To wear a flattering ponytail over 40, focus on adding volume and softness by creating lift at the crown, leaving out face-framing tendrils, and covering the hair tie with a wrapped strand of hair for a sophisticated finish, avoiding tight, slicked-back styles that can look harsh. Opt for mid-to-low placements, use texturizing products for grip, and consider techniques like backcombing or using claw clips for added height, says Woman & Home, a YouTube video with a claw clip method, and another YouTube tutorial.
Super sleek high ponytails are a game changer if you're wanting a more youthful appearance. Sometimes hair can weigh the face down, so trying this super polished look is a must! If you want to keep your fly-aways at bay, we'd recommend investing in a high quality gel to keep your look intact all day!
5 Hairstyles That Rarely Flatter Women 40+
Choose Flattering Blonde Tones
Warm blondes (honey, caramel, golden) add glow and softness to the face. Cool blondes (ash, pearl, champagne) can look chic, but they need to be balanced so they don't wash you out. Neutral blends (mixing warm and cool highlights) are often the most flattering for women over 40.
Layered shoulder length cut
If you have long hair that needs a cut to get rid of split ends and damage, a shoulder length style with multiple layers throughout is a perfect, low-maintenance choice. The layers add movement and prevent your hair from looking flat, enhancing texture and volume.
As you age, hair often gets lighter (due to graying) or may need to be lightened to look more youthful, as very dark colors can create harsh contrasts, accentuating wrinkles and shadows on mature skin; adding softness and warmth with lighter tones, highlights, or multi-dimensional browns/blondes is generally more flattering and rejuvenating. The key is to choose colors that harmonize with your current skin tone, not your skin tone from decades past.
Skin brightening treatments, like Microdermabrasion, Light Peels, Micro Laser Peels, or the Clear & Brilliant Laser treatment all help patients to look 10 years younger or more, with just a few treatments. These treatments can be used in order to combat the signs of aging in the face, such as: Wrinkles.
The "7-day haircut rule" suggests that while a fresh haircut looks sharp, it often hits its peak and looks most natural, effortless, and "lived-in" around one week (7 days) after getting it, as the hair softens, settles, and blends better. It's a guideline for timing major events or understanding when your hair finds its sweet spot, allowing the initial starkness to fade into a more comfortable style, similar to breaking in new shoes.
Overall Hair Thinning
Hair thinning during perimenopause typically occurs as a diffuse pattern affecting the entire scalp rather than concentrated areas. Women often notice gradual hair density reduction, making the scalp more visible through their hair, particularly under bright lighting.
The "3-inch hair rule" (or sometimes the 2.25-inch rule) is a hairstylist's guideline to help you decide if short hair suits your face shape: place a pencil horizontally under your chin and a ruler vertically under your ear; if the measurement from the pencil to your earlobe (where the ruler sits) is less than 3 inches (or 2.25 inches), short hair will likely flatter you, while more suggests longer styles are better, though it's just a guide, not a strict rule.
Let's have a look:
To look younger, opt for styles with movement, layers, and face-framing elements like the Butterfly Cut, Modern Shag, or a Layered Lob, which add volume and soften features, while Curtain or Wispy Bangs conceal forehead lines and highlight eyes, and a well-placed Pixie Cut can lift the face for an instant refresh. The key is to avoid heavy, one-length styles and embrace texture, fullness, and strategic highlights to create a fresh, vibrant look.
If you love your ponytail, wear it! If you want one that makes seems more age-appropriate, create it! There really are lots of best hairstyles for women over 50.
No you don't need to go for a short crop past a certain age, nor should you avoid growing your hair long – it really doesn't matter what age you are, great hair is all about self-expression.
In haircuts, numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 refer to clipper guard sizes, which are plastic attachments that control hair length; the higher the number, the longer the hair. A #1 is about 1/8 inch, #2 is 1/4 inch, #3 is 3/8 inch, #4 is 1/2 inch, and #5 is 5/8 inch, with each number leaving progressively more hair for fades, buzz cuts, and other styles.
Similarly, Saturdays are ruled by the planet Saturn, which represents discipline and restriction. It's thought that cutting your nails or hair on a Saturday could lead to slow growth or even health issues. On the flip side, some days are considered auspicious for nail and haircuts.
After a few days, your hair softens and begins to move in a way that complements the cut. Much like breaking in a new pair of shoes, your hair needs a little time to adapt, making the style look more natural and effortless.
Eating fiber rich vegetables first, followed by protein, and then finished with a carbohydrate is said to be the ideal way to eat to slow aging. Basically, by following this method, your blood sugar will not suddenly spike.
Women often become more attractive after 40—and into their 50s—because of the confidence, wisdom, and self- assuredness they gain with time.
5 anti-ageing drinks that help you stay youthful
Are chunky highlights in style in 2025? Absolutely. The beauty of trends is that they always come back around, and right now, chunky highlights are one of the hottest looks in hair color. But the trick is to update them so they feel fresh and new.
Red is the rarest hair color, but to understand why that's the case, you need a basic grasp of the science. There's a lot more to it than the simple traits we learned about in high school biology.
Hair that is too dark and flat makes you look older, but celebrity stylist Kim Vō – whom Vogue dubbed “the best blonder in the business” – warns women not to become “blonderexic.” “If your hair color blends with your skin tone, that will age you,” Vō says.