As women in their 40s seek fresh and flattering hairstyles to reinvent their look, the butterfly haircut for women over 40 is quickly becoming a favorite trend. This versatile style, known for its layered and dynamic appeal, is ideal for adding volume and movement to the hair, providing a youthful yet sophisticated silhouette. From soft, feathery textures to bold, dramatic chops, we’ve curated a list of 25 must-see butterfly haircut ideas that are capturing the hearts of 40-something women everywhere. Whether you have thin, thick, or curly hair, these transformative cuts will inspire your next trip to the salon.
#1: Burnished Auburn Transformation with Soft Framing Layers
This haircut shines with auburn tones, adding a lively refresh to what was previously a straightforward look. By infusing soft, framing layers around the face, it enhances facial features, especially helpful for women with oval or square face shapes. This cut also transitionally increases hair volume, making it ideal for those with medium to thick hair types. A crucial element in this style is the flawless blending of shades highlighting the model’s natural depth. This choice could be particularly revitalizing for women looking to subtly boost facial features without drastic changes. One caveat: maintaining vibrant auburn hues does require consistent salon visits to keep the color fresh and dynamic.
#2 Glossy Ebony Waves with Caramel Accents
This haircut showcases glossy, soft waves with subtle caramel highlights that add dimension, perfect for enhancing facial features subtly. Notable is how the waves start mid-length, adding volume where needed and creating a flattering frame for her oval face. The rich black base helps in retaining depth, making it ideal for those wanting elegance without overpowering. On the downside, darker colors might require more maintenance to keep the color vibrant, and waves do need regular styling to stay defined. This cut and color could be a great choice if your hair is already wavy and dense, as it accentuates natural textures without additional effort. Keep in mind; lighter highlights work wonders in softening features, especially for women in their forties.
#3 Seamless Brunette Blend with Soft Fringe
This cut showcases a seamless mix of mid-length layers, ideal if you’re seeking balance between manageability and style. The soft fringe gently frames the face, enhancing the eyes and balancing wider forehead areas. It’s styled in smooth, flowing waves that add volume, especially perfect for those with medium hair density. This style might require regular styling to maintain the shape and smooth finish, which could be a slight setback if you’re not up for frequent salon visits. Ideal for introducing softness and movement without drastic changes in length.
#4 Modern Textured Lob with Blended Highlights
This lob is a fresh take for women looking to maintain length while adding some flair. The cut, just brushing the shoulders, works wonderfully to frame the face, especially with soft, textured layers that add movement without thinning the hair too much. Highlights blend seamlessly into her light brown base, providing a natural, yet noticeable, sun-kissed effect. This style is low maintenance but may require regular texturizing to keep the layers vibrant. Ideal for those with medium to thick hair, it offers versatility and easy styling, making it perfect for a lively yet manageable look.
#5 Playful Brunette Curls with Voluminous Texture
This gorgeous layered curl haircut frames the face beautifully, adding both volume and movement to medium-density hair. The short curls enhance the natural texture and increase manageability while flowing gracefully to complement rounded face shapes. It’s an ideal choice for those looking to add volume and style without much maintenance. Keep in mind, though, curly styles like this may require frequent hydration to keep looking their best.
#6 Graceful Layered Espresso Curls
This look is a go-to for those with a medium to thick hair density aiming for a fuller, voluminous style without losing length. Its rich espresso hue enhances depth, creating a visual texture that’s ideal for hiding any fine lines or signs of thinning hair, typical after 40. This layered cut, curling gently near the face, is flattering for elongating the facial structure subtly. While the curls add volume, keep in mind they might require additional styling time, especially in humid weather. To maintain the color’s depth, a color-protective shampoo is advised. This versatile style keeps you looking chic whether at work or a weekend getaway, marrying elegance and practicality beautifully.
#7 Natural Tawny Curls with Lively Movement
This lively haircut embraces a natural-looking medium length with soft, flowing curls that augment volume and movement. The tawny shades add warmth and dimension, making it ideal for those with fair to medium skin tones. Notably, the subtle layering around the face gently frames and enhances the cheekbones, ideal for oval and square face shapes. While this style adds a youthful, dynamic flair, it might require regular styling to maintain the defined curls and volume, especially for women with naturally straight hair. For upkeep, a light mousse or curl-enhancing cream would be beneficial to retain bounce and control frizz.
#8 Soft Black Waves with Gentle Layers
This style features soft black waves with gentle layers that cascade effortlessly, creating a natural bounce that enhances the overall texture and volume. The haircut is medium-length, ideal for women in their 40s who seek a stylish yet manageable look. This layered cut works well with thicker hair types, offering both movement and a slight reduction in bulk. A subtlety in this photo is the slight asymmetry in the layers around the face, which provides a soft framing effect, perfect for oval and round face shapes. The style’s main benefit is its versatility and low maintenance, though it requires regular conditioning to keep the waves lush and vibrant.
