Navigating the world of hairstyles can be tricky, especially when certain styles can unintentionally add years to your appearance.
For those over 40, medium-length hair offers a versatile canvas, but not every style is a hit. Let’s explore some medium-length hairstyles that you might want to steer clear of to keep your look fresh and youthful.
1. The Helmet Bob
A helmet bob can be overly structured, giving an impression of stiffness and lack of movement. This style often involves blunt edges, which can make the hair appear heavier than it actually is.
Without the right layering or texturizing, this look can easily add unwanted years to your appearance. Consider adding layers for volume and softness.
2. Flat Ironed Locks
Rigidly flat-ironed hair lacks the natural volume that can bring life to a look. This ultra-straight style often results in limp, lifeless strands that don’t do much to flatter mature faces.
Instead of relying solely on straightening, incorporating some soft waves or curls can add the desired bounce and freshness to your hairstyle. Keep it natural.
3. The Outdated Perm
Perms can offer curls, but outdated, tightly wound ones can feel reminiscent of decades past, particularly the 80s.
These curls tend to add unnecessary volume and frizz, making the hair look more unkempt than vibrant. Opt for modern, softer waves instead, which will provide texture without sacrificing a contemporary, polished appearance.
4. Overly Bleached Lob
While a lob can be chic, overly bleached versions often result in straw-like textures that look dry and damaged.
This harsh treatment can lead to breakage and an overall unhealthy look. Instead of extreme bleaching, consider subtle highlights or balayage to add dimension and vibrancy without compromising the hair’s health.
5. Heavy Bangs
Heavy bangs can dominate your face, creating a shadowing effect that dulls your features. Thick bangs can sometimes feel overwhelming, drawing focus from the eyes and cheekbones.
Opt for lighter, side-swept fringe that adds softness and frames the face more gently, enhancing your natural beauty without overpowering your look.
6. Center-Parted Straight Hair
A strict center part with straight hair can lend a severe and unyielding look. This style often lacks volume and movement, making it appear flat and uninspired.
By shifting the part slightly or adding some waves, you can achieve a more dynamic and youthful effect, bringing life and softness back to your hairstyle.
7. The Pageboy
The pageboy cut, with its straight edges and retro vibe, can sometimes feel outdated and unflattering. This style tends to accentuate any roundness in the face and lacks the modern edge many desire.
A more contemporary take with layers or soft curls can update this style, making it fresh and suitable for a more modern era.
8. Excessive Layers
While layers can add movement, excessive layering can lead to a chaotic and uneven appearance. This can make the hair look thinner and more unruly than it actually is.
Instead, opt for strategic layering that complements your natural hair texture, ensuring a balanced and harmonious look that enhances your features rather than distracting from them.
9. The Classic Mullet
The mullet, with its distinct ‘business in the front, party in the back’ look, can be tricky to pull off at any age, especially over 40. It tends to exaggerate facial features in an unflattering way.
Consider modern adaptations of the mullet with softer transitions and blending for a more balanced and attractive result.
10. Severe Asymmetrical Cut
An asymmetrical cut can be edgy, but when too severe, it often leads to imbalance and a disproportionate look. This stark style might not age well, as it can emphasize asymmetry in facial features.
Opt for a more subtle asymmetrical style with smoother transitions for an eye-catching yet balanced appearance that complements your natural beauty.
11. Poker Straight Ends
Poker straight ends can give an unnatural, sharp appearance, especially when paired with medium-length hair.
This style can seem rigid and unyielding, detracting from a more fluid and youthful look. Consider softening the edges with some texturizing or waves to create a sense of movement and vitality, enhancing overall appeal.
12. The Retro Flip
The retro flip, with its upwards curling ends, can look dated and overly styled. This vintage look may add unneeded bulk around the face and neck, detracting from a sleeker appearance.
Instead, opt for a more modern wave or curl pattern that maintains volume without resorting to such a noticeably retro, less flattering style.
13. Thick Blunt Cut
A thick, blunt cut can feel heavy and inflexible, lacking the movement that adds life to hairstyles. Such a cut can create a boxy silhouette, especially on medium-length hair.
Incorporating some layers or feathering can introduce softness and versatility, allowing for better styling options while enhancing the hair’s natural volume.
14. Over-teased Roots
Over-teased roots can lend a dated appearance reminiscent of the ’80s, adding unwanted height and frizz that feel out of place today.
This style can make maintaining a sleek look difficult. Instead, achieve volume with subtle teasing and volume-enhancing products that offer a more sophisticated look without the excessive frizz or height.
15. Curtain Bangs Gone Wrong
Curtain bangs, when styled poorly, can look awkward and fail to frame the face effectively. Misplaced or unevenly cut bangs can emphasize facial imperfections instead of enhancing beauty.
Properly styled curtain bangs can beautifully contour the face, so ensure cuts are precise and styling is done to complement your individual features.
16. The Unkempt Shag
A shag cut can be trendy, but when it crosses into unkempt territory, it feels more chaotic than stylish. The unkempt shag often lacks structure, making it seem disorganized and poorly maintained.
