25 Must-See Choppy Bangs for Fashion-Forward Women Over 40

I have been doing hair for 6 years and had a client who was 43 years old. She had long layers that had not changed since college. When I was cutting her hair, she told me bangs were out. She had no idea what kind of layers I was going to give her, and I think she was in need of permission to do something bold and different. I ended up giving her some bangs that completely changed the shape of her face, and as soon as I did that she started crying. That experience showed me how powerful bangs can be on conservative clients.

Choppy bangs are extremely versatile. They can be soft and barely there, or full and blunt. A bit of rough texture keeps the bangs from being too severe. Choppy bangs can compliment a bob, shag, long layers, and even pixies. For women over 40, choppy bangs soften the overall look and without the intention of making you look younger, which is often the goal of reducing everything. Each of the different cuts I am going to describe have something for almost everyone, and while some I am more excited for than others, they are all interesting enough to hopefully provide to a diverse audience.

Photos

#1: Soft Shaggy Layers with Bangs That Actually Move

I love this look because it appears to be done with little effort. The bangs fall in such a way that there are no blunt lines showing on the forehead. The casual wave adds to the relaxed effortlessness of the style. If you have fine hair, this is the ideal cut for you because it will give the appearance of fuller hair without anything too extreme. The layers provide depth without giving a choppy look, if that makes sense.

#2 Loose Waves and Bangs That Frame Without Fussing

This hairstyle is great for pictures and for daily life, which is hard to find! The casual waves and bangs above the eyebrows that bounce will make the hairstyle look even cuter. If you have thick enough hair, you don’t have to worry about the style going flat before lunch, which is great. The only downside to this style is that the bangs will need to be trimmed every three to four weeks. It’s a small compromise for how amazing the whole style is.

#3 A Pixie That Doesn’t Take Itself Too Seriously

Pixies are fun haircuts. There is an approach that feels sharper, more editorial, and then there is one that is more approachable and inviting. This one is more playful with its bangs as it is a more relaxed feeling cut that takes away some of the commitment that comes with a pixie. If you are considering a short haircut but are nervous, this is one I would recommend as it does keep some softness and femininity to it. You will need regular trims if your hair grows fast or its thick as pixies can quickly become awkward once they start growing out unevenly.

#4 Warm Balayage Layers with a Choppy Fringe

The length is ideal for just a bit past the shoulders to give an intentional style look when down. The choppy bangs add a current vibe, plus won’t get too trendy too fast. The balayage does a lot of work here too! The warm tones in the mid lengths give the layers more dimension than they already have. For fine to medium hair, achieving volume is key. The type of volume that looks naturally styled without looking overly done. It’s the kind of cut that makes people say you look great, but they can’t quite place what it is.

#5 Glossy Black Bob with Bangs That Mean Business

I love this look! The blunt bangs are choppy, but the rest of the bob is smooth and polished for an editorial finish. I believe this hairstyle looks best with straight hair, or hair that’s close to straight. If your hair has any curl or wave to it, this style is going to require a lot of flat-ironing. The color black used here is stunning and the high shine to the color gives the cut a very appealing graphic edge that totally goes against the norm. If this is your vibe, you already know.

#6 Defined Curls and Choppy Bangs with Some Attitude

Having straight hair and having curly hair changes the conversation completely. Curls separate bangs and frame the head in a distinctive manner. These bangs are medium length, and are super bouncy. They also emphasize the cheekbone area really well. I’ll be frank, bangs on curly hair are a lot of work, You’re gonna need an intense curl definer and be ready to style it every day. If that sounds like too much effort, this might not be the right cut for you. But if you’ve got a solid routine for controlling your curls, this hairstyle would be really stunning on you.

#7 Long Sun-Kissed Waves with That Perfect Fringe

I love this. The effortless charm of long wavy hair combined with choppy bangs is irresistible – it’s almost like you spent the day at the beach. Highlights that are soft and sun-kissed suggest the outdoors, and the way waves of hair catch the light is so stunning. The bangs are layered in a way to look messy, but not in a polished way, and that’s so endearing. That said, if your hair is on the thicker side, I would definitely recommend speaking with your stylist about taking out some weight in the bangs so they don’t end up looking too heavy and more like a curtain than a fringe. That is what we are trying to avoid here.

