30 Best Haircuts For Men In Their 40s

If you’re in your 40s and experiencing changes like thinning hair or less grooming time, it’s worth considering a fresh hairstyle. Being over 40 doesn’t mean you can’t sport a trendy and stylish look.

If you’ve been sticking to the same hairstyle since your early 20s, it might be time for a change and a hairstyle upgrade.

The most common hairstyle that suits every man in their 40s is anything short. Like we said in our previous article, the hair of a 1-year-old puppy and a 10-year-old dog is not the same. But if your hair is still “soft” and covers your full hairline, you can rock whatever hairstyle you want. Now let’s move on to the top best hairstyles for men in their 40s, where we’ll cover from shortest to longest hairstyles you can roc that will give back young and handsome appearance.

When it comes to stylish and simple haircuts for men in their 40s, Crew Cut is always a great option to consider. The Crew Cut is best known as a military haircut, it gives a masculine look with minimal effort to maintain.

You can choose between longer or shorter hair on top. My advice is to tell a barber to go for a longer top (somewhere between 2 and 3 inches) to check if it will cover the full hairline, if there is no problem you can go for a little bit shorter (1/1.5 inches).

Buzz Cut is not just about chopping off your hair to the same short length everywhere. As you can see in the picture, like actor Michael B. Jordan, you can make the sides a bit shorter and leave the top a little longer. This way, it helps your face look longer and slimmer.

If you’re a lucky one who doesn’t have any problem with hair loss and your hairline is straight, you can rock-n-roll Pompadour. Your hair gets swept up and over your forehead, with the sides usually cut shorter to highlight the big, poofy top.

It’s changed a bit over time, from the really showy rockabilly look to a more chill, modern style. It works for a lot of different face shapes and looks, which is why so many people dig it.

Classic Quiff is great for men in their 40s who are looking for a stylish haircut. As you can see in the picture, the back and sides of your hair are cut short, while the top is left longer.

You style the longer hair by pushing it up and back, which gives it a lot of volume and gives late 50s and early 60s look. You can also go for a shorter pompadour with a full beard (more on this below).

See Also: How To Get Patrick Bateman’s Haircut

Haircuts for men in their 40s should always be something classy, and if you’re looking for a haircut for long hair then a Slick Back is a perfect option. Not too hard to maintain and not too hard to style it. Your hair length needs to be somewhere between 6 and 8 inches on both sides.

Now, when it comes to a product for styling your hair the best one that works is pomade with a medium or strong hold and a minimum shine. If you’re considering getting this haircut then check out our Patrick Bateman Hairstyle guide, and if you’re looking for a pomade check out our Best Men’s Pomade list.

Most people think that Spiky Hair is one of the worst hairstyles for men because it gives a childish and crazy pop star look, but it’s actually a great look if you style and spiky it well with the right products. 

When styling spiky hair, the key is to select a hair gel that provides the right amount of hold. For spikes shorter than 4 inches, a gel with a strong hold is sufficient. However, if your spikes are longer than 4 inches, it’s advisable to opt for a very strong or extra hold hair gel.

French Crop is a popular haircut for men in their 40s because of the simplicity and sophisticated look it creates without too much to worry about maintaining or styling. Your hair is long on top while the sides are normally short-cut. If you want to boost your haircut you can always choose to fade on the side; low fade, mid fade, or high fade will always look great.

Now, when it comes to styling, it really depends on you how your hair on top should look. You can slick it on one side like you see in a picture, or even just let it go to naturally fall on the head. The choice is yours.

Messy Top is when your hair is separated on every side on top, while short hair is shorter or medium length. Messy Top is a thin haircut that looks best for men in their 40 because it covers the hairline while showing off a mature and sophisticated look in you.

You can rock it like Brad Pitt above, or even make your hair a little bit longer so you can have different hairstyles every couple days or week. For a messy top, hair gel or hair styling clay will work the best.

Bro Flow was known as the coolest men’s hairstyle in 2017 when Hollywood star Bradley Cooper was spotted rocking it. Bro Flow is similar to the Slick Back hairstyle, but instead of having your hair slicked all the way down, you leave it messy on the back.

This hairstyle works best for curly hair, but it can also be achieved for guys with straight hair by using sea salt spray or other similar products.

Faux Hawk gives an aggressive and stylish look. This hairstyle is popular among bikers and strong men’s, and it’s perfect for men in their 40s and even above. If you’re looking to get this haircut, you should let your hair on top grow to at least 4 inches and then cut yourself on the sides or visit the barber.

For styling, use any product that gives your hair a strong hold. The choice is yours when choosing a shine, but my advice is to go for anything with a high shine if you want to maximize “aggressiveness” on your head.

Hard Part is a classic short haircut, but what will make this style even more stylish is the mid fade. If you think that fades don’t look good when you’re in your 40s, well, you’re wrong. Don’t be scared to try a fade; even if you don’t like it you can just ask your barber to cut it. But fade is what makes this haircut stylish and gives it a youthful appearance.

The High and Tight haircut is a simple, military-style cut. It has really short sides and back, and the top is a bit longer but still short. The sides are often faded or shaved, making the top stand out. It’s easy to take care of and looks neat and sharp. Men in their 40s like it because it’s straightforward and looks tidy, and doesn’t need any haircare products for keeping it fresh.

Modern Comb Over is a great hairstyle for mid aged men, your hair on top is slightly longer than the hair on the sides, and the top of the hair is slicked on one side of the head. For a mature man it looks great because it gives a serious business look, especially with a beard.