For a more polished look, maintain regular trims and consider adding some defined waves to keep the shag modern and intentionally styled.
17. Overly Textured Lob
Texturing can add interest, but when overdone, it often results in frizziness that detracts from a sleek look. An overly textured lob can appear unruly and difficult to manage, losing its chic appeal.
Opt for a balanced texture that adds dimension without sacrificing the smoothness and polish that make this cut so stylish for mature women.
18. Unbalanced Layers
Unbalanced layers can disrupt the flow of a hairstyle, creating an uneven and disjointed look. When layers don’t blend seamlessly, they can make the hair appear incohesive and haphazard.
To avoid this, ensure layers are carefully planned and executed, enhancing the hair’s natural movement and creating a harmonious overall appearance.
19. The Triangular Bob
A triangular bob, where hair widens at the bottom, can feel outdated and unbalanced. This shape tends to emphasize the jawline disproportionately, creating an unwanted heaviness.
To avoid this, consider incorporating some layers or an A-line cut to distribute volume more evenly, framing the face in a flattering manner that enhances overall balance.
20. Overly Curled Ends
Tightly curled ends can feel overly styled, reminiscent of older trends that do not flatter mature facial features.
Such styling can draw attention to the ends rather than the overall look. Looser curls or waves can maintain volume and interest while ensuring the hairstyle feels current and complements the natural shape and texture of the hair.
21. The Bowl Cut
A bowl cut can be quite stark, lacking the softness and fluidity that more flattering hairstyles offer. This style can often make the head appear rounder and more pronounced, which may not flatter all facial structures.
Opt for hairstyles with layers and movement that offer shape and interest, enhancing your natural beauty rather than overshadowing it.
22. The Flat Lob
A flat lob can appear lifeless and devoid of the movement that provides a more youthful appearance.
When a lob has no layers or texture, it often lacks the depth that makes this style so appealing. To revitalize a flat lob, incorporate layers or soft waves, enhancing the natural movement and giving the hairstyle a more vibrant allure.
23. The Pulled-Back Pouf
A pulled-back pouf can feel dated and harsh, creating an unnatural height at the crown. This style often results in a stark contrast between the pouf and tightly pulled-back hair, lacking softness.
For a more modern look, soften the pouf with gentle teasing and ensure the pulled-back hair maintains a relaxed and more contemporary appearance.
24. Messy Half-Updo
A messy half-updo can sometimes appear too casual and unstructured, lacking the elegance desired for more polished occasions.
This style might not hold well throughout the day, leading to an untidy look. For a more refined appearance, consider a sleeker version with clean lines and secure styling, ensuring it remains sophisticated and put together.
25. Uneven Frizzy Curls
Uneven, frizzy curls can create an untamed and unpolished look, detracting from the elegance that well-defined curls can offer.
This style often results in an inconsistent pattern that lacks cohesion. For more refined curls, use products that enhance definition and fight frizz, ensuring a smooth, controlled, and flattering hairstyle that maintains its shape.
26. The Harsh Mohawk
A mohawk, with its bold and edgy lines, can be harsh for those over 40, emphasizing sharp angles and stark contrasts. This style often feels more rebellious than sophisticated.
Softer, more blended versions of mohawks, with gentler transitions and textures, can provide a more refined look while still retaining the unique edge of this hairstyle.
27. The Disorganized Braid
A disorganized braid can look haphazard and unkempt, lacking the structure and neatness that makes braids a beautiful style choice.
This look often appears as an afterthought rather than a deliberate style. To enhance the appeal, ensure braids are tightly woven and balanced, creating a tidy, structured appearance that enhances rather than detracts.
28. Flat Top Knot
A flat top knot can look compressed and uninspired, lacking the volume and height that add interest to updos. This style often appears plain, failing to make a striking impression.
To add flair, incorporate volume at the base or loosen the knot to create a fuller, more dynamic appearance that commands attention and complements the overall style.
29. The Overgrown Pixie
An overgrown pixie cut can lose its shape, resulting in a style that appears undefined and unkempt. This look can seem as though it’s caught between styles, without the sharpness of a true pixie or the length of a bob.
Regular trims and maintenance can preserve the pixie’s intended style, ensuring it remains chic and purposeful.
30. The Curtain Call
Curtain bangs that are too long can obscure the eyes, creating a shadowed and closed-off appearance. This style can detract from the expressiveness of the eyes, one of the most engaging facial features.
Regular trims to maintain the correct length ensure the bangs enhance rather than hinder, providing a flattering frame that highlights your eyes beautifully.
31. The Flat Wave
Flat waves can appear lackluster and devoid of the bounce that makes waves so appealing. This style may seem as though it was once vibrant but has since fallen flat, losing its charm.
To enliven flat waves, use products that promote curl retention and volume, ensuring waves remain defined, full of life, and complementary to your overall look.
32. The Stringy Layered Cut
Stringy layered cuts can make hair appear thin and unhealthy, detracting from the fullness that gives hair its body and appeal. This style often looks unkempt and poorly maintained.
To counteract the stringy effect, consider cutting layers that add bulk and movement, using volumizing products to ensure each layer maintains its intended shape and fullness.