There are haircuts that will make you feel like the best version of yourself and haircuts that will make you stock up on hats until it grows out again. Furthermore: one person’s best-ever haircut is another’s this-isn’t-working-so-well-on-me. The best and worst haircuts for you will depend a great deal upon your hair type, face shape, and facial features. Whereas someone with thick, curly hair may embrace a shag cut that lightens hair and thins it out a bit all around, this thinning-out technique obviously won’t hit home if your hair is on the thin or fine side.
And when you are trying to figure out which haircuts suit your hair when you’re over 40, assuming you’ve noticed some hair changes lately, this can become more challenging. It’s normal to experience some hair loss with time and this thinning out of your hair won’t always translate to certain hairstyles. If one of your goals is to appear current and on-trend, it’s also important to avoid certain styles that can age you. Here are some of the most flattering haircuts to try, as well as some outdated ones to avoid.
Flattering: Classic Bob
Consider it the perennial classic. A bob never falls out of fashion, though you can adjust yours with little tweaks to keep it current. Generally speaking, this cut lands somewhere between the jawline and lower neck and can be worn straight and in one layer, layered with tons of movement, angled so that your strands are directed toward your facial features, curly, with bangs, and the list of options goes on and on.
A bob works with every hair type, but is especially flattering if your hair is fine or thinning because eliminating dead ends and making hair shorter adds lift and life to your hair, while also making you appear more youthful.
Flattering: Stacked Bob
We love a good stacked bob just as much as we do one-layered bobs. This haircut involves tons of strategically placed, stacked layers that makes your hair look thicker.
Flattering: Medium Cut With Long Layers
You don’t have to cut your hair very short after 40. But keeping it at a medium length and adding long layers gives you the length you want without sacrificing body and volume. Medium haircuts are versatile. Experiment with texture by adding waves or curls to your style, as well — this simple change can make your hair look thicker and give you a more youthful appearance.
Unflattering: Super-Short Bangs
Bangs can pull a hairstyle together fast. They can make you look ten times more stylish without trying too hard. But the major caveat here is that it’s important to ask your hairstylist to cut your bangs so that they frame and suit your face. And super-short baby bangs, which can be cute sometimes, are more often than not not as flattering because they awkwardly stop at a place that exposes only a section of your forehead.
Unflattering: Really Long, One-Layered Hair
Hair that is really long and lacks layers can also fall flat. Not only does this hairstyle not serve fine or thin hair at ALL, but it also can look aging because it has the effect of dragging the face downward. There’s a simple solution: give your hair a trim to get rid of dead ends and ask your stylist to add layers for volume and movement.
Unflattering: Stiff Helmet Hairstyles
There are two opinions when it comes to stiff, retro helmet hairstyles, and neither opinion is wrong or right. On one side you have champions of all-things vintage who love a teased, stiff updo and would encourage you to pair yours with a string of pearls. But, if your goal is to retain a youthful look, stiff helmet hairdos are only going to appear more aging. Try a chic chignon instead — and, though a little teasing can make your hair look more voluminous, keeping it reigned in looks more youthful.
