15 Trendy Hairstyles with Side Swept Bangs for Women Over 40

Here are 15 modern hairstyles for women over 40 with side-swept bangs!

I want to make a unique point: side-swept bangs look a LOT different on a 25-year-old than they would on a 40-year-old, and I mean that positively. Younger people tend to have fads that are reckless and impulsive, like bangs. They’ll see a cute haircut on TikTok, and boom, they’re at the salon. But older people tend to have a lot more thought-out decisions with bangs. They seem to have more understanding of what fits their face, what the weather does to their hair, what their natural part is, and what hair they can be bothered to style. All of that seems to make that person fit the bangs a lot better.

A few years ago, one of my clients came to me with long layers that she had since 2011. When she sat down in my chair she said, “I want to do something different but I don’t want to look like I’m trying.” That’s pretty much the sweet spot for everything I want to say in this post. That day we decided to add a side-swept bang, and when I turned her around to the mirror, she started crying. She didn’t cry because it was a big change. She cried because it looked like her, but better. That’s how I feel about a good side-swept bang. It doesn’t call a lot of attention to itself, but it just works. I have a version of this sentiment for all the examples I’m going to share, whether you want to go shorter, keep the length, change color, or go natural. Let me show you some of my favorites.

Photos

#1: Warm Bronzed Layers That Basically Style Themselves

After getting this haircut, you might not fully appreciate it right away but this style is easy to wash, style, and look good. The cut being shoulder length helps make sure it moves with you and gets stuck in anything like a coat. The color also does a really good job matching with bronze tones because it adds extra warmth without going into caramel colors, which is good for the side bangs. The bangs look good with the overall cut and if you work in an office, it won’t be so obvious that you got bangs. It’s even better if you have a natural wave in your hair, and all you would have to do is scrunch in some texurizing spray and let it be. The bangs will also need to be trimmed every so often so that you’re not poked in the eye, but otherwise, that should be it.

#2 Chestnut Waves That Look Like You Came From Somewhere Interesting

I envy this hair! It looks like a person just got back from a long weekend in the wine country. This chestnut color is sophisticated and somehow looks really natural and like she was born with warm brown hair that says catches the light at all the right spots. Thicker hair can be so annoying, but it does mean that this wave pattern will actually work in your favor. The waves will actually have a lot of volume and won’t go flat by noon. The side bangs do most of the work. She does such a good job of framing and softening the eye and cheek bone area without it being too much. This look can easily go from coffee to dinner. It can be a real colour commitment to get it, especially since warm chestnuts can fade quickly. This is a really nice look if you want to put in the work, it is a shame hot shower people’s fade faster.

#3 That Deep Black That Makes Everyone Ask What You’re Using

With hair colors like jet black, your hair can look too heavy if you leave it long. However, with medium-length hair, you can avoid this. This style has bangs that are tucked off to the side which gives a cinematic effect, like the person is about to make an important announcement. The soft waves add the right amount of texture to create that effortless look of movement and dimension without being too heavy. It is worth noting that with dark hair like this, root touch-ups are necessary and lighter hair colors will make you need to go to the salon more often for gray coverage. However, you will be able to go longer in between appointments with darker colors, especially if your hair is starting to gray. This style is super easy to do; just add some serum to wet hair and you’re done.

#4 The Auburn Bob That Looks Better Undone

I love how simple this style is. This look really is beautiful and is shoulder length with a soft wave that looks really styled but in a good way. The color is also really cool because the roots are a darker color that shift to a bright auburn through the mids and ends. If you have silver hairs at your roots then you have a little grace period because the roots will look unedited. The soft wave that is side swept is also really pretty. I suggest that if you want some more definition to the style to use lightweight mousse for a few days as the style is really good to leave as is.

#5 Caramel Layers That Give You Back Some Dimension

Okay, but hear me out. This is one of those cuts that looks simple, but it’s actually doing A LOT more in person. The inner layers have been done to build volume from the interior, which is perfect if your hair has been thinning a bit and you want fullness without having to do extensions or anything too dramatic. The placement of caramel highlights will make it seem like you just came back from a holiday because they lighten your complexion _so_ much. The side swept fringe is playful, and great if you have a wider forehead you’d rather not think of. You’ll want to get the reshaped in layers every 6-8 weeks as they lose their shape, but between cuts this is actually low effort.

#6 Tousled Chocolate Waves That Work With Everything

This hair has the same charm as a pair of good quality jeans. It works with all outfits, and the style gives the wearer a good boost of confidence. The color is a beautiful chocolate brown with enough depth to appear like intentional color. It’s also not uniform enough to read as box color. There are no obvious roots showing through, and the hair does not look like it would as a cheap balayage. The color also looks like it has natural highlights, giving the hair color more dimension and keeping it interesting . If your hair is thick the waves will look really natural. The weight of the hair will help hold the waves without a lot of products. Probably just a small amount of curl cream when the hair is damp is good enough. The bangs are soft and blend into the hair. So they aren’t in the way. This is for anyone who sits in my chair and says, “I just want to look good without thinking about it.”

