Hairstyles for Women Over 40 - 50 - and Beyond

Guest Author - Lynne Chapman

Women who are over forty, over fifty or beyond should wear their hair in any style they choose. If your hair makes you feel good and you like the way it looks, wear it with confidence. While there are no set styles that are particularly for any certain age, this article may help you to think about what styles look best on a mature face and to give you some ideas for a new look that may flatter you. Don’t limit yourself to conservative looks. Mature women can wear many styles, providing that they have the hair that will support the style and that they use the correct styling procedures and products.

     

Short hair is almost always attractive on everyone and is very fast and easy to style. The close cut sides have a slimming effect, however, it is best to leave a little fringe at the sides and in the back for softness. Sides that are extremely short often have a harsh effect on a mature face. Don’t make the mistake of wearing a short style simply because it is easy to take care of. Very short haircuts are best on a woman with a small features.

If you have a bit of natural wave in your hair, scrunch this style dry. If your hair is straight, make sure you have applied styling foam or gel, then use a narrow flat iron to lift it and bend pieces to stand out. Put hair wax or hair crème in the palm of your hand, rub your hands together and then work them through your hair in a scrubbing motion.

These two styles are appropriate for fine hair, using styling foam or styling lotion. Texturizing makes this style very effective for coarse or thick hair.

      This short shag hair cut is almost always in style and has a youthful look without being childish. I suggest wearing the sides behind your ears, unless you have a very narrow face shape. To keep the young look, wear it messy. Blow it dry using your fingers and, if necessary, ‘curl’ it using a narrow flat iron instead of a curling iron. Use hair wax or hair crème to separate the layers. Over styling will turn this style from trendy to dated.

      This style is worn by many young women but it can be attractive on an older women too. The trick is to never let the top droop or lay flat. It should be full without taking on the old fashioned bouffant look. Texturizing will help to keep the longer layers full.

      Longing for long hair? This shag hair cut is a good way to wear long hair. The layers draw the eye up and keep the bottom area close to the head. Remember, you want the fullness toward the top for an uplifting effect. It is usually wise to keep the bangs fairly short to show off your eyes. Don’t worry about crows-feet or smile lines. Longer bangs often make the eyes appear small or hide them.

    All of the above styles are appropriate for many types of hair.

    If you have fine hair, use firm hold styling foam or lotion to give it body.

    To separate the layers and give it a piecy look use a medium hold hair crème or piecing paste.

    Coarse hair should be texturized to remove the bulk.

    Use a flexible styling glaze to style it and hair wax or hair crème to separate the layers and give it a piecy look.

    Very thick hair will require extensive texturizing to create the proper look.