Every so often a client will sit in my chair and say, “I just turned forty and I think I need to cut it all off.” I constantly tell them, “ Hold tight and think about it for another week”. It is not that I am against long hair, but that phrase is linked to some kind of impulsive decision triggered by a negative influence; in this case it would be social constructs, as opposed to self conceptualization, facial features, and feeling comfortable with a reflection in the mirror.
I’ve encountered long haired clients in their forties who definitely needed to cut it, and I’ve also encountered long haired clients who were the exact opposite, so there was no need to cut them. One of the most extreme transformations was when a woman in her thirties made the same journey as a flat, uniform style of hair. She needed some hair, but mostly, she needed some layers to give movement, a different color that would be more flattering than the one that was washing her out under the fluorescents, and someone to show her how to embrace the wave she had been flat-ironing away for a decade. The most obvious change was not the length, but allowing her hair to do something.
Having long hair after 40 is more about finding the right cut and color that fit where your hair is currently at, instead of where it used to be at 25. Your hair evolves with you, and the age you are now brings about a lot of changes to the texture, density, and color. Each of the styles below is recommended to you as I would do it as if you were sitting right in front of me. Each one addresses a different concern or is geared toward a different kind of person.
#1: Long Layers with Face-Framing Bangs That Actually Earn Their Keep
This hairstyle takes advantage of bangs and the effort is paying off. Blended bangs create a seamless look. This is a flaw many face-framing bangs lack. Hair that is layered and sits just below the shoulders strikes the ideal balance of movement and fullness so the ends don’t look thin or straggly. This cut will also bring a lot of neatness to medium to thick hair but will also retain a touch of carelessness so it is low maintenance. You will still have to keep up with the bangs as they start to lose their shape after about three weeks but as for the layers, she will have to worry about the layers less.
#2 Warm Balayage Layers with Soft Bangs
The entire thing’s functionality hinges on the density. This is a person with truly thick hair, and the layering is cut to let that fullness breathe rather than fight it. The warm balayage is really thoughtfully placed, more concentrated around the face and through the mid-lengths, which adds brightness without that stripey effect that happens when highlights are spaced too evenly. It reads as natural in a way that a lot of balayage doesn’t. The bangs are soft enough that they’d grow out gracefully if you decided they weren’t for you, which is always something I consider when I’m cutting them.
#3 Copper Color with Soft Blunt Bangs
I really love the color copper! It makes me excited, and my excitement is visible. For someone to pull off a color, it is all about the commitment to the shade. The intentionality and depth of the shade is what really sells it, and the blunt bangs really keep it anchored so it doesn’t look too wild. The slight wave through the ends keeps it from looking too harsh. The thing about color this beautiful is that it fades faster than almost anything, meaning you have to budget for color-depositing shampoo before we even go for the appointment. If you want it this bright, be ready to plan for touches up every five to six weeks!
#4 Vintage Waves with Rich Auburn Highlights
A long hair wavy hairstyle can make you feel like you are heading to somewhere important like a business meeting or event when in reality you could be heading to Walmart to pick up groceries. The highlights, in this case, are auburn, and help your hairstyle look a bit more natural and prevents it from looking like a costume. This style also looks best with medium or thick hair. If you have fine hair, the waves will require a lot of product in order to achieve this look. While I do think this hairstyle is best for special occasions, that doesn’t mean you have to avoid this look all the time. The look is just going to require some more time in the morning. Once all of that hard work is put in, the only thing you really need is a lot of patience and a 1.5 inch curling iron!
#5 Voluminous Layers with Curtain Bangs
For the last couple of years, curtain bangs have stayed in style as they are very versatile and can be worn with many different looks. They add a soft natural texture to the overall look. For example, with the darker hair and soft subtle highlights, it creates a thicket illusion, which I recommend a lot when clients feel as if their hair looks thin. The layering looks like it has a good internal structure, and it will probably fall perfectly even without a blowout, and that is something that definitely matters when people are choosing to get a haircut.
#6 Chocolate Toned Vintage Curls
This style is classic old Hollywood, and that can be just what someone is looking for. The chocolate tones are rich and uniform so that the curls are the focal point. I would suggest this style to medium to thick hair for an occasion, milestone birthday dinner, anniversary, or any event where you want to feel special. The curls will be created using heat, so a good heat protectant is essential. If you don’t use one, your hair will end up frizzy and the curls will be dull and lifeless.