For styling this hairstyle, you will need a comb and one stronger pomade or hair gel for sticking the top of the hair on the side. If your hair type is thicker, a blow dryer is an option to consider.

The Short and Textured haircut is trendy and easy to care for. It has short hair with layers that make it look full and lively. The style is a bit messy but in a cool way, which adds a fun look to the hair. It’s great for all kinds of hair and is a popular choice because it’s simple but still stylish. Keep in mind that your hair on top is not too short, like on a buzz cut or crew cut. For a Short Textured hairstyle, the ideal length  is 1 to 2 inches.

Side Swept is also known as an “all thing hair” haircut. This longer haircut offers many unique and stylish looks you can create. For example, you can be swept on the sides while adding a messy volume on top, as you can see in the picture above. Side Swept Fringe is popular for younger guys, but in most cases, it keeps their hair straight and gives a “Pop Star” look, which in my opinion doesn’t add any volume for men in their 40s.

My advice is to keep the top volume of your hair on the sides while the back top is falling back. For this particular haircut you will need pomade or hair gel, but if your hair still can’t get curly, you can add sea salt spray or any other product that will help achieve natural curls.

Mid Fade always work no matter how old you are. Adding mid fade on any haircut that doesn’t require long hair on sides will always look great.

If your hair is naturally Curly and Messy that doesn’t mean you can’t rock a Slick Back hairstyle. There are many iconic celebrity hairstyles like Ivy League and Pompadour, but if you want longer hair on top and sides, slick back is the best choice to consider.

Just take a look at Scott Speedman. While he was younger, he was mostly going for shorter cuts, but when he got into his 40s, he opted for a slick back, and it doesn’t look like he made a mistake.

If you accept hair loss and don’t want to bother with it any more, just shave your hair. Also, for men who have a strong jawline and beard, don’t be scared to try it. I know many men in their 40s who shaved their hair, and it was the best decision for them. You look more serious, which creates more respect and higher status in your life circle.

Salt and Pepper color gives a great look to men over 40, especially when choosing the right haircuts. As you can see in the picture, you can create many hairstyles that add contrast on top and sides. There are various haircuts you can combine, but for men over 40, anything with a medium on top is the safest choice.

Medium Length Layered is a popular hairstyle for men over 40 because it doesn’t pay much attention to grooming. Just let your hair grow to 1.5–3 inches on both sides, and that’s it. Now, you will probably need to add a comb and blow dryer to your morning routine to keep your hair straight. and not messy after waking up.

If you’re blessed with good genetics that make you still have a straight hairline, you can always go with anything short that adds a little value on top, and that is the Classic Short Curls cut. It’s a great hairstyle that offers minimal maintenance and minimal styling.

If you don’t have natural curls, then I will advise you not to go for this hairstyle. It’s really hard to maintain, and you will need to deal with a lot of hair products every morning to achieve it. This hairstyle is only for gentlemen in their 40s with natural curls!

Waxy Layered can work for both men with straight and curly hair. Now, men with straight hair should use any product that makes their hair curly, or use pomade and a comb to create wavy volume on top. This hairstyle is great for men over 40 because of the volume it creates on top.

With salt and pepper color, it will create a “Surfer Gentleman” look while also giving off a young and handsome vibe.

Regulation Cut is the perfect hairstyle for a modern gentleman in their 40s. Your hair on top is aggressively combed on one side, while the sides are short-cut. If your wardrobe is full of leather jackets and coats, you should go for it. For styling, hair gel with medium hold and high shine will work the best for this hairstyle.

Classic Taper works for all hair types, face shapes, and any age. As you can see in the picture, Tapper is an on point hairstyle that will work even if your hair is thinning on the sides of your head. What makes it a popular choice for men in their 40s is that it’s pretty easy to maintain.

All you need to do is brush the top of your hair on one side, and that’s it. You can achieve this hairstyle without using any products, but if you want a more aggressive style, use hair gel and a comb.

For men who have long hair, Thick Brushed Back is the perfect hairstyle. All you need to do is brush your hair with a blow dryer and a strong gel or cream. This is a powerful hairstyle for gentlemen who’ve got full white or gray hair. If your hair is salt and pepper, in most cases, it will not work for you.

Short Side Part with Mid Fade on sides is a classy choice. All you need is hair length on top to be 1/2 inches, and ask a barber to add juice with mid fade.

You can also go with skin fade on sides, take a deep look at both of the pictures what fade you like more, or check our Low Fade vs Mid Fade vs High Fade guide.

If you’re looking for an aggressive hairstyle, Disconnected Undercut is the most aggressive hairstyle you can go for. Your hair on top is longer and stays on one side, while the sides are shaved or trimmed to a minimum. If you’re looking for more hairstyles like this one, then check out our Peaky Blinders Haircuts Guide.

Ivy League is the symbol of old money haircuts. It’s characterized by short sides and back, with the hair on top slightly longer, creating a neat and sophisticated look.

A Textured Top is a popular hairstyle for footballers, but it also looks great on men in their 40s too. Your hair on top is straight and up, while the sides are short with a fade or trimmed. You’ll need a strong gel or cream to hold your hair on top.

A Tapered Crew Cut is a popular haircut for guys, but older men take advantage. For a Tapered Crew Cut, you need the same hair length on the top and back (1/1.5 inches is perfect).