Best Haircut Trends for Women in Their 40s

Your 40s are a great time to try something new, and that often means a fresh haircut. Many women feel more confident in this decade and want styles that are stylish, easy to manage, and suit their changing hair. Forget old rules about “age-appropriate” hair. The best haircut trends for women in their 40s focus on bringing out your natural beauty, showing off your personal style, and working with the way your hair changes at this stage of life. So, what are the key trends, and how do you pick a cut that makes you feel amazing?

Today’s hair trends for women in their 40s are varied and flexible. From fun pixies to polished bobs and soft, flowing layers, there’s something for every taste and hair type. The trick is to find a cut that looks great, suits your daily routine, and supports your hair’s changing texture and needs.

Why Hair Changes for Women in Their 40s

Our bodies change as we get older, and hair changes too. Your 40s often bring noticeable shifts in how your hair looks and feels. Knowing what’s going on helps you pick a cut that really works for you.

Things like hormones, diet, stress, and the environment can affect hair texture and fullness. This is normal. Rather than trying to fight it, it can feel empowering to adjust your style and choose haircuts that work well with these changes.

What Causes Hair Texture and Volume Shifts After 40?

Many women in their 40s notice changes in their hair’s thickness and texture. Hair that was once full may start to feel finer, while hair that was always fine can become a bit rougher or more frizzy. These differences are mainly due to natural changes in the hair follicle. Follicles may grow new hair more slowly, which leads to reduced density and what people describe as thinning hair. This can make the scalp more visible and affect how styles sit.

The structure of each hair strand can change as well. Hair may feel drier, more fragile, or less springy. Years of heat styling and colour treatments can add to dryness and breakage, affecting shine and overall health.

How Hormones Affect the Health and Appearance of Hair

Hormone changes play a big role in how hair behaves in your 40s. As you move into perimenopause and menopause, levels of oestrogen and progesterone drop. These hormones support hair growth, so lower levels can shorten the growth phase of the hair cycle and lengthen the resting phase. This means you may see more shedding and slower regrowth.

Hormone shifts can also change how much oil your scalp makes. Some people find their hair gets drier; others notice more oil. Hormones can affect texture, strength, shine, and how easy your hair is to style. Choosing cuts that work with these changes, instead of fighting them, can make styling much easier.

Common Concerns: Thinning, Frizz, and Grey Hairs

With these biological and hormonal changes come some familiar hair worries. Thinning hair is very common, with more of the scalp showing and less overall fullness. Many women look for cuts and styling tricks that create the look of thicker hair.

Frizz can also become more noticeable, especially for wavy and curly hair, as moisture levels in the hair shift. Grey hairs tend to show up more as well. Some women love their silver and show it off. Others prefer colours or carefully chosen cuts that blend or hide greys. Modern cuts, colour techniques, and products give lots of options for all of these concerns, helping you keep a bright, fresh look.

Features of Flattering Haircuts for Women in Their 40s

The best haircut for you isn’t just the one trending on social media. It’s the one that suits your features, your hair type, and your lifestyle. For women in their 40s, this usually means finding a mix of elegance, a modern feel, and day-to-day ease.

Great cuts highlight your best features, work with your face shape, and keep daily styling simple. They should leave you feeling confident and stylish.

Face Shape and Personal Style Considerations

Your face shape is an important guide when choosing a haircut. Different shapes can be softened or highlighted with the right cut, helping to balance your features.

Heart-shaped and oval faces: Bobs often look great, drawing attention to a slim jawline.
Round faces: Styles with height at the crown or a side part can visually lengthen the face.
Square faces: Side-swept fringes and layers around the jaw soften stronger angles.

Your personal style matters just as much. Your hair should feel like “you,” whether that means classic and chic, edgy and bold, or relaxed and boho. Your 40s are a great time to try something flattering and new that expresses who you are now. Feel free to experiment, while still choosing something that feels true to your personality.

