When it comes to finding the perfect hairstyle, a visit to the salon can be a great opportunity to try something new that complements your unique style and personality. However, for many mature beauties over 40, it can be a challenging task due to natural aging concerns like thinning hair, hair loss, and fallout.
With an abundance of options available, it can also be overwhelming to decide where to begin. To ensure success during your salon visit, it’s a wise choice to bring a reference photo of your favorite celebrity style. It’s also important to consider your facial shape and hair texture to guarantee the chosen style is a suitable fit for you.
We consulted with top hair stylists who shared four hairstyles that may actually age you, as well as four better alternatives, to help you make the best choice. Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Dani Everson, professional hairstylist and owner of Clementine’s Salon, Janine Jarman, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Curl Cult, Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles and Gina Rivera, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites.
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4 Hairstyles To Skip Over 40—And 4 Chic Alternatives, According To The Pros
1. Skip Blunt Bobs with Center Parts
Middle-parts can create a symmetrical look at any age, but Abdullah stresses that they can also draw more attention to forehead wrinkles and make your tresses look flatter. "A bob with a center part might have been your go-to hairstyle before, but maybe your part seems to be getting wider and wider," Abdullah acknowledges, as thinning in the crown area is common as many age.
"If you're thinning in the crown of your head, a center part is going to draw attention to it. This is because you're putting the part right in the same area," she says. To avoid this, Abdullah recommends a side part for more volume and a youthful energy.
Instead, Try a Layered Bob with a Deep Side Part
"Try a side part instead," Abdullah suggests, pointing to Zendaya's 'do above. "In this manner, you can move the hair from one side to the other, as you wish," she notes. "The added hair going over will increase volume in the area as well, especially if your hair is used to being parted down the center."
If you really prefer a center part, she suggests making "a short one instead, so that the hair in front goes to either side of your face." Then, she adds, the hair in the center can be brushed back. "Any difference that you create when your hair is used to lying flat and completely to the sides will create volume and make a big difference," she says.
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, Abdullah 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 Taylor Swift, 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 Bobs with Baby Bangs
While this classic cut can provide an oomph of edginess to any hairstyle, Everson says that it could draw attention to wrinkles or other signs of aging with its forehead-baring look. Although baby bangs can work for those of us with an Audrey Hepburn-inspired style, Everson says that this cut, which ends before your eyebrows, might have a different effect on mature beauties.
“I love bangs and think everyone has their own special length that enhances their features,” she says, adding that “No two bangs are the same,” and if you are looking to get bangs, “opt for a long hairstyle that will help hide forehead wrinkles.” This type of fringe, she says, can “overshare someone's wrinkle story,” drawing the eye to sagging skin rather than creating a look that has an upwards or lifting effect.
Instead, Opt for Eyebrow-Length Fringe
“The right length of bangs can help make someone's appearance youthful, but too short borders the line between baby-ish and also aging,” she says.
Another solution to this style, Abdullah suggests, would also be curtain bangs (seen here on Selena Gomez), as they can be cut as long or as short as needed, with an ability to wear them parted or straight down.
4. 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." The more you know!
The Bottom Line
The key to finding your perfect look over 40 is understanding your facial structure and seeking guidance from a professional stylist, Rivera concludes.
Additionally, Rivera advises that it’s best to always "consult with your stylist on a maintenance schedule but for those trying to regain hair health, make sure to trim every 4-6 weeks."
