Chic, Age- Appropriate Hairstyles for Black Women
African American women have some of the most beautiful hair, but it can also be the hardest to tame.
I’ve met many black women over 40 with gorgeous hair who always look fabulous. Some gals spend hours taming the frizz or making the most of their curls, whereas others manage their look with minimal effort.
How do they do it? Here are a few great styling tips they gave me for recreating their chic African American hairstyles.
Short Hairstyles for Black Women
Most of the women I spoke to had one piece of advice they wanted to share with my readers: keep it short! Why? Shorter hair looks sporty, energetic, and modern.
Additionally, the longer your hair, the harder it is to maintain, whereas shorter hair is easier to style. The age-old question, ” Should women over 40 have long hair? is easy to answer when you challenge African American (or Afro-Caribbean) hair. That’s not to say that longer black hairstyles can’t look good, but we’ll look at that later.
So, what are the best short hairstyles for black women?
The Modern Bob
One of these gals pointed me in the direction of Michelle Obama, who has hair in a long bob, straight and perfectly symmetrical. The bangs are cut straight across her forehead, and then the hair is layered down the sides for a youthful and vibrant look. The rounded edges eliminate sharp angles that can be flattering if you’re in your 20s but are often too harsh after 40, making you look tired.
Achieving Michelle’s look can require tough straightening irons and serums to tame the frizz, so this hairstyle is only suitable if you have some time to get ready every morning.
The Pixie
I wanted to find some hairstyles for African American women that were easier than battling with the straighteners every morning, so I asked a friend who said it takes her 5 minutes to fix her hair every day. Her hair has a beautiful gray hue, which some may argue shows her age, but in truth, it gives her a radiant glow.
Her style features a cute pixie cut (think Halle Berry and Angela Bassett), which instantly takes years off her actual age and looks great with gray.
Her styling trick? A little goes a long way. A tiny squirt of serum, spray, or wax can create that ruffled pixie-style beauty without looking like you have just rolled out of bed. It’s perfect for her casual lifestyle and also gives her a very sexy look.
Want more ideas on short hairstyles for black women over 40? Then look at how younger celebrities wear their hair, especially at entertainment Awards shows.
Longer African American Hair
Not every black woman over 40 wants to cut her hair into a bob or a pixie cut. Some want to hold on to the length for as long as possible. That’s fine too. Although it can be more challenging to keep longer black hairstyles tame, it can be worth it. The model Iman is a prime example of an over-40 woman (57) who can pull off a full mane of long black hair.
Iman has one of my favorite hairstyles for African American women over 40. I love her beautiful, wavy locks and how she always manages to have so much style and panache. Large rollers are the most effective way to achieve this look, but you can also experiment with curling irons.
By rolling the curls away from your face, you will create a look that highlights high cheekbones, adds width to your face, and makes you look glamorous and youthful. This style works best with darker hair that has been highlighted, or light browns and oranges, to accentuate your skin tone.
As you can see here, with these black women, hairstyles run the gamut. Too often, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut, especially after 40, and think there is only one way to wear your hair. If you experiment a little, there are plenty of chic hairstyles for African American women.
Look around your friends at celebrities, and check out some hair styling magazines. A small change in your hair can make a world of difference in how you feel. Do you like these suggested hairstyles for black women over 40? Would you wear them?
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My girlfriend is African American and over 40. Her hairstyles vary from medium (should length) to mid-back length. The styles range from wearing her medium-length hair to more extended techniques using pieces or wigs. There are women over 40 who choose the shorter styles for quick maintenance. Style length depends on the person, not really the age. From what I see every morning when she prepares herself for the day, her hair is not hard to manage; it just needs care.
Thank you so much for this!
Hi Tee, glad this post helped. Let me know what other kinds of articles you are interested in reading. Cheers, Deborah
Black women also wear their hair in its natural state. Plenty of wild hairstyles, braided, twisted, etc., are beautiful on black women and make them look more youthful than the straight hairstyle options.
Hi Karen,
You are so right. This is just one option. I’d love some readers to send photos of their hairstyles in their hair’s natural state, and we could post them. Send to myphoto@fabulousafter40.com
Iman’s hairstyle is not high maintenance because she reports that she ALWAYS wears wigs.
Hello,
Most of the women I spoke to had one tip they wanted to share with my readers; keep it short! Why? Shorter hair looks sporty, energetic, and modern.
Thanks for information