Choosing Cuts for Fine, Thick, Curly or Straight Hair

Your natural hair type is another key factor when choosing a haircut.

Fine or thinning hair: Shorter styles often look fuller than long ones. Pixies and angled bobs can give more body. Light, smart layering adds lift without weighing hair down.
Thick or coarse hair: Cuts that take out bulk and add movement work best. Layered bobs or shaggy styles reduce heaviness but still look smooth and stylish.
Curly or wavy hair: The right cut will shape curls, control bounce, and reduce frizz. Layered bobs, shags, and lobs all help curls and waves fall nicely with built-in volume.
Straight hair: Sleek, blunt cuts show off shine and clean lines, giving a neat, polished finish.

The goal is to go with your hair’s natural pattern rather than fight against it.

Embracing Layers, Movement, and Modern Shapes

Current cuts for women in their 40s lean toward movement, texture, and relaxed shapes instead of stiff, over-styled hair. Layers are key here. They can:

Give fine hair more depth and fullness
Stop thick hair from looking heavy
Help waves and curls spring to life

Soft, flowing layers or more choppy layers both help hair avoid looking flat and create a fuller look.

Many styles now have a slightly “undone” feel, with gentle waves and tousled textures that don’t need much heat. Popular modern shapes like the “Old Money Bob,” “Baroque Bob,” and “Kitty Cut” all offer volume, movement, and a mix of classic and current style. A good haircut suits any age; what matters most is how you feel in it.

Current Haircut Trends Popular with Women in Their 40s

Hair fashion keeps changing, and right now, women in their 40s have a lot of flattering choices. These styles are chic and modern but still practical and usually fairly low-maintenance. Many are updated versions of classic cuts.

This is a fun time to try something new, especially looks that support your natural texture. Here are some of the most popular options.

Textured Bob Variations

The bob is a long-time favourite because it’s flexible, stylish, and always relevant. Textured bobs are especially popular for women in their 40s. A chin-length bob with light layers adds movement and keeps hair from looking flat, making it appear fuller. A thickening mousse at the roots and mid-lengths, then lightly scrunched with your fingers, gives a soft, relaxed finish.

Trendy bob variations include:

Old Money Bob: Falls between chin and collarbone, with fullness and body and a quietly polished feel.
Baroque Bob: Full, flowing bob with curls and texture for a rich, soft look.
Grunge Bob: ’90s-inspired with gentle texture and face-framing pieces for a youthful feel.
French Bob: Chin-length with light bangs, showing off natural texture with a relaxed, vintage touch.

With so many versions, there’s a bob for nearly every taste and hair type.

Shaggy Layers and Mid-Length Cuts

Shaggy layers and medium-length cuts are very popular and suit many women in their 40s. These styles highlight natural texture and give a soft, full look. Medium hair with layered waves removes extra weight, lets natural waves form, and adds movement. Using a volumising mousse on damp hair and blow-drying with a round brush boosts volume. You can then use a large curling iron for soft waves.

Key styles include:

Shag Cut: Tousled layers that show off natural texture and give a relaxed, youthful feel.
Collarbone cut with curtain bangs: Thins out thick hair while keeping shape. Curtain bangs and soft layers frame the face and soften strong features.
Multi-layered haircut: Great for longer hair that needs shape. Layers lighten the ends, add movement, and work for both thick and thin hair.

Pixie Cuts and Cropped Styles

Pixies and cropped styles are ideal if you want a bold change and less daily styling. Despite the myth that short hair looks “older,” a good pixie can be very fresh and modern.

Choppy Pixie: Short with uneven layers that add depth and the look of thicker hair. Light styling creams or waxes help show off the texture.
Tapered Pixie: Shorter at the sides and back, longer on top. Gives volume on top with slim sides for a neat outline.
Shaggy Pixie: Mixes a pixie base with shaggy layers for an easy, casual style that needs little work.
Bixie Cut: A mix between a bob and a pixie. Great if you want something between very short and mid-length hair.

