This article has been updated since its initial publish date to include more expert insight.
What makes a haircut the most flattering choice for you, pro stylists say, is its ability to promote facial symmetry and volume. Styles that give the illusion of more movement and thickness are always great for anyone over 40, especially if one is struggling with common and inevitable thinning or hair loss with age.
With that said, we reached out to professional hair stylists and experts for three timeless, no-fail medium-length haircuts and styles that not only add volume to thinner tresses, but that also highlight eyes, cheekbones and other features for the most symmetrical look. Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Gina Rivera, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites and Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles and Jean Will, hair expert and co-founder of NiaWigs Inc.
1. Lob With Curtain Bangs
A lob (a.k.a. long bob) paired with center-parted curtain bangs is a look that never goes out of style for a reason, Abdullah says. "Curtain bangs are often used to frame the face and specifically, to give it a youthful appearance," she explains. She notes that these bangs, which January Jones rocks above, "are a classic baby-doll look that looks great on mature women." The style, she says, is easy to achieve and "looks great on everyone and on most hair types."
Curtain bangs ultimately can "hide thinning at the crown and make your face appear smaller and slimmer when they come down to cheek level," she points out. If you want longer curtain bangs and to keep your length overall, pairing them with a lob rather than a bob or pixie is a great way to maintain the long look you want without sacrificing volume.
2. Asymmetrical Lob
If you want a cut with plenty of volume and a standout quality, look no further. Rivera swears by a blunt asymmetrical lob for women over 40, as seen on Gal Gadot, due to its ability to "keep the fullness at the ends which is great for fine, thin hair." When dealing with thin hair with age, she says, you want to "avoid hairstyles that have a lot of layers, as this can make the hair collapse and appear thinner."
Lobs are also great, she says, because you can "add volume by styling them appropriately." Blunt hairstyles can make hair appear fuller. "A good rule of thumb is keeping the length from shoulders and above, she advises. She suggests a deep-parted asymmetrical lob to try since its "changing lengths in the hair make it a very trendy and current style," while also being timeless.
3. Shaggy Lob With Wispy Bangs
To achieve the voluminous cut similar to Taylor Swift's, ask your stylist to begin by cutting your hair into a collarbone-length lob with bouncy layers that frame your face. Additionally, consider adding wispy fringe to the style to create a more youthful appearance and camouflage any hair loss or thinning at the crown.
Will recommends this approach for a flawless, stunning look. "This hairstyle is perfect for women over 40," she says. "It will help hide their forehead [and any signs of wrinkling or natural aging] to look younger. It is suitable for women who have thick hair, as well as thin."
Featuring bangs that can be styled down or parted in the center, this haircut has the natural ability to enhance the symmetry of your face and accentuate your eyes and cheekbones!
