As women turn 40, they start having a mid-life hair-covering crisis. “I no longer feel comfortable in headbands. What will replace my go-to comfy headband fall?” “How long can I wear my sheitel without looking ridiculous at my age?” These are the two most popular questions I receive from my clients who are turning this magical age of 40. For some reason, with the approaching big 4-0 number, women feel that they can no longer wear the hairstyles and pieces that they wore in their 30s, which may or may not be true.
Women in their 40s exude much more confidence then their younger selves. They have acquired a wisdom from life experiences that can only come with age. They have grown to really know themselves and are comfortable with who they are. Along with this growth comes a radiance of a much more sophisticated femininity then they had before. Some slight changes with added flare can help to bring this more sophisticated feeling out in you.
One of the most common misconceptions women make is that once they pass the age of 40 they need to go for a shorter hairstyle. The truth is many “hair experts” believe that hair length has nothing to do with age. Instead of focusing on the number 40, women should focus on picking a hairstyle that best suits their face shape, lifestyle and personality. Since celebrities tend to go to the best hairstylists, an easy way to find a cut that will work best for your face shape is to find a celeb with similar face shape and bone structure to you, and use their cut as an inspiration for your new look.
The majority of women in their 40s opt for a medium-length hairstyle, due to the hair’s versatility, the feminine but kept look and easy maintenance level. Medium hairstyle lengths happen to be the most popular and trending lengths these past few years and they are anything but boring. The razor-cutting techniques that are continuing to gain popularity due to the extreme texture and edgy look the razor can create are making bobs, lobs, layered looks, shags, bangs and all other types of medium-length hairstyles modern with a sophisticated twist. Medium-length hairstyles also allow for women to style their hair differently whenever they wish. From curly to wavy, vintage, straight or flipped out, a whole new look can be achieved with each wash and set/blow out, depending on the occasion.
Women over 40 usually avoid choosing a long hairstyle mostly due to the high maintenance of the hairstyle. But long hairstyles that are cut appropriately for a women in her 40s, and that compliment her face shape, can exude a tremendous amount of feminine. While cutting, careful attention and focus should be put into the face framing, layers and texturizing so that the long hair doesn’t hang and drag the face down. Long hair offers endless possibilities when it comes to hairstyling—curly hairstyles, straight hairstyles, wavy hairstyles, all of which look fabulous on any age women. Pick a look you love and feel amazing in and forget about the number!
By Sari Friedbauer
Sari Friedbauer is the owner of Sari’s Wigs. She is a licensed hairstylist and certified wig maker and can be reached at 201-694-5319.
