Hair Stylists Share 11 Flirty, Age-Defying Haircuts To Boost Volume Over 40
Reviving lackluster and limp hair this spring is a breeze with more layers, texture and other face-framing strategic haircuts. We reached out to experts to learn more about celeb-fave hairdos that can add volume and movement to your tresses over 40, especially if you have finer or thinner strands.
We have consulted with hair specialists who have recommended eleven timeless ideas that can add volume and sophistication to your hair, perfect for this season. Read on for tips for women over 40 from Lauren Udoh, hair stylist and hair creative director of WigReports, Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles, Gina Rivera, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites, Janine Jarman, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Curl Cult, Krysta Guerrero, owner and stylist at Base Salon Chicago and Dr. Roshan Vara, hair transplant surgeon and co-founder at The Treatment Rooms.
11 Volume-Boosting Haircuts & Styles To Try This Spring
1. Italian Bob
If you're looking for a haircut that can make your best features pop while giving your mane an extra boost of volume and bounce, look no further than the Italian bob cut.
This style is inspired by Old Hollywood and is a 'do that stylish stars like Salma Hayek opt for. The Italian bob takes the traditional bob cut to new heights with chunky blunt ends that create an airy, voluminous look that's never heavy or bulky. It also has just the right amount of length to allow for easy styling options as it's long enough to tie up, but short enough to be worn as is.
Udoh says that a medium bob like this is "a sleek and stylish choice for many occasions." She adds that "it's a versatile cut that looks great on almost any face shape and hair type." The length can be "adjusted to complement your features and create an attractive silhouette," she notes.
"This ever-popular bob provides volume at the crown, with textured layers that frame the face nicely while still maintaining an easy-to-manage style," Udoh explains.
2. Layered Lob with Curtain Bangs
Jarman points out that layers can instantly enhance your facial features and provide volume, and adding bangs to a textured lob (as seen here on January Jones), can also conceal forehead wrinkles and draw more attention to your eyes. "Pair your lob with fringe to cover any wrinkles or receding hairlines and highlight those gorgeous eyes of yours," Jarman says.
She adds that "many of us have hair that gets thinner with age," so adding "texture will help give your look lift and life." After all, wispy, flirty and eyebrow-grazing bangs were all the rage throughout 2023, and we don't expect to see them disappear as we inch closer to summer of 2024.
3. Pixie with a Deep Side Part
Side parts evoke not only Old Hollywood, timeless glam— they also provide instant volume to short hair. As Abdullah points out, "in this manner, you can move the hair from one side to the other, as you wish." The added hair going over, she says, as seen here on Kate Mara's more modern, fresh take, 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, make a short one instead so that the hair in front goes to either side of your face," she suggests. "Then 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.
4. Wispy, Wavy Shag
A shag is an "amazing cut that is well-recognized for being versatile," Rivera says. A quintessential shag, as seen on Halle Berry, offers "nice variations for both longer and shorter hair." Like the bob, "adding a bang can add a fresh surprise to this look," Rivera suggests.
Abdullah adds that bangs like these are "often used to frame the face and specifically, to give it a youthful appearance." She notes that they also "make your hair appear thicker and are a great way to add volume to thinning hair." The style also "works well for women who want to hide thinning hair in the front."
5. Asymmetrical Lob
An asymmetrical lob or bob like Rose Byrne's is a "terrific choice" for mature beauties," Rivera explains, since it's a perfect blend of classic yet still modern and trendy. "This style is so hip that it’s perfect for making our ladies in their prime look super chic," she says.
"Removing a bit of length from the hair, [adds] movement and creates a youthful appeal." When it comes to styling, Rivera notes that "texturing the hair" creates an "opportunity to remove some of the damaged ends and weight which bring more life to the hair as well."
6. Pixie With Sideswept Bangs
One specific short 'do that can highlight your eyes, cheekbones, and face shape over 50 is a pixie cut with side-swept bangs. "Ever seen a pixie cut where the bangs steal all the attention? This is what you're after: long, side-swept bangs," Abdullah explains. Robin Wright's look above is a great example.
"The rest of your hair should be piece-y and angled. She adds that "the cut should swirl around your head to hide hair loss." Abdullah stresses that a pixie cut with layers still maintains volume that is both gorgeous and easy to manage.
7. Long, Feathery, Face-Framing Layers
"Longer side bangs" and "face framing pieces" a la Jennifer Aniston can "also result in a more voluminous and radiant appearance by drawing the eye to the appealing facial features," Rivera explains.
"In general, this provides for a fresher and more youthful look." If you want to keep your hair longer over 40, Rivera says it is imperative to add layers and/or or face-framing pieces to avoid looking "weighed down" and dull.
She points out that "an added choice is to shorten the hair up a bit to the collarbone or above" to create some texture by "adding subtle layers to soften.
8. Bixie
If you can't decide between a bob or pixie, we have good news. You don't have to! A 'bixie' (or bob-meets-pixie) like Kristen Stewart's is very in for spring, and can be a very flattering and chic choice, Guerrero explains. There are elements of both styles to play with here in this social media-fave cut, and spring is a great time to find what works for you. "The bixie is a traditional bob haircut that’s combined with a pixie," she says.
"The nice thing about a bixie is its versatility — not only can you adjust the length and opt to have it a little longer, but there is no one way to do it when it comes to the style. The cut is totally customizable based on your preference."
9. Wavy Lob With Sideswept Bangs
Emma Stone's shoulder-length bob and side bangs pairing is elegant and timeless.
"A longer bob is always very flattering," Vara says regarding beauties over 40, and it is also a "great way to grow out your gray hair."
Abdullah adds that long, sideswept bangs like these "add length and volume so you don't have to spend hours styling."
10. Circular Rounded Pixie
If you're struggling with fine hair or sparse areas over 40, Abdullah recommends getting a circular or rounded, layered pixie like Audrey Tautou. "If you're thinning in the crown, consider a short haircut that's styled in a circular fashion or a swirl around the head," she advises.
"A pixie like this can work wonders here," she says, as it "puts the attention of the eye somewhere besides the thinning top." Another trick she says you can use is to "ask your stylist to cut short layers into your hair," she concludes. "These are cut on a slight angle and are meant to help create volume."
11. Side-Parted Pompadour
Pink is known to rock epic short hairstyles, and her silver hair color is truly unforgettable. With this pompadour look, she adds instant volume and a side part for even more pizzazz.
Adding volume to a pixie like this (especially when you want to enhance a naturally gray or silver shade), Vara says, can really help "make the color pop."
Abdullah agrees, and adds that a deep side part can give more movement to thinning hair than a middle part, and this can also hide any signs of thinning near the crown. The more you know!
The Bottom Line
Rivera suggests that although the eleven hairstyles mentioned in this list are reliable options, there exist a multitude of timeless, life-changing, and elegant hairstyles that accentuate facial features over 40 and are worth considering.
To uncover the perfect hairstyle, one must comprehend their facial structure and consult with a skilled stylist.
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."