#8 A Layered Bob That Does Everything Right

This look is cut and color perfection. It’s hard to tell where the cut ends and the color begins. With rich chocolate tones, the model’s eye color comes to life. The layers are polished without looking stiff. Bangs frame the face creating a soft touch and defining the cheekbones. If you have thin hair, this look is for you! The layers create fullness without the ‘I’m trying to achieve volume’ look. For maintenance, it’s best to keep on top of trims or the bangs will change the shape quite a bit once they grow out.

#9 Warm Textured Waves with a Choppy Fringe

This style feels relaxed and warm, almost like a favorite linen shirt. The hair is cut to shoulder length and has loose waves with bangs that are cut choppy but not too extreme. There are some highlights woven throughout that are dark blonde. They add just enough dimension to keep the hair from looking flat and boring. It is a nice haircut if you want to change something without going too far. If you are just wanting to dip your toe into the choppy bangs rather than diving in, this is a good haircut. This style will need regular maintenance. The relaxed looking waves will lose shape around six weeks and prior to that you will likely want to get them reshaped.

#10 That Red Bob with the Bangs I Can’t Stop Looking At

This cut allows the color to really stand out. This warm and rich red is robust coppery auburn which stuns across an array of skin tones. Textured with soft waves this bob shape goes perfect with the slightly choppy bangs that strike the right balance of playful, while not being childish. If your hair is fine, these waves and layers will give you a lot of previously hidden volume. You will enjoy the bangs because they are low maintenance, but expect regular trims to keep the choppy, piecey look, because they will lose the right length that ties it all together.

#11 Copper Bob with Structure and a Little Edge

This look is very much like the above red bob but shorter and with more structure. The bangs are more chunky and more defined. The warm bright copper tone, especially on fine hair, creates an illusion of thickness — a personal favorite of mine. I love how this chin length cut makes the jawline appear thicker. I should mention though, copper is one of those colors that is proven to be very fast fading. You may want to get a color-depositing shampoo to extend the time between appointments. The good news is the cut is very forgiving as it grows.

#12 Sunlit Layers with a Casual Choppy Fringe

I imagine this haircut as something someone gets done right before going on a vacation or right after as it gives off that cool, relaxed, vacation vibe. The layers fall above the shoulders, and there are choppy, easy bangs. The haircut also features some light sun-kissed highlights. It’s a pretty simple haircut, and that’s a big part of the reason I like it. For people with rounder faces, the bangs and layers will give you some nice angles, but not too much. It would require a little bit of styling in the morning to get the bangs to fall in place the way you want them. A round brush and about a few minutes with the hairdryer should do the trick.

#13 Elegant Choppy Bangs on a Classic Layered Cut

This appears as if it has been prepared for a fancy function; possibly a nice dinner or a work event where you want to feel smart and all put together. Soft layers and bold bangs make a statement without being heavy and overwhelming. It is great for fine hair because the choppy layers seem to create the illusion of more volume and movement. Some face framing highlights would be fabulous to add a little depth around the bangs and break up the solid block of color around the face. It is a beautiful cut and in order to keep the cut as sophisticated as it is regular maintenance on the bangs is going to be really important.

#14 Rich Chocolate Layers with a Soft Fringe

I first noticed the color, a deep brown with some warmth to it, so it doesn’t look boring. The presence of color makes the layers stand out more than a solid color would. The bangs are soft, choppy and touch the brow which helps highlight the cheekbones without being too obvious. If you want a style that looks intentional without needing to spend 20 minutes styling it every day, this is a great option. It works well with fine or medium hair and actually looks better with some hair days, which is a bonus.

#15 A Clean Bob with Choppy Bangs and Easy Movement

A classic and fresh hairstyle is a shoulder length bob with a choppy fringe. No matter how you style it, you know it will look good. The picture shows a bob with layers that are fine at the ends to avoid looking like you have a helmet on, and the bangs show enough texture to look like a casual style. If you are thinking about some balayage, I would recommend it as it will show a lot of nice dimension in your layers. The only advice I would give is to keep up with your appointments. Bobs at this length can look boxy if you let them grow too much.

#16 Caramel-Kissed Bob with Textured Bangs

You will be able to wear this style easily. That system has a function which allows you to texturizing spray and go. The layering adds volume and isn’t done over. The bangs choppy and youthful but mature. The caramel coloring pthrough the midlengths is warm and flattering to most skin tones. If you have a rounder face, the length that hits just around the collarbone will help create a nice elongating effect. This style isn’t fussy at all, and this is what I appreciate the most. Just keep up on trims to maintain shape.