Short styles often mean less time spent washing, drying, and styling, which many women appreciate.

Long Bobs (Lobs) with Movement

The long bob, or “lob,” is a favourite for women in their 40s. It usually sits at or just below the collarbone and suits many face shapes. It gives a chic look without a lot of upkeep, sitting between long and short hair in both style and care.

Popular versions include:

Lob with face-framing layers: Longer bob with soft layers around the face for movement, perfect for wavy or curly hair.
Wavy inverted lob: Slightly shorter at the back, longer at the front, with waves through angled layers for lift and easy styling.
One-length lob: Falls just under the collarbone with long, side-swept bangs for a smooth, classic look.

Side-Swept and Curtain Fringes

Fringes (bangs) are a simple way to update your look, add interest, and soften features. Side-swept and curtain fringes are especially popular in your 40s because they are soft and flexible.

Side-swept fringe: Cut longer and brushed to one side, blending into the rest of your hair. Works well with a side part and helps create lift.
Curtain bangs: Split down the middle and gently frame the face on both sides. They suit most face shapes and are very forgiving as they grow out.

Both styles can soften lines on the forehead and around the eyes and add a youthful feel without an extreme change.

Blunt Ended, Sleek Styles

Not everyone wants layers. Blunt, sleek cuts stay popular, especially if you like a clean, neat look.

Blunt Bob: All one length, no layers. Shows off sharp lines and healthy hair, and can make hair look thicker at the ends.
Sleek mid-length cut: Shoulder-length hair with very few layers for a smooth look. Blow-drying with a round brush and using root spray gives just enough lift.

These styles feel strong and modern but don’t have to look stiff if you keep some movement and shine.

Soft Waves and Natural Curls

Natural texture is very on-trend. Soft waves and curls give a relaxed, timeless look that works especially well in your 40s. A layered, textured cut with loose waves or curls adds motion around the face and a youthful energy.

Wavy inverted lob: Great for wavy hair, with angled layers that give lift.
Shaggy bob: Perfect for type 2 (wavy) hair, adding movement and softness.
Curly bob: Shapes curls into a rounded form that lifts at the crown and keeps ends neat, softening the jawline and showing off cheekbones.

Best Haircuts for Specific Hair Types and Textures

Different hair types benefit from different cuts. The right style can add fullness, control bulk, or show off your natural waves and curls, making everyday styling easier and more satisfying.

Fine or Thinning Hair

With fine or thinning hair, the main goal is to make hair look thicker and fuller.

Pixie Cut: Short hair often looks denser. Choppy layers add height and interest.
Textured Pixie: Extra layering and texturising make hair appear more full without needing length.
Angled Bob: Shorter at the back, longer at the front to create the look of volume.
Layered Bob: Soft, smart layers give fine hair movement and the illusion of more body.
Collarbone cut with short side bangs: Keeps some length while light layers and small bangs prevent hair from looking flat.

Light, airy layers help fine hair look fuller. Thickening products like the PROfiller+ range can also add the feel and appearance of extra body.

Thick or Coarse Hair

Thick or coarse hair usually needs shapes that remove weight, add shape, and avoid a bulky outline.

Layered Bob: Layers reduce weight and add texture, keeping hair manageable.
Collarbone cut with curtain bangs: Lightens up thick hair with soft layers and bangs, without losing control or shape.
Multi-layered haircut: Cascading layers help long, dense hair move rather than sit in a heavy block.
Stacked Bob: Shorter, layered back with more length in front; ideal if you have very thick hair and want a stylish shape that’s easier to handle.

Curly and Wavy Hair

Curly and wavy hair looks best when the cut supports the natural pattern. That way, you get defined curls and waves with less frizz.

Curly Bob: Rounded shape that lifts at the roots and keeps ends neat so each curl falls into place. This cut often looks fresh and youthful.
Shaggy Cut for waves: Soft layers at the crown and through the lengths encourage movement and bring out texture.
Shaggy bob: Great for oval, heart, and round faces. It adds softness and bounce.
Lob with curls: Adds width at the sides, which is helpful for long faces. Works well on both finer and thicker hair.

