Stylists Share 4 Outdated Short Hairstyles That Can Add Years To Your Look After 40—Plus Chic Alternatives To Try Instead
February 15, 2025 by Lisa Cupido
Short hair is a major trend everywhere at the moment and, of course, for many of us, it never stops being our go-to look. On runways and amongst celebs we’ve seen a number of different bobs, lobs, pixies, and bixies catching attention. We’ve noticed as formerly long-haired beauties have given their hair a healthy chop to their shoulders (the not-too-short, not-too-long compromise). Within this enthusiasm for shorter and shorter hair, some may still be holding onto older hairstyles and cutting techniques that are no longer all the rage. If these cuts work for you, great — keep killing it with your hair and don’t let trends influence your style.
But if you feel like you’ve been sporting the same short hairstyle and something’s a little off with it, it could be that it’s slightly outdated. These four short hairstyles can add years to your look, but there are plenty of chic alternatives to try instead.
1. The Rachel
Anyone who has ever watched Friends or remember Jennifer Aniston from the ‘90s knows this haircut all too well: the Rachel is a shoulder-length cut with tons of feathered layering that frames the face. Its shape is so distinctive that the cut was named after Aniston’s TV comedy character. Women flocked to salons to ask for the cut, and it experienced an unusual resurgence just recently with the rise of other ‘90s trends. But its moment is officially over and sporting the Rachel now seems a bit like wearing a relic.
To update the Rachel haircut, let layers grow in more to reduce feathering. Focus on movement and volume, but with longer, more modern layers.
2. Extreme Mullet
Like the Rachel, the mullet was a big trend amongst fashionable women. This ‘80s trend features hair that is short in the front and on the sides but longer in the back, with tons and tons of layers and featured bangs. If you are a fan of multi layers and want to retain the mullet shape, but make it more modern, try a shag haircut. The shag retains more length around the sides of your hair and front, but it keeps those choppy layers and feathered ends that you love.
3. Blunt Pixie Cut
For many women, the blunt pixie cut is their best look. It’s a no-nonsense, chic short pixie with zero layering that can make thinning and fine hair appear denser. If yours is starting to feel stale, simply adding longer layers on top will give you more customization options. You’ll be able to wear your pixie with more texture, swept to the side, slicked back, and more.
4. Excessively Choppy Bob
There are few bobs we aren’t seeing making beauty headlines these days. A super-choppy bob is a trend, just as much as a blunt bob, but if yours is making your hair appear thinner, the reason could be that the ends are too feathered for your hair type. Retaining a blunt end and playing with layering on top could be the key to getting your bob to look more voluminous and healthy.