#7 Mahogany Bob With Just a Little Something Extra

The base color is deep mahogany. The color without highlights is warm and rich, but the carmel highlights woven through the color pop up when light hits the waves. It’s this detail that makes people lean in and say, “what’s going on with you color?” I love that. The bob is softened with layers so it doesn’t look too blunt or rigid, because then it looks like she has some movement even on a lazy day. The side bangs are modern. The only thing I would say is that the color will not stay like that for long so if you’re coming in for trims then it’s a small commitment.

#8 The Chestnut Cut That Doesn’t Need a Blow Dryer to Look Good

The length works really well because it hits just right above the shoulders and you can always pull it back, which honestly, I think is more important than what others think when they’re choosing a style. The chestnut color is warm and shiny, the kind of color that makes it look like your hair is just naturally healthy and really well moisturized. The side bangs are soft and delicate, they aren’t too dominating on your face, they just frame it really nicely. This is definitely going to be your favorite thing if your hair is straight or wavy because the soft layers work with what your hair really likes to do. I would say go ahead and invest in a good leave-in conditioner to keep the ends happy and keep the color looking fresh, and let the cut do the rest. The style speaks for itself and looks great even if you’ve put no effort into it and that’s the best compliment I can give to a haircut.

#9 Chestnut Curls With a Bang That Knows What It’s Doing

I appreciate that this part is a little more subjective. The curls are not tight ringlets but a softer layered type. The loose bang adds a more relaxed look. If you are always struggling with flat hair, these layered curls will literally change your life. They create volume around the face and at the crown. Some well-placed highlights around the cheekbones really catch the light. It’s a small but significant change. You can expect some maintenance with the curls. You’ll need to touch them up with a curling iron between washes, or you can do rollers if that’s your thing. The shape of the cut will hold up well even as the curls relax.

#10 Golden Waves That Feel Like Sunlight Did All the Work

What I like about this look is that it appears effortless. The golden blonde has some lighter and darker tones woven throughout, which adds dimension to her color, and the natural wave adds movement like she just got out of the ocean. The side-swept bangs are blunt and blend so seamlessly with the other layers that you almost don’t notice she has bangs at all; it’s just a casual sweep across her forehead that pulls the whole look together. It is ideal if you have a more angular face, and if you have a jaw that is more on the sharp side or you have prominent cheekbones, this soft layering will help to balance everything out. To keep the look the layers will need to be reshaped regularly, but the good news is that this is a low maintenance look.

#11 Silver-Gray Bob for the Person Who’s Done Pretending

I love when I get asked about fighting the grays, or going gray. Just look at the amazing silver-gray hair! This client is fully committed to the transition and hair this color is NOT mousy or washed out. It’s bright, and intentional! The feathered layers give it lift and movement, which matters a lot with fine silver hair because without texture, it can sometimes lie a little flat. Now, maintaining a clean silver tone does take some effort, a good purple shampoo is going to be your best friend to keep yellowing at bay, and you’ll want to check in with your stylist to keep the tone consistent. But honestly, when it looks this good, it’s worth every bit of that.

#12 Burnished Copper That Wakes Up Your Whole Face

I understand that it can be scary to experiment with a new color, but just look at this. It’s gorgeous! It’s not just a standard, bright copper penny. It’s warm and high-end leather or autumn just before all the leaves fall. This color will really bring out someone’s glow. The cut will be face framing, and will be heavy. The side-swept bangs will also ensure and add movement, then draw more attention to the eyes, which I love. The color has roots and then goes into that brighter copper, so it means purposeful grow-outs will look good for a long time. You just have to do a little bit of styling so the layers are more defined, but a round brush and blow dryer will do the trick.

#13 Chocolate Bob With Waves That Do What You Want

The bob cut rests above the shoulders and I believe that is the sweet spot. It gives you styling options. You can wear it straight one day and then try wavy the next. For a sleeker look, you can even tuck it behind your ears. With this chocolate color, it is rich and not flat. The tone has a natural variation that gives dimension as it reflects light. I like the side-swept bangs here because they soften the shape of the cut, and with a bob like this it’s really about breaking up that boxy look. The angle of the bangs and the diagonal lines help everything flow nicely. The waves add volume, so this haircut is really going to work for you if your hair is fine. All you need to do is use a bit of sea salt spray on damp hair, scrunch and go!

#14 Chestnut Balayage With Feathered Bangs That Frame Without Fuss

What really stands out with this balayage is how natural it is; color looks blended by a stylist, but by the sun! The color blends flawlessly from darker roots to lighter ends to honey tones. It’s so perfect that no one could guess where the color changes. The bangs are a great compliment to the look as they soften the forehead and create space for the face. The layers give the look a lot of movement and also add thicker volume to the hair. If you do something similar, using a good lightweight hair oil on the ends will polish it up nicely between appointments.

#15 Golden Layers That Make You Want to Wear Your Hair Down

The best thing I can say about this haircut is that now I can finally see someone who always wore their hair in a ponytail and *not* in a ponytail. The warm golden blondes are the best! They are deep and rich enough to and ground warm skin tones without washing them out. The layers are so well done and give so much movement everywhere so it never looks like a solid wall of hair. The side bangs are also blended into the rest of the layers so they don’t need a separate styling routine and will just blend right in. The length is also considerate of your time because it is long enough to feel like you have length but short enough to actually be manageable in the morning. If you have warm skin tones, this color will be so flattering on you!