Turning forty doesn’t mean settling for safe, boring hair. In fact, this decade opens the door to confident, flattering styles that highlight your features, embrace texture, and reflect your personality.
From chic bobs and modern pixies to soft layers and effortless waves, today’s hairstyles are designed to enhance volume, movement, and elegance at any age. Whether you prefer polished and professional or relaxed and playful, the right cut can refresh your look instantly.
In this guide, we’ve gathered the most eye catching, trendy hairstyles that celebrate maturity while staying current, stylish, and easy to maintain for women who want timeless beauty with a modern edge.
1. Chin-Length Bob
Material: Flat iron, hairbrush, and texturizing spray.
Time Period: 20-30 minutes.
Application Method:
- Begin by washing your hair and towel-drying it.
- Apply a light styling gel or mousse to add volume.
- Blow-dry your hair using a round brush, directing it under for a smooth, rounded bob.
- Use a flat iron to smooth out any frizz and create a sleek look.
- Finish with a texturizing spray to add volume and texture, giving it that youthful, modern edge.
2. Layered Lob (Long Bob)
Material: Blow dryer, round brush, and volumizing mousse.
Time Period: 25-35 minutes.
Application Method:
- Start with damp hair, applying a volumizing mousse for fullness.
- Blow-dry using a round brush, curling the ends inward for a soft wave.
- Add layers around the face for dimension, keeping the length below the shoulders.
- Finish by applying a lightweight hairspray to hold the style without weighing it down.
3. Textured Pixie Cut
Material: Hair wax, dry shampoo, and blow dryer.
Time Period: 10-15 minutes.
Application Method:
- Wash and towel-dry hair.
- Apply a texturizing spray or dry shampoo to add volume and texture.
- Blow-dry your hair, using your fingers to scrunch the hair into place.
- Finish with a small amount of hair wax for definition, especially at the nape and crown.
4. Side-Swept Bangs with Long Waves
Material: Flat iron, curl wand, and smoothing serum.
Time Period: 30-40 minutes.
Application Method:
- Begin by straightening the majority of your hair.
- Use a curling iron or wand to add loose, soft waves to the ends.
- Create side-swept bangs by using a flat iron to gently curl the front pieces.
- Finish with a smoothing serum to add shine and tame any flyaways.
5. Shaggy Cut
Material: Texturizing mousse, blow dryer, and salt spray.
Time Period: 15-25 minutes.
Application Method:
- Apply a generous amount of texturizing mousse to damp hair.
- Use a blow dryer to scrunch the hair upwards, giving it volume.
- Apply salt spray to enhance texture and define the layers.
- Let your hair air-dry or finish with a quick blow-dry for extra volume.
6. Sleek Low Ponytail
Material: Hair elastic, smoothing serum, flat iron.
Time Period: 15-20 minutes.
Application Method:
- Straighten your hair using a flat iron for a sleek look.
- Apply a small amount of smoothing serum to control frizz.
- Gather your hair into a low ponytail and secure it with a hair elastic.
- Wrap a small section of hair around the elastic to hide it and give a polished finish.
7. Tousled Beach Waves
Material: Curling iron, texturizing spray, and sea salt spray.
Time Period: 30-40 minutes.
Application Method:
- Apply a heat protectant and curl your hair in sections using a curling iron.
- After curling, gently tousle the waves with your fingers for a natural, beachy look.
- Finish with a sea salt spray for added texture and volume.
8. Soft Curls with Middle Part
Material: Curling iron, light hairspray, and heat protectant.
Time Period: 30-40 minutes.
Application Method:
- Apply a heat protectant to damp hair.
- Curl the hair in 1-inch sections using a curling iron for soft, defined curls.
- Part your hair in the center for a balanced, symmetrical look.
- Finish with a light hairspray for a flexible hold.
9. Bouncy Blowout
Material: Blow dryer, round brush, volumizing mousse.
Time Period: 25-35 minutes.
Application Method:
- Apply volumizing mousse to damp hair.
- Blow-dry your hair with a round brush to create volume at the roots and bouncy ends.
- Make sure to curl the ends slightly under for a polished look.
10. Elegant Chignon
Material: Hairpins, smoothing gel, and hairspray.
Time Period: 30-40 minutes.