#7 Warm Chestnut Waves with Subtle Dimension
This color will likely get you comments like, “Did you do something different?” and, for the most part, people won’t be sure what has changed. The chestnut base is warm, but not too warm as to look red. The placement of the highlights is subtle enough that they mostly just look light and not overly highlighted. The aim is to just enhance the color of the hair as much as possible. The waves are loose and done. If your hair has any natural texture, achieving this look will be easy. All you need is a little leave-in conditioner scrunched through your hair and some time to air dry.
#8 Sleek Layers with Brightening Face-Framing Highlights
I appreciate how these highlights are so specific and focused just around the face. Additionally, they are light enough to create a nice brightening effect. I employ this method with many clients who wish to soften shadows under the eyes or around the jawline and opt against going lighter all over. Starting layers at chin length is clever because that’s where they provide the greatest lift visually. One thing I would note is that this sleek, straight finish does not hold up well in humidity, so you may be fighting this look for half the year if you are in a stick climate. However, the look is beautiful and in the right climate, pretty simple to maintain with only a flat iron and some regular trims.
#9 Soft Layers with Natural-Looking Balayage
What I appreciate about this look is that it has an easy, seemingly effortless quality to it, and it is actually very good like that and not contrived. The balayage looks soft, the layers look soft, and everything looks very kept. It looks like healthy hair and it has nice depth to it. When I recommend this kind of haircut to someone, it’s when they want to look put together, but not like they spent a fortune on their hair. It’s best for medium to thick hair types because the layers have enough weight to fall and lay nicely. This is one of those styles that the upkeep is more about the health of the hair than anything else.
#10 Long Sleek Hair with Bold Straight Bangs
Getting straight-across bangs is a big commitment. They can be trimmed every 2-3 weeks to keep them looking neat, but once bangs start growing they have no grace period for head. Despite this, the length combined with bold bangs is almost architectural in a good way. People with bangs typically have straight hair, because trying to maintain that structure with a lot of texture and waves involves daily use of a flat iron to keep everything looking smooth. Once bangs are cut the upkeep is minimal as the structure in the cut does most of the work.
#11 Soft Layers with Face-Framing Highlights
The placement of the highlights here is excellent. They are focused around the face and are softly sprinkled throughout the mid-lengths. This adds dimension to the hair without looking too overdone. If your hair is fine to medium and is looking a little flat, this is the sort of layering that will make a big difference. A small change in the length creates a lot of movement in the hair, and helps to steer clear of the one-length curtain look. This is a pretty easy change that honestly transforms the whole structure of the face.
#12 Voluminous Layers with Illuminating Highlights
The way the highlights have been used here is a prime example of them acting as a tool and not simply a colour choice. The way they have been positioned is to create the illusion of added volume, and to bounce light around the face, which has worked really well. If you are experiencing some hair thinning, or have simply lost some fullness in your hair over the years, this method can help create the illusion of a lot more hair. The layers also contribute, they are cut to build on each other so the hair stacks nicely at the ends instead of “tapering off.” Regular trims are going to help a lot in this area since split ends will undo all the fullness you are trying to create.
#13 Long Layers with a Soft Ombre Transition
I appreciate color work that imitates natural sun lightening and the ombre here is wonderful. It is nice to see an ombre that is not too dramatic. The ends of the hair look lightened which helps to create interest. The layers are soft and the vibe is very “I woke up like this,” which most people do not understand takes a lot of effort. If you have fine to medium hair, this subtle color work is great as it can help create the illusion of more hair. The maintenance is good as the grow out is built into the look.
#14 Relaxed Waves with Warm Balayage
This shows really good living in, which is something I appreciate a lot! The waves are a little uneven, the balayage is warm – not bright, and it looks like healthy hair on a person who knows what works for them. The relaxed quality is harder to achieve than it seems because it needs a cut that falls well. If you don’t want to spend a lot of time on styling in the morning, this is the kind of cut to ask for; the silhouette does most of the work. A light trim every eight weeks or so keeps those ends from getting too wispy, and a good hydrating mask once a week keeps the longer lengths from drying out.
#15 Auburn Waves with Soft Textured Layers
That auburn color is phenomenal with that depth. It gives the impression of the hair glowing from the inside. The layered texture is cut to encourage movement while keeping the bulk, and this is about what you want when someone has medium thickness and a slight natural wave. It’s the kind of style where people might not come up and directly say ‘amazing haircut/color’. More likely people would say that the whole individual looks amazing, which is such a nice compliment to a hairstyle. A gloss treatment will maintain that richness between color appointments.