#9 Warm Auburn Curls with Soft Voluminous Layers
This haircut showcases medium-length curls, excellent for enhancing natural hair texture. The layering technique adds volume while avoiding heaviness at the ends, ideal for medium to thick hair. The warm auburn color illuminates the face and complements an array of skin tones. While this style boosts volume and frame features attractively, regular maintenance is required to keep the curls defined and the color vibrant. Water-based styling products are recommended to maintain curl structure without adding weight. This style is a fabulous choice if you’re looking for a fresh, lifted look that stays lively and versatile.
#10 Auburn Waves with Luminous Curls
This stunning auburn haircut is cut at mid-length, making it versatile and easy to manage, perfect for busy ladies. The hair itself is thick with a natural wavy texture that adds a gorgeous volume to the look. Notice how the soft curls at the ends catch the light creating a luminous effect? This feature subtly frames the face, enhancing those sparkling eyes and flawless skin. It’s low-maintenance, needing just a bit of curl cream and maybe a quick run-through with a curling wand to keep the curls bouncy. The gorgeous auburn shade warms the complexion nicely, which is always a plus. However, keep in mind, maintaining the color may require frequent salon visits to keep it vibrant. This style is a fab pick for anyone looking for a fresh, fun look with a bit of pizzazz!
#11 Flowing Chestnut Waves with Subtle Balayage
This standout haircut features a mid-length style with flowing waves, creating a versatile look that flatters oval face shapes. The subtle balayage adds depth to thick, lustrous hair, enhancing its natural volume and texture. Ideal for those seeking a manageable yet stylish cut, though it may require frequent styling to maintain the wave definition. A curl-enhancing product can help accentuate the waves, making this chic look perfect for dynamic, on-the-go women.
#12 Chic Caramel-Tinted Tousled Bob
This tousled bob is perfect for 40-something women looking to freshen up their style. The haircut features a beautiful blend of light and dark tones, enhancing depth and volume—ideal for someone with medium hair density seeking a manageable yet stylish look. The asymmetrical shape adds a modern twist, complementing an oval or heart-shaped face. However, if you’re not keen on regular styling, this look requires some effort to maintain its tousled appearance. A wonderful choice for adding both texture and movement to your hair.
#13 Rich Chocolate Waves with Delicate Feathered Layers
This haircut showcases textured waves with a soft, feathered finish that flatters a round face beautifully. Her medium-length hair, styled in rich chocolate hue, adds a lush, vibrant look without being too overwhelming. What makes this style stand out is the seamless blending which enhances the hair’s natural volume while being relatively easy to maintain at home. Perfect for women looking to add romantic flair to their look, it may, however, require frequent styling to maintain the wave’s polished appearance. Ideal for those with medium to thick hair seeking a feminine, manageable style.
#14 Soft Caramel Waves with Fringe
This haircut features mid-length soft caramel waves complemented by a light fringe, balancing volume and face shape beautifully. Great for women with medium hair density looking to enhance their natural wave, this style adds movement without too much maintenance. A slight disadvantage might be the fringe requiring regular styling. The color provides a warm tone that lights up the complexion, particularly flattering for cooler skin tones. Ideal for adding a youthful touch without going too short, it keeps the versatility in styling options. Remember, waves can vary based on your hair texture!
#15 Lustrous Auburn Curls with Voluminous Layers
This stunning hairstyle is perfect for women looking to enhance natural curls while adding a bit of youthful flair. Featuring medium-length hair, the voluminous layers provide body and movement, making it ideal for medium to thick hair density. The rich auburn shade enriches the overall look, offering warmth that’s especially flattering for fair to medium skin tones. One unique aspect here is how the layers are cut to enhance the curl pattern, avoiding excessive bulk around the face, which could overwhelm delicate features. While curls may require more maintenance to keep them looking their best, the payoff in volume and style versatility is well worth it.
#16 Rich Chocolate Waves with Subtle Highlights
This captivating style features a medium length cut that is perfect for enhancing natural volume and the subtle layering helps manage the density, avoiding the heaviness typical for thicker hair. The gentle waves softly frame the face, ideal for oval or long facial shapes, adding a touch of elegance while keeping the look manageable. The rich chocolate base adorned with subtle highlights introduces a radiant but not overpowering brightness, ideal for those wanting to subtly shift their natural color. The choice makes it versatile for both casual and formal settings, though styling might require some time to perfect the waves.
#17 Curly Chestnut Bob with Natural Highlights
This Curly Chestnut Bob with Natural Highlights is ideal for those looking to enhance their natural curls while keeping styling simple. Specifically designed for medium density hair, the layers in this haircut create volume and make the curls pop without overwhelming the face. The natural highlights offer a subtle yet rich color depth which accentuates the curls beautifully. However, this style may require regular maintenance to keep the curls defined and the color vibrant. Perfect for oval and heart-shaped faces, this look brings out your features gracefully, adding a youthful yet classy charm.
