33 Must-See Wavy Hairstyles For Women Over 40 That Make A Statement
Ready to refresh your hairstyle? Think of waves as your secret weapon. They add volume, movement, and a touch of glam to your look. Plus, they’re incredibly versatile and can be tailored to suit your unique style. Here are some of our favorite wavy hairstyles for your 40s and beyond:
1. Long Waves with Fringe
Long, flowing waves create a sense of movement and are perfectly paired with piecey bangs. This long wavy hairstyle is perfect for women who want to maintain length while adding some softness to their features. The gentle waves add body and texture, making fine hair appear fuller and more voluminous.
2. Piecey Loose Waves
These piecey waves give this shoulder-length style a modern, youthful feel. It’s an excellent choice for women with medium to thick hair who want a versatile cut that can be dressed up or down. To style, apply a texturizing spray to damp hair and air dry for effortless, beachy waves.
3. Long Loose Waves
The soft, flowing texture of these beautiful waves creates a romantic and youthful look, perfect for longer hair. The subtle layers add movement and prevent the style from looking heavy or limp. To achieve this look, use an extra-large-barrel curling iron and alternate the direction of the curls for a natural, unstructured finish.
4. Layered Waves for Thick Hair
This fabulous layered style is perfect for women with thick hair. The strategically placed layers remove bulk and create a beautiful, cascading effect that enhances natural waves. The shorter layers around the face add softness, while the longer layers maintain a sleek shape.
5. Long, Full Waves
This cut is perfect for women who want to maintain their length while adding some shape and texture. The subtle layers throughout help to distribute the weight of thick hair evenly. For easy styling, apply a leave-in conditioner and twist large sections of damp hair, allowing them to air-dry for natural-looking waves.
6. Wavy Pixie Bob
This chic short style has tousled waves for added body. Women with fine hair will appreciate how this mix between a pixie and a bob creates the look of thickness and volume. The cut really stands out with its dimensional blonde shade, adding warmth and depth and enhancing the wavy texture.
7. Wavy Lob With Side-Swept Bangs
Get the ease of long hair with the face-flattering benefits of layers. This cut is ideal for women with medium to thick hair since the gentle layers add movement and prevent the hair from looking heavy or weighed down. Beachy waves throughout create a relaxed, approachable vibe.
8. Wavy Inverted Bob
Bold and modern, this angled cut makes a statement with its angled inverted length. The graduated back creates a sleek shape, while the longer front elongates the neck and balances facial proportions. Soft waves throughout add texture and volume, perfect for women with fine to medium hair.
9. Wavy Updo
This soft updo is perfect for special events or when you want to feel extra glam. Loose, face-framing waves soften the look and highlight your facial features. The textured waves prevent the style from appearing too severe or dated. The lifted crown adds height and elongates your face, creating a youthful appearance.
10. Shaggy Waves With Fringe
Put your natural hair texture on display with this cool, rock-inspired look. The shaggy layers and piecey fringe are perfect for women with naturally wavy or curly hair who want a low-maintenance style that shows off their texture. The dimensional blonde shade amplifies the wavy texture, creating a beach look that brightens your complexion.
11. Wavy Pixie
This playful short cut is filled with texture and volume and gives a lift to thin hair. The soft layers around the face flatter your features by drawing attention to your eyes and cheekbones. With minimal styling required, this low-maintenance cut is perfect for busy women.
12. Textured Wavy Long Bob
These gentle blonde waves create a soft, romantic quality with a light hue that is offset by darker roots. This cut works beautifully for women with medium to thick hair, as the layers help manage volume and create movement. Air-dry it for a relaxed vibe or style with a curling iron for more definition.
13. Long Wavy Layers for Thick Hair
Long hair that is thick can sometimes look heavy and flat, but with the right cut and styling, hair can look balanced and dimensional. The carefully crafted layers prevent heaviness and allow the hair to move freely. The subtle highlights accentuate the wavy texture, creating a lovely dimension.
14. Tousled Shoulder-Length Waves
Tousled, piecey layers add movement and lightness to this mid-length cut, while the length offers styling flexibility. Whether worn with a deep side part for drama or a center part for balance, this versatile look adapts to your style. The soft highlights around the face illuminate your features for a stunning look.
15. Long Shaggy Layers with Fringe
Channel your inner bohemian spirit with this free-flowing style. The long, shaggy layers create texture, perfect for women who want to work with their natural waves. The addition of a soft, wispy fringe accentuated your facial features.
16. Chin-Length Waves
This chic chin-length cut gets plenty of movement from soft, sleek, layered waves. The rich chocolate hue with subtle highlights complements warm skin tones. For a polished finish, use a lightweight styling cream to enhance the waves and tame any frizz.
