Medium-length hairstyles are having a major moment, offering the perfect balance between the versatility of longer hair and the easy maintenance of shorter cuts. For women over 40, the right medium-length style can also add movement, volume and softness while complementing your features.
From face-framing curtain bangs to chic asymmetrical lobs and textured shags, hairstylists say these flattering cuts can work across different hair types and textures. Here are three expert-approved medium-length hairstyles worth considering.
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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, Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles, 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 also 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. Gina Rivera, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, swears by a blunt asymmetrical lob for women over 40 especially, as seen on Rose Byrne, 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. Wispy Layered Shag
This shaggy wolf lob, as Cindy Marcus, professional hair stylist and editor-in-chief of Latest Hairstyles, tells us, is one to watch for as it is flattering, edgy and can suit thicker hair types or textures. “One popular look, especially for spring and summer, is a shaggy lob,” she says.
“The lob is certainly making a comeback, however many are changing this look to a more modernized style. The layered lob is an example of this.” She adds that the layers, seen here on Halle Berry, will “provide movement and create a stylish, flirty yet age appropriate look.”
This style would work well on women with thicker hair, as “over layering fine hair will actually provide the opposite outcome,” she stresses. “This look is for someone looking for movement and texture at a shorter length,” she points out.