#18 Dynamic Blonde Waves with Soft Undercuts
This blonde waved cut, styled with soft undercuts, adds a gentle yet youthful edge ideal for those looking to maintain volume while embracing a modern style. The hair length is medium-short, enhancing facial features without overpowering them. This style works well on medium density hair, offering a manageable yet polished look. The soft undercut helps in minimizing bulk, giving your hair a lighter feel. Be aware, though, that maintaining the texture will require some styling prowess. Ideal for an effortless wake-up-and-go look that still feels put together.
#19 Textured Mid-Length Layered Cut for Thinning Hair
This hairstyle is ideal for ladies looking to boost volume in naturally thinning hair. The cut’s subtly layered style and the slight asymmetry around the face create a lively, youthful look while adding movement. These gentle waves enhance the texture, giving the appearance of thicker hair without much upkeep. The length is perfect for versatility, easily styled up or down, though the layers could require regular shaping to maintain their effect. Ideal for those with oval or heart-shaped faces, this cut refreshes your style while caring for mature hair’s unique needs.
#20 Breezy Chestnut Waves with Sunkissed Highlights
This lovely shoulder-length style boasts a gently layered cut that flatters oval and heart-shaped faces beautifully. The sunkissed highlights add a radiant but natural look, enhancing the movement in each wave. It’s fabulous for women who have medium to thick hair density, creating a fuller appearance without too much bulk. The only downside? It might require a bit of styling product to maintain those soft waves throughout the day, but it’s totally worth the effort. Ideal for adding a touch of elegance to everyday looks without overpowering, this haircut and color ensemble is both practical and chic.
#21 Sophisticated Brunette Bob with Soft Waves
This style, a sophisticated brunette bob with soft waves, is tailored for 40-something women seeking a fresh, youthful edge. It features a shoulder-length cut, enhanced with soft undulating waves and a deep side part, making it a flattering choice for most face shapes. The layered texture provides volume, ideal for those with fine to medium hair density. One unique aspect is the play of light and shadow created by the waves, adding depth and movement. This cut is low maintenance but requires regular styling to keep the waves bouncy. Perfect for anyone wanting a balance of elegance and practicality in their hairstyle.
#22 Sun-Kissed Tawny Waves with Soft Layers
This look features shoulder-length waves with subtle layering that flatters almost any face shape. The tawny brown shade transitions seamlessly into lighter ends, creating a natural, sun-kissed effect. It’s a low-maintenance option that adds volume without needing frequent trims. However, keep in mind that lighter ends might require special care to prevent dryness. Ideal for medium to thick hair, this style adds bounce and life to your natural texture while keeping a classy, manageable look. It’s a versatile cut that easily adapts to both formal and casual settings.
#23 Effortlessly Tousled Chestnut Layers
This medium-length style features graduated layers enhancing natural volume, ideal for thin to medium hair types. The soft waves provide a youthful, yet manageable look—perfect for casual or formal settings. Layering around the face gently sculpts and highlights cheekbones, flattering oval and heart-shaped faces beautifully. The rich chestnut color adds depth without needing frequent touch-ups, making it a practical choice. However, layering may require styling to look its best, so consider this if you prefer a lower maintenance option.
#24 Bold Red and Black Textured Bob with Peek-a-Boo Highlights
This snappy bob features a vivid contrast of deep black and fiery red hues, enriched with strategic peek-a-boo highlights that add a playful yet subtle dimension. Cut to rest just below the chin, the layered texture amplifies volume, making it a great fit for those with fine to medium hair density. While the style is low-maintenance, the colors will require regular salon visits to keep them vibrant. It’s a daring choice that frames the face beautifully, giving a fresh and youthful aura perfect for adding a spark to your look. Ideal for adding a pop of color while keeping a professional yet trendy appearance.
#25 Chic Chestnut Swirls with Golden Highlights
This hairstyle features a medium-length cut that falls gracefully just past the shoulders with a soft, layered texture that enhances volume. The chestnut base paired with golden highlights brings a warm, luminous quality that flatters warmer skin tones incredibly well. Ideal for women in their 40s looking for a fresh yet manageable style, this look maintains its shape with minimal styling effort. However, the color might require regular salon visits to keep the highlights vibrant and the chestnut hue rich. The curls add a playful edge to this elegant cut, making it perfect for both professional settings and casual outings. The density of the hair appears medium to thick, ensuring the layers and colors blend beautifully.
Enter your email and get this picture and description straight to your inbox, and you'll also get new hair ideas ❤️
🔒 We don't spam or sell emails. See our Privacy Policy.