17. Silver Wavy Lob
Try this classic style when you want to transition to your natural gray shade. The face-framing layers accentuate your best features and can also soften angular facial shapes. To maintain healthy locks, use a purple shampoo to keep the silver tone vibrant and a texturizing spray for easy waves.
18. Soft Mid-Length Waves
This gorgeous mid-length style with soft waves is an elegant style that stands out with highlights. The subtle balayage highlights add dimension and brighten the complexion. To achieve this look, use a large-barrel curling iron and finish with a lightweight hair oil for shine and frizz control.
19. Soft Wavy Bob
Fall in love with this chic and modern wavy bob. The slightly below-chin-length cut with subtle layers creates a flattering shape that lets your facial features shine. The rich brunette shade with caramel highlights adds warmth and depth.
20. Silver Wavy Shag
These choppy textured layers and choppy bangs create a bold, fun look that comes along with this shoulder-length cut. The silver hue is striking, celebrating the beauty of your gray hair. To style, use a texturizing or styling spray for added texture and tousle with your fingers for that soft, shaggy look.
21. Wavy Bob
This versatile, short bob cut works well for both fine and thick hair types, offering volume and shape without appearing heavy. Women with oval or heart-shaped faces will find this length particularly flattering. The golden highlights woven throughout brighten your face and add dimension to the style.
22. Medium-Length Waves
Subtle layers enhance the natural waves, creating a soft, flowing look. The gentle waves beautifully accentuate your facial contours. The rich brunette base shade complements the very subtle highlights around the face.
23. Voluminous Beach Waves
This look screams beach blonde. The bright blonde hue radiates warmth and vitality, while the textured layers create movement throughout the style. This look is perfect for women who want to maintain longer locks while adding a youthful feel to their look.
24. Blunt A-Line Waves
This modern take on the classic bob combines sleek structure with playful texture. The A-line shape, slightly longer in the front, elongates the neck and creates a slimming effect on the face. The blunt ends add a contemporary edge, while the wavy texture softens the blunt ends.
25. Wavy Lob With Face-Framing Highlights
Face-framing highlights brighten the complexion for an elegant shoulder-length lob (long bob) look. The length is perfect for transitioning from longer hair, offering a fresh look without feeling too drastic (or short). Women with fine to medium hair will love how this cut creates the appearance of thickness and body.
26. Soft Wavy Highlighted Lob Long Bob
The honey highlights interspersed throughout add a sun-kissed brightness to the rich brown base, enhancing the depth and making the color pop. Ask your stylist for long layers to maintain the volume and movement without compromising the length. Adding a few face-framing layers can also boost the look, drawing attention to your face.
27. Long Layered Waves With Fringe
These long layers with wispy bangs flow past the shoulders, creating a romantic style. This style works wonderfully for women with thick hair, as the layers help manage volume. The waves add texture and interest throughout the length.
28. Wavy Shoulder-Length Cut With Highlights
These medium-length beachy waves infuse the style with a relaxed, summer-inspired feel. When styling, use a texturizing spray to enhance the natural wave and add some grit for that undone, beachy look. For a more polished finish, you can use a flat iron to create soft bends, giving a modern edge to the waves.
29. Medium-Length Textured Layers With Curtain Bangs
Achieve a modern look with this textured cut. The textured layers give a sense of lightness and freedom to your hair. The curtain bangs can be parted in the middle or, if you prefer, swept to the side. The result is modern, cool, and on-trend.
30. Long Wavy Layers
Layers are cut to reduce bulk and enhance your natural waves, creating a lightweight feel with plenty of body. The mix of light and dark tones within the highlights brings out the natural depth of the hair, giving it a multi-dimensional look. Very eye-catching!
31. Medium-Length Waves With Highlights
The medium length of this cut gives you plenty of styling options, from loose and beachy to more polished and pulled-back. The highlights can be customized to complement your skin tone and personal preferences, whether you prefer subtle sun-kissed streaks or bolder, contrasting hues.
32. Textured Wavy Pixie
If you want an edgy look that still maintains a hint of softness, this textured pixie cut is a game-changer. The short gray, choppy layers create a sense of movement, while the wavy texture adds a playful feel to the style. One of the most appealing aspects of this hairstyle is its low-maintenance nature. A quick tousle with some texturizing spray, cream, or paste is often all that’s needed to achieve that perfectly imperfect look.
33. Layered Waves With Center Part
If you’re aiming for a hairstyle to show off your natural gray shade, this shoulder-length cut with soft, cascading waves might be your perfect match. The center part creates a sense of symmetry and balance, while the layered waves add movement and texture.