Application Method:
- Begin by styling your hair into a low ponytail.
- Twist the ponytail into a bun and secure it with hairpins.
- Smooth any flyaways with a smoothing gel.
- Finish with hairspray for a long-lasting hold.
11. Flipped Ends
Material: Flat iron, blow dryer, and curl-enhancing mousse.
Time Period: 20-30 minutes.
Application Method:
- Apply curl-enhancing mousse to damp hair.
- Blow-dry your hair using a round brush, flipping the ends outward.
- Use a flat iron to smooth out any frizz and define the flipped ends.
Image Prompt: “Flipped ends for a playful, retro-inspired hairstyle.”
12. Loose French Twist
Material: Hairpins, smoothing cream, and hairspray.
Time Period: 20-30 minutes.
Application Method:
- Start by applying a smoothing cream to your hair.
- Twist your hair loosely and pin it at the back to form a soft French twist.
- Lightly tug the twist to loosen it for a more relaxed, modern look.
- Finish with a light hairspray to hold it in place.
Image Prompt: “Loose French twist hairstyle for a relaxed yet chic appearance.”
13. Soft Updo with Loose Curls
Material: Curling iron, hairpins, hairspray.
Time Period: 30-40 minutes.
Application Method:
- Curl your hair with a curling iron, creating soft waves.
- Pin sections of your hair into a low, messy updo, leaving some curls loose for volume.
- Finish with hairspray to set the curls.
Image Prompt: “Soft updo with loose curls for an elegant and romantic look.”
14. Slicked Back Hair
Material: Gel, comb, and hairspray.
Time Period: 10-15 minutes.
Application Method:
- Apply a generous amount of gel to damp hair.
- Use a comb to slick the hair back, keeping the style neat and smooth.
- Finish with hairspray for a firm hold.
Image Prompt: “Slicked-back hairstyle for a polished, sleek look.”
15. Loose Fishtail Braid
Material: Elastic band, texturizing spray.
Time Period: 20-30 minutes.
Application Method:
- Begin by applying a texturizing spray to create volume.
- Braid your hair into a fishtail braid, pulling the strands gently to create a looser, fuller look.
- Secure the braid with an elastic band at the end.
Image Prompt: “Loose fishtail braid with relaxed, voluminous texture.”
16. Pompadour with Waves
Material: Volumizing mousse, flat iron, and hairspray.
Time Period: 30-40 minutes.
Application Method:
- Apply volumizing mousse to damp hair.
- Blow-dry your hair and then curl the ends with a flat iron for waves.
- Tease the hair at the crown to create volume, and pin it back for a pompadour style.
Image Prompt: “Pompadour hairstyle with soft waves for a trendy, glamorous look.”
17. Messy Bun with Face-Framing Layers
Material: Hair tie, bobby pins, texturizing spray.
Time Period: 10-15 minutes.
Application Method:
- Gather your hair into a loose, messy bun at the crown of your head.
- Use bobby pins to secure any loose strands around the face.
- Finish with a light spritz of texturizing spray to add volume and definition.
Image Prompt: “Messy bun with soft, face-framing layers for a chic and effortless look.”
18. Half Up Half Down with Curls
Material: Curling iron, hairpins, and hairspray.
Time Period: 25-35 minutes.
Application Method:
- Curl your hair for soft waves.
- Take a section from the top and secure it with a hairpin.
- Let the bottom half flow freely for a half-up, half-down look.
Image Prompt: “Half-up half-down hairstyle with soft curls for an elegant, easygoing style.”
19. Braided Crown
Material: Hair tie, bobby pins, texturizing spray.
Time Period: 25-30 minutes.
Application Method:
- Braid two sections of hair from either side of your head.
- Wrap the braids around the crown of your head like a crown and secure them with bobby pins.
- Use texturizing spray for added volume.
Image Prompt: “Braided crown hairstyle for a regal and boho-inspired look.”
20. Tight Curls with Headband
Material: Curling iron, headband, hairspray.
Time Period: 35-45 minutes.
Application Method:
- Curl your hair into tight curls using a curling iron.
- Place a wide headband on your head to push the curls back and keep them in place.
- Finish with hairspray to keep the curls intact.
Image Prompt: “Tight curls styled with a headband for a vintage-inspired, chic look.”
