to create some texture by adding subtle layers to soften. As seen in the past few years, there have been several stunning iterations and versions of a classic shag, and it never goes out of style for many reasons!
Trendy Hair Colors:
4. Salt-And-Pepper Strands
Want to go full gray like Andie MacDowell? This look is so in! The actress has been sporting a salt-and-peppery color along with her gorgeous natural curls, and many fans can't get enough. If you're already going gray and want a more put-together, blended look, Vara points out that gray hair can often look dry and dull as it is a different texture than hair with more pigment.
"It’s helpful to use a glossy serum that helps to amp up the shininess of your gray hair," Vara recommends. This can be used "each time you style your hair for an effortless look and that makes your gray hair pop." MacDowell's dark gray hair is also longer than other bobs (making it fall more into the 'lob' territory). Its collarbone-level length and rich dark hue is undeniably chic!
5. Herringbone Highlights
If you look close at Gwyneth Paltrow's tresses, you'll see that her gray hair at the top of her head is intricately woven into the rest of her blonde strands. This coloring technique, Tapia explains, “combines warm and cool toned” highlights. Herringbone highlights intentionally include “natural gray hair into the hairs’ overall color” when coloring it to create a more natural overall look, she adds. This trendy look can also currently be seen on stars like Sarah Jessica Parker and Jennifer Aniston.
Tapia stresses that it’s “not really covering or eliminating gray.” This works great for women who are “starting to go gray,” and who want to “ease into" the new color. “The highlights are blended into the natural color to make graying hair stand out less against someone’s original natural hair color,” Tapia says.
6. 'Expensive Brunette' Locks
Hailey Bieber recently cut her typically long brunette tresses into a chic chin-length bob, but she still continues to opt for what the internet has deemed an 'expensive brunette' color. This popular shade name, Lordet explains, refers to glossy, healthy looking, and radiant brunette tresses that often have hints of warmer, caramel hues. This TikTok-trendy style, as Lordet points out, gives a lighter touch to darker hair and highlights your best features in the process.
“We are seeing a warm trend this season,” Lordet says, adding, “instead of cool tones, more and more are opting for golden honey tones and caramel blonde, specifically for those with chocolate brown hair.” This look has become rather popular in recent months, he notes, because it “helps to make your complexion warmer, giving you a cozy feel during the colder months.” As the weather gets even warmer, he says, it'll still continue to be a sought after look, and it is a perfect trend to try out for women over 40 who want to rock a timeless glow!