#17 Long Layers with a Soft Choppy Fringe

Getting some styles done at the hair salon is riskier than getting some layers done at the hair salon. One great risk to take is to cut some layers at the chin, so no ends lose any thickness, and to get some choppy bangs. Small details, like little highlights throughout the layers that show movement, and rather large flowing changes to the hair make for an amazing haircut. If you tend to wear your hair straight every day, get ready to put some bangs on low-maintenance, because you will be giving those bangs a little TLC every day. A quick brush and pass with the dryer, and you will be done.

#18 Airy Layers and a Wispy Choppy Fringe

It has a nice refinement to it. The hair is fine and straight and the airy layers give movement to the style without adding too much weight. The bangs are wispy and I think that’s a good approach considering the hair type. The highlights give enough dimention so the overall look doesn’t read as flat. This looks like a style where you haven’t put in much effort, which means it was done really well. You will only need to add your lightweight hair serum to the routine to keep the ends polished.

#19 A Choppy Bob with Real Texture and Presence

I’m hoping this feels alive. The bob looks awesome with great texture. It seems a little undone and a little rock and roll. Those bold bangs across the forehead really complete the look. If your hair is medium to thick with some natural wave, you’ll find that this is one of those haircuts that styles itself. The warm color is great! It makes the whole thing more approachable than if it were done in an ashy color. It may require some product to manage the frizz in humid days, but otherwise this is about as low effort as a stylish cut gets.

#20 Modern Layers with a Soft Bang and Pretty Highlights

The best thing about this haircut is its simplicity and cleanliness. The layers are soft, and the bangs are choppy, soft, and messiness. The highlights are warm and nice, and they keep everything fresh. It may sound a bit boring, but there is less practical haircuts out there. This is good for pretty much every occasion and every lifestyle. If you have straight medium length hair, this will look almost exactly like the photo.

#21 Chin-Length Textured Bob with Fun Bangs

For a reason I always liked chin-length bob haircuts this one definitely shows why. The texture is on spot, the loose waves look very natural, and the bangs are messy and choppy which helps to prevent it looking too polished. It is a great youthful option that doesn’t look like you are trying too hard. It should only take a quick curl of the wand and if your hair is naturally wavy this will work great. Just remember to keep up on your trims because your layers can start to look quite shapeless after a while.

#22 Textured Bob with Piecey Bangs and Natural Bounce

I like this specific bob. Its a dependable style that still manages to remain contemporary – not an easy thing to achieve. It’s a shoulder length bob, and is layered just enough to add some movement without going full on shag. The bangs have a piecey, but not overgrown look, which is nice. Here, the hair is thick with a natural wave, which provides an bounce that thinner hair types would require some effort to achieve. If your hair is compliant, you really won’t need much more than a little sea salt spray and some scrunching.

#23 Wavy Bob with Warm Highlights and Easy Bangs

The honey highlights, gentle waves, and brow-grazing bangs create an inviting warmth. The look gives off a polished vibe that is not stuffy or overdone. The length is versatile because it can be styled up or left down and it will look nice either way. This cut is more than likely going to be a good fit for you because it works with your natural hair rather than against it, which is always preferred when recommending cuts. A nice lightweight product to define the waves is all you really need day to day.

#24 Soft Choppy Bob with an Easy, Breezy Feel

This is a more subtle approach to the choppy bob and that’s sometimes just what you need. Instead of bold, the bangs are more soft, the layers are there but don’t shout, and the whole thing evens out to something easy and natural. This is a clever style, particularly for fine hair, as the choppy layers allow for more texture and dimension without the bulk that you really can’t afford to lose. For a little lift at the roots and some definition at the ends, I would suggest a texturizing powder as that’s really all this needs.

#25 A Versatile Bob with Bangs and Just the Right Amount of Wave

This haircut is a crowd favorite! The layers and bangs form a look that suits many face shapes. There is a wave and movement look, but it doesn’t take much effort. The cut feels warm and welcoming which is great for all the ladies that sit in my chair. If your hair is fine to medium, the layered cut will provide some good volume that a blunt cut won’t be able to achieve. The bangs will have you asking yourself why you waited so long to get bangs. You will need to style them in the mornings, but trust me, it becomes second nature really quickly.