#16 Sleek Length with Soft Blunt Bangs and Subtle Balayage
This hairstyle focuses on shape and structure, with the blunt bangs giving it even more shape, and the balayage ensuring it doesn’t look flat. This also looks very polished and complex, and does well in photos too. I won’t lie, the upkeep to maintain this everyday does take some effort, and it is a bit of a commitment. However, if you do have a decent straightener, and are willing to spend around 10 minutes on it in the mornings, then you will love this style. If you are more of a wash-and-go type of person, then you may find this style a bit irritating.
#17 Caramel Highlights on Long Layers
This picture shows one of the more minimal looks, but, as we can see, minimal doesn’t mean less expensive. The melted caramels into the rich brunette base are just stunning, as well as the effortless, but quite intentional, layering. Good, healthy hair will always be in style, unlike many trends that come and go, and this cut has that look. For hair that falls around this length, a good leave-in will do wonders when it comes to the appearance of the ends, especially if they’re color-treated.
#18 Textured Waves with Side-Swept Bangs
The side-swept bangs look good because they go with the natural direction of the hair instead of against it. The warm tones throughout the hair are really nice for a cooler skin tone, and it’s an interesting contrast that not a lot of people would think of, but it works really well here. The waves give a nice classy look, and this is a style where the saying “a little effort goes a long way” really applies. A large-barrel curling iron and some texturizing spray would get you here, and once it’s set, it will hold well through the day.
#19 Warm Copper Waves with Movement
Another copper and I’m not sorry about it. This one is softer and more golden than the earlier copper look and gives it a completely different personality. The waves are loose and the layers are placed to encourage that natural looking bounce rather than create a specific shape. I can tell the hair has some natural wave to it already which means the styling to get this look is probably pretty minimal. A hydrating serum through the mid-lengths and ends would keep the wave pattern smooth and the copper tones looking their shiniest.
#20 Warm Balayage with Effortless Texture
Here we have an example of a good wearable style that is likely to work for a lot of people, and sometimes that’s all you need. Not every cut needs to be a statement. The warm balayage adds some visual interest, the waves give it body, and the subtle layering keeps it balanced. If you want a style that is practical for everyday life, looks good tied up and down, and doesn’t need much thought in the morning, this is a good option. It’s the kind of haircut people will wish they had because it will make your life so much easier.
#21 Long Textured Cut with Face-Framing Highlights
My favorite part is the texturizing at the ends as it helps lighten the overall appearance of the cut and keeps a long thick hair from looking heavy and blunt at the bottom. The face framing highlights are also well done and help draw the focus upwards toward the eyes and alter the impact of the whole style even though most people won’t do it consciously. The difference in lengths of the layers is just right so that the hair moves very freely and naturally. The highlights will need to be redone at the salon every couple of months but the cut will be fine to hold between trims.
#22 Caramel Ombre with Soft Waves
I love how the deeper chestnut roots become lighter and warmer towards the ends. The transition between the two colors is seamless, which is what you want in a good ombé. The waves also add to the laid-back vibe. One of the real benefits to a good ombé is that your roots growing out actually becomes part of the design, so you can space your appointments out a lot more than you would need to with a solid color or standard highlights. Beyond that, your only real maintenance concern would be the health and condition of the ends, as they will require more work to keep in a good condition due to the lifting.
#23 Long Waves with Bold Blunt Bangs
Looking polished yet relaxed can be achieved with blunt bangs and wavy hair. The clean finish of the bangs juxtaposes the rest of the hair, while the waves add volume. This hairstyle is best suited for medium to thick hair as the bangs will not sit flat while the waves will look full. If you are looking to stand out in a subtle way, this hairstyle is perfect. Additionally, you’ll need to keep those bangs trimmed for a cleaner overall finish.
#24 Feathered Long Layers
Feathered layers are a timeless classic. They deal with the problem of long hair just sitting there. With feathered layers, the ends are softened to create shape without having a hard, visible line. The highlights here add to the styling by reflecting light off the textured layers. This look is good for almost any occasion and as a lot of my clients want, it can be dressed up for the office, or dressed down for the weekend!
#25 Golden Highlighted Layers on Naturally Wavy Hair
The combination of sun-kissed highlights and her naturally wavy hair creates a beautiful and seasonless look that has depth and richness. The layers of her hair seem to work in harmony with the natural wave formations of her hair. This is more important than most people realize. Hair that is well defined and accentuated is a sign of good layering, whereas poor layering leads to hair that poofs out in all the wrong places. This is a great example of good layering. The overall effect is fresh and radiant, but not over-styled, which is the ideal look to go for.
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