Cream-based texture products and gentle diffusing help control frizz and boost curl shape and volume.

Straight Hair

Straight hair often shines and takes well to simple, sharp shapes.

Blunt Cut / Blunt Bob: Clean, even edges that show off shine and make hair look thick at the bottom.
Sleek mid-length cut: Shoulder-length with very few layers for a simple but sophisticated look.
Sleek Angled Bob: Shorter at the back, longer at the front. The angle highlights the jawline, neck, and collarbone.

While straight hair is ideal for smooth styles, you can also curl it from time to time for quick volume and variety.

Low-Maintenance and Air-Dry-Friendly Haircuts

Many women in their 40s want haircuts that look good without a lot of daily effort. Busy lives and changing hair texture often make low-care styles very appealing. The good news: many trendy cuts now work beautifully with natural texture and minimal styling.

Wash-and-Go Styles for Busy Schedules

“Wash-and-go” cuts are those that look best when left to air dry or given very quick styling.

Ultra-short pixie: Very short, bold cut that dries quickly, needs little product, and keeps its shape easily-great for straight and wavy hair.
Shag Cut: Tousled layers that look best with natural texture, especially when worn wavy.
Wavy inverted lob: Angled lob that allows waves to fall nicely if you let your hair dry on its own.

These cuts celebrate your natural hair pattern and keep your routine simple.

Low-Upkeep Crops and Lobs

You don’t have to go very short to have a low-care style. Many crops and lobs are easy to manage.

French bob: Chin-length bob with light bangs that falls into place with little styling.
Italian bob / messy crop: Slightly longer or more tousled versions that still feel relaxed and easy.
Long Bob (lob): Collarbone or slightly longer, flattering on most and fairly simple to style.
Collarbone cut with curtain bangs: Offers styling options while removing excess weight and framing the face.
Multi-layered haircut: Holds its shape well between trims and doesn’t demand intricate daily styling.

Picking Haircuts for Different Face Shapes

A flattering haircut works with your face shape to bring out your best features and balance your proportions. Knowing your face shape helps you choose cuts that feel like they were made for you.

Round Face Flattering Cuts

For round faces, many people like styles that add height and angles to balance the natural softness.

Angled chin-length cut: Sharp lines at the jaw create definition and help the face appear longer.
Pixie cut: With a side part and volume on top, this style draws the eye upward.
Inverted bob: Shorter at the back, longer at the front. Adds crown volume and shapes the jawline.

Side parts and light, wispy pieces-whether in bangs or layers-also help create a more elongated effect.

Best Options for Square and Heart Shapes

Square and heart-shaped faces have strong features that can look great with the right framing.

Square faces: Side-swept fringes and long layers around the jaw soften sharp lines and add flow.
Heart-shaped faces: Wispy fringes and bobs that highlight the jaw help balance a broader forehead and narrower chin.
Shaggy bob: Shoulder-length with movement and softness, ideal for heart-shaped faces that need balance without heaviness.

Oval and Long Face Adaptations

Oval faces can wear many styles, but some cuts highlight their natural balance especially well.

Asymmetrical bob: Slightly uneven lengths add interest while keeping the face’s natural balance.
Shaggy bob: Adds softness and texture without throwing off proportions.

For long faces, the aim is usually to add width at the sides and reduce the look of length.

Lob with curls: Defined curls add sideways volume and look especially good on longer faces.
Full layered bob: Ends styled in different directions give a full, messy texture that widens the face.

Styling and Maintaining Your New Cut

A great cut is only half the story. How you style and care for it from day to day keeps it looking fresh between salon visits. With the right tools, products, and habits, you can get a “just left the salon” look at home.

