A new haircut can make or break your look, so getting a style that complements your features and makes you feel confident in your skin is essential. As we grow older, it becomes increasingly important to get a haircut that can highlights our natural beauty while drawing the eye away from areas that we might not feel most comfortable with (such as thinning hair spots, fine lines or wrinkles).
We spoke with experts Gina Rivera, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles and Krysta Guerrero, owner and stylist at Base Salon Chicago. They broke down some of their picks for the most flattering and fun haircuts to try over 40 to not only make you look healthy, radiant and stunning at any age, but also allow you to feel like the best version of yourself.
Asymmetrical Lob
The asymmetrical cut is another timeless classic that infuses your hair with movement, negating the look of strands hanging around one's face and causing them to look older than they are.
"Slightly longer than a bob, the length of the lob mixed with the different lengths makes it a fun, trendy, and youthful look," Rivera explains. This can be seen on Charlize Theron, above.
"Ask your stylist to cut the back of the hair slightly shorter. Those with fine hair should ask for a blunter cut to create the appearance of thicker hair," she continues.
The illusion of thicker hair will make your overall appearance seem more youthful, she notes, but those who already have plenty of hair will find that adding some layers into this look will reduce the weight of your strands.
Shaggy Bob or Lob
The shag is one beloved, edgy 70s haircut that never truly went out of style. It is undeniably one of the coolest cuts you could opt for to elevate your look.
"The shag is always a chic, youthful look that can be worn at any age. It’s a terrific way to frame the face and reduce the focus on fine lines that may arise with age," Rivera says. She notes that it can be done with any length, from lobs to a chin-length bob like Taylor Swift.
"Ask for a cut that has a lot of layers that are choppy with different lengths." The shag, she adds, looks great styled straight, but ladies with wavy or curly hair can also easily rock this look as it creates volume and bounce.
Side-Parted, Choppy Pixie
The pixie cut is undeniably one of the most loved cuts for women to opt for as they age, and it can be a great look (seen on Kate Mara) that offers plenty of versatility and takes very little time to style while still looking sleek.
"It can be spiked up, tousled with gel or slicked back. It can also be worn with bangs or even accessorized. It’s a perfect look for any age making it great to highlight the youthful spirit," Rivera says.
She recommends "bringing in a photo of the pixie that you like to your stylist." This, Rivera notes, "should follow with a discussion on the right pixie for your facial shape."
Bixie
If you can't decide between a bob or pixie this fall, we have good news. You don't have to! A 'bixie' (or bob-meets-pixie) is very in, 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 spring 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.
Properly Cut Fringe
There are so many variations of fringe you can add to a haircut you already love — and it’s crucial to find a stylist who can properly cut bangs before you take the plunge with this look. From curtain bangs that incorporate face-framing layers to more blunt bangs, a fringe softens your face and has the added benefit of camouflaging fine lines on the forehead and crinkles around the outer corners of the eyes. Best of all: This is a simple change with a big impact on your overall look.
Blunt Bob
This style is the ultimate classic and it’s one characterized by a straight line at the end that can make thinner hair look fuller and healthier. How you customize your bob is the cherry on top: you can cut bangs, curtain bangs, choppier layers, more of a one-length style — the sky is the limit in terms of ways you can personalize a bob. The reason a blunt cut looks so great on older women is because the blunt baseline makes your hair look more voluminous AND it’s much easier to style and maintain than long hair.
Butterfly Blowout
If you have thinner locks, a timeless, 90s-esque blowout can bring life to flatter strands. This cut, often referred to as the 'butterfly style,' is the "epitome of the 90s blowout," Abdullah says. This haircut, she adds, can "double or triple your volume" 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."
Good to know!
Mid-Length Cut With Long Layers
Consider the mid-length cut a beautiful compromise between long and short hair — add face-framing layers and you really jazz it up and create a look that puts the spotlight on your cheekbones and facial features. Talk with your stylist about layering — too much can make your hair look wispy and choppy, but the right amount of layering really enhances your hair.
Natural Texture
This last tip is more of a PSA than a haircut: allow your natural waves and curls to shine through if you haven’t seen them in awhile. Slightly less “perfect,” not pin-straight hair can appear more voluminous and youthful, which is perfect if you’ve been feeling a little self conscious about thinning hair. If you don’t have natural texture, don’t be afraid of playing with heatless curling accessories like satin bands or large rollers.
These nine cuts and styles are clear winners — and so universally flattering at any age.
