This loose low updo certainly doesn't make Reese Witherspoon look old, but it also doesn't make her look like someone trying to remember the good ol' days. A soft bun or chignon is a much better option for a special occasion 'do than the braid and ponytail in the previous pictures, Carre says.
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Hair Don't: Super-Structured Updos
Salma Hayek is stunning, but this stiff, old-fashioned updo adds years to her look. Carre says, "You want to avoid anything too structured and done, which can make you look older."
As the soft, swept-up looks prove, it's possible to have an updo that's sophisticated without making you look older. There's also another option that can make you look younger (without the trying-too-hard vibe).
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Hair Do: Beachy Waves
"Sarah Jessica Parker is the queen of sexy hair over 40 with her beachy, tousled waves," says Carre. She and Jennifer Aniston both "prove that if you're over 40, you don't have to chop all of your hair off or wear your hair in a tight librarian bun to be appropriately coiffed," she says. (And we'd like to add Sofia Vergara to her list.)
Beachy waves like these look great no matter what your age, and you can try a more polished finish, or a more natural one, depending on the occasion.
Remember when you were in your 20s and could (and did) wear any hairstyle you wanted? Bleached white-blonde, side ponytails, and maybe even The Rachel? That doesn't really fly in your 40s, does it?
Hairstyles for women over 40 are a little more limited. If you stretch outside those boundaries you could wind up looking like an old maid -- or someone desperately clinging to her teen years.
But that doesn't mean your only options are a mom bob or cropped, Kate Gosselin cut. There are plenty of hairstyles for mature women that are short, long, and everything in between.
That's why we talked to several pro hairstylists, who filled us in on all the dos and don'ts for older women. Follow their guidelines and you'll end up with a haircut, color and style that scream "sexy 40-something."