Top Tools and Styling Products to Use

Some basic tools and products can make daily styling much easier:

  
Tool / Product
What it’s good for

Hairdryer + round brush
Volume, smooth blowouts

Straightener
Sleek looks or soft bends and waves

Large curling iron
Defined curls and big waves

Diffuser
Gentle drying for curls with less frizz

Leave-in conditioner
Moisture and softness

Heat protectant
Protects hair when using hot tools

Volumiser / mousse
Lift for fine or limp hair

Curl cream / texture cream
Controls frizz, defines waves and curls

Light-hold hairspray
Sets style without stiffness

Lightweight serum
Smooths frizz, adds shine

Dry shampoo
Refreshes roots and fringe between washes

Quick Everyday Styling Tricks

On busy days, small shortcuts make a big difference.

For textured bobs: Add mousse to roots and mid-lengths, scrunch with fingers, and let air dry or rough-dry.
For mid-length styles: Use volumising mousse on damp hair and blow-dry with a round brush for fast lift.
For heat-free waves: Braid your hair or wrap it around a silk rod before bed for smooth waves in the morning.
For second-day hair: Spray blowout mist, then quickly re-dry sections with a round brush for revived volume.
For extra lift: Lightly tease roots at the crown, then smooth over the top layer.
For quick polish: Try a loose bun, low pony, braid, or simple updo with clips or headbands.

Maintaining Shape Between Salon Visits

To keep your haircut looking sharp, a bit of regular care goes a long way.

Use good-quality shampoos, conditioners, and masks suited to your hair type to keep hair healthy and shiny.
Limit hot tools when you can, to reduce breakage and dryness.
As a bob grows out, pay attention to the ends once they hit shoulder level, so they don’t flick out in odd directions.
Book regular trims, especially for short styles like pixies, to keep the shape.

Many women over 40 find that hair lengths between ear and shoulder level are easy to manage, but the best length is the one you enjoy most.

Frequently Asked Questions about Haircut Trends for Women in Their 40s

Reaching your 40s often brings new questions about hair-what suits you, what feels current, and what works with changing texture. There are many myths about what you “should” or “shouldn’t” wear, but any age can suit any length or style if it fits you and your lifestyle.

Is Shorter Hair More Youthful After 40?

Short hair often looks youthful on women in their 40s, but it isn’t a rule. There are reasons it can give a younger effect:

Short strands can appear thicker, which helps if your hair is thinning.
Short cuts usually have more movement and texture, avoiding the heavy look very long, blunt hair can sometimes get.
Styles like textured bobs and wispy pixies frame the face and draw attention to the eyes.

Short can be playful, modern, and easy to style. Still, what matters most is whether the cut suits your face, your hair type, and your taste. Healthy, well-cut hair at any length looks more youthful than a length that doesn’t suit you or isn’t cared for.

Should You Avoid Bangs at This Age?

No, there’s no reason to skip bangs in your 40s. In fact, many women find them especially flattering at this age. Bangs can:

Softly cover lines on the forehead
Draw focus to your eyes
Add a modern, fresh touch to any cut

Good options include:

Side-swept bangs: Gentle and flattering on most, easy to blend into layers.
Curtain bangs: Split down the middle and frame both sides of the face for a soft look.
Wispy bangs: Light and airy, great for softening sharper features or wider foreheads.

A good guideline is to keep them around brow level or slightly lower without covering your eyes.

Can You Still Wear Long Hair in Your 40s?

Yes, you can absolutely wear long hair in your 40s. The idea that women must cut their hair short after a certain age is outdated. Many women in their 40s, including famous names like Beyoncé, Heidi Klum, and Kim Kardashian, wear long hair beautifully.

The key is condition and shape. Long hair looks youthful when it’s healthy and has movement. Helpful options include:

Multi-layered haircut: Long layers that lift the ends, add shape, and stop hair from hanging flat.
Long Bob (lob): A nice middle ground between long and short-easier to manage but still gives the feel of longer hair.

Treatments, regular trims, and avoiding too much heat keep long hair shiny and soft. If long hair makes you feel confident and happy, there’s no reason to give it up.