As the new season rolls in, many of us look forward to visiting the salon for a refreshing hair transformation. Seeking advice from experienced hairstylists, we’ve identified three hairstyles that may not flatter women over 40 and should be avoided by those looking to maintain a radiant appearance this spring. In addition, we consulted with professional hairstylists to recommend three trendy alternative haircuts to try out as the weather warms up.
Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Janine Jarman, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Curl Cult, Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles and Gina Rivera, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites.
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3 Outdated Haircuts To Skip In 2024 — And Better Options
1. Skip Pin-Straight Long Hair
If you have "fine, thinning, fragile, damaged hair," Jarman 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." Rivera agrees in that "long, straight, blunt hair" is not always becoming with age.
“The long length can pull the features down and make them appear more drawn,” Rivera says, “If you select longer hair, it’s important to opt for longer layers that will create movement and texture," she advises.
Instead, Try Face-Framing Layers
"Longer side bangs" and "face framing pieces" a la Jennifer Aniston can "also result in a more youthful appearance by drawing the eye to the appealing facial features," Rivera explains. "In general, this provides for a fresher and more youthful look."
2. Skip Choppy Shags
While shag cuts are iconic, 70s-esque and trendy (and usually flattering for any face shape when paired with no-fail curtain bangs), adding too many layers can head into mullet territory, Shags, Abudllah points out, can easily be cut to frame your face and best features, but adding a heavy amount of layers can often do the opposite.
The worst haircut you can have if your goal is to look younger is having "too many layers," she explains. Layers, when cut appropriately, can help to "add volume" and flow to your hair, "giving the appearance of fuller locks," she notes. Adding too many layers, on the other hand, she notes, "can make your hair appear even more limp than before."
Instead, Try a Wispy Shag with Delicate Layers
Too much texturization in a hairstyle can make thin hair appear even thinner, rather than full, she warns. "While shags are fashionable, it's vital to avoid over-layering thin hair because it can make it difficult to work with and lifeless," she says.
As seen here on Halle Berry, a wispy shag with light, delicate layers can help bring more attention to your favorite features without weighing them down, as too many layers can often do.
3. Skip Mid-Length Bobs
A bob looks the best when it ends at the chin or at the collarbone, Abdullah says. If your bob ends at the middle of your neck, she stresses that this could make you look older, even if that is not the goal.
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.
Instead, Try A Collarbone-Length, Layered Bob Or Lob
"When I see a woman with a medium bob, my eye is always drawn to the neck, right where the hair falls," Abdullah stresses.
"A bob is great if you want the eyes drawn to the chin or cheekbones, and lobs are great for moving the eye towards the collarbone and shoulders, but medium-length bobs are not as flattering" for mature women, she explains.
Instead, a chin-length or collarbone-length cut like Cate Blanchett's above might look more refreshed and radiant.
The more you know!
