Ready for a fresh hairstyle this fall? We consulted top hairstylists to bring you four trendy, voluminous, and face-flattering looks adored by celebrities, perfect for women over 40. These cuts suit a variety of hair textures and even celebrate the elegance of natural gray hair. Plus, if you’re dealing with thinning or hair loss, these styles are designed to effectively mask those issues.
Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles, Gina Rivera, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, Janine Jarman, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Curl Cult and Krysta Guerrero, owner and stylist at Base Salon Chicago.
Stylists Share 4 Flattering, Celeb-Fave Haircuts For Mature Beauties To Try This Fall
1. Pixie With Sideswept Bangs
One specific short 'do that can highlight your eyes, cheekbones, and face shape over 50 is a pixie cut with side-swept bangs. "Ever seen a pixie cut where the bangs steal all the attention? This is what you're after: long, side-swept bangs," Abdullah explains. Robin Wright's look above is a great example.
"The rest of your hair should be piece-y and angled. She adds that "the cut should swirl around your head to hide hair loss." Abdullah stresses that a pixie cut with layers still maintains volume that is both gorgeous and easy to manage.
2. Layered Bob or Lob with Curtain Bangs
Jarman points out that layers can instantly enhance your facial features and provide volume, and adding bangs to a textured lob (as seen here on Halle Berry), can also conceal forehead wrinkles and draw more attention to your eyes.
"Pair your lob with fringe to cover any wrinkles or receding hairlines and highlight those gorgeous eyes of yours," Jarman says. She adds that "many of us have hair that gets thinner with age," so adding "texture will help give your look lift and life."
Abdullah agrees that ever-so-stylish curtain bangs are a great choice, since they “flatter just about any face at any age,” with any length, as well.“They neatly frame the face while drawing attention away from serious aging signs,” she points out.
3. 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 Jane Fonda'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."
4. Asymmetrical Bob
A textured asymmetrical bob (or longer bob as seen here on Charlize Theron) is a "terrific choice" for "mature beauties," Rivera explains, since it’s a perfect blend of classic yet still modern and trendy.
"This style is so hip that it’s perfect for making our ladies in their prime look super chic," she says. "Removing a bit of length from the hair, [adds] movement and creates a youthful appeal." When it comes to styling, Rivera notes that "texturing the hair" creates an "opportunity to remove some of the damaged ends and weight which bring more life to the hair as well."
Additionally, Rivera advises that it’s best to always "consult with your stylist on a maintenance schedule but for those trying to regain hair health, make sure to trim every 4-6 weeks."
The Bottom Line
A myriad of hairstyles and cuts like these can enhance finer, thinner hair textures and highlight your best features, Rivera asserts. This fall, it's crucial to identify your face shape and hair type, and to communicate any concerns, such as thinning or hair loss, to your trusted stylist at the salon.
If you want to keep your hair longer over 40, Rivera says it is imperative to add layers and/or or face-framing pieces to avoid looking "weighed down" and dull. She points out 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." The more you know!
