Haircuts play a crucial role in framing your face and enhancing your overall look, especially as hair changes with age. For women over 40, thinning hair can become a common concern, and certain cuts may unintentionally emphasize this. But don’t worry, because there are definitely ways to fix this and opt for more flattering options instead! Read on to learn about three haircuts experts say to never get for thin, fine hair. Plus, what you should try the next time you visit your hairstylist!
1. Pin-Straight Long Hair Without Layers
If you have "fine, thinning, fragile, damaged hair," Janine Jarman, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Curl Cult, recommends "cutting it off." She adds that "healthy hair is always the best bet. If your hair is thin, it only gets thinner as it grows out, and if it's damaged, it will only continue to break the longer it gets."
Gina Rivera, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, agrees that "long, straight, blunt hair" is not always becoming with age and can inadvertently emphasize thinning and bald spots. "The long length can pull the features down and make them appear more drawn," Rivera says, adding, "If you select longer hair, it's important to opt for longer layers that will create movement and texture."
2. Too Many Layers
You can, of course, go the other way and have too many layers!
When cut correctly, layers can help to add volume and movement to your hair that can create the illusion of thicker locks. But getting too many layers can have the opposite effect, making your hair appear even more limp than before. "Haircuts that are texturized too much can make thin hair appear even thinner, rather than full," explains Rivera.
Layers, when cut appropriately, can help to "add volume" and flow to your hair, "giving the appearance of fuller locks," Rivera notes. Adding too many layers, on the other hand, "can make your hair appear even more limp than before."
3. Mid-Length Bobs
In addition to not being a good style if your hair is thinning, mid-length bobs have other downsides too. A bob looks the best when it ends at the chin or at the collarbone. Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles, says that if your bob ends at the middle of your neck, it could make you look older.
The thing about bobs and lobs, Abdullah says, is that they fall "right where you want to draw attention." A longer, mid-length bob would fall "right at the neck." For a woman who's over 40, Abdullah says, this could be a spot where "fine lines and wrinkles" could be more apparent.
Try: Layered Lob
If you want to create the illusion of thicker, more voluminous locks, a layered lob is a great option. This versatile cut strikes a perfect balance—not too long, not too short—and features just enough layers to add volume and give the face a subtle lift, making it ideal for older women. “Ghost layers” that aren’t obvious or choppy but create more bulk on top can also be extremely flattering.
Try: Layered Bob
A layered bob can create the appearance of thicker locks for women over 40 by creating layers that add depth, movement, and volume to the hair.
Layers create variations in length that give hair a textured, multi-dimensional look, which prevents it from appearing flat or lifeless. Give this one a try next time you hit the salon!
