What was just an option in the past, recently has become a standard and women over 40 feel obliged to cut their hair short. But with hundreds of different types of short haircut which one is the best one? Are there any hairstyles  middle age women can be sporting on any occasion?

The good or the bad news is that there is no one “hairstyle for women over 40” and the rules for choosing the best hairdo are identical for women of all ages: your hairstyle needs to compliment your face shape, skin tone and figure. The other false conjecture is that hairstyles for middle-aged women should be very sleek and elegant. Messy pixie haircuts and wavy or even curly bobs are wonderful choice for every woman, who looks for sophisticated, but very fresh, young and fun hairstyle. Follow the example of famous celebrities, like Sharon Stone or Anette Bening, whose short hairdos are never flat and boring.

Short layered shag is often chosen by women over 40 as their regular hairstyle, but to keep your look less “matriarchal” and grave use highlights, especially on the hair framing your face. Bangs are also an option you can try regardless of your age. Side swept bangs are the safest choice. Straight across need to be always carefully thought through as they can drastically change the face shape.

What about the long hair? Of course you’re free to wear this hairstyle, but make sure your hair is in good condition. If you dye your hair regularly, shorter hairstyle will be a better option, because shorter hair hold the color longer. If you have thin or fine hair adding extensions to your long hairstyles is a must. But most of all you have to remember that long hair requires maintenance just like the short hair, or even more. Avoid flat ponytails in the back or any other kind of unappealing hairstyles, which do not look good on any woman at any age.

Purdey and pageboy are two different hairstyles, often confused, both popular in the 1970s-80s epoch. Now they are being reintroduced as a new modern and sophisticated look on classic haircut.

Purdey became widely popular in the 1980s and it is now known as one of the Princess Diana hairstyles. She wore it before her engagement to Prince Charles. Purdey is another take on bob cut but it also resembles bowl cut to some extent. The difference lies in the side cutting line, which is angled to the back, making the hair in the back slightly longer. Classic purdey is curled inwards to give the hairstyle a sleek look.

Purdey is sometimes confused with pageboy, a similar haircut, only longer in the back, usually shoulder length or a little shorter. Pageboy is relatively simple and not too over-layered. On both sides pageboy is typically cut below ear. Both purdey and pageboy are usually accompanied by heavy, straight across bangs. As it requires minimum layering and do not need extra styling for volume, pageboy works best with straight hair, although it can be reproduced on curly hair with small changes. Inverted pageboy is made with endings curling outward, instead of inward. One of the most widely recognized pageboy hairstyles would be the famous Uma Thurman wig hairstyle from the film “Pulp Fiction”.

Although purdey and pageboy well made up and popularized during 1950s (pageboy) and 60s (purdey) both hairstyles have a very strong 70s feel about them. Combing to the back to unveil the layers in the front was a popular technique of adding volume to the purdey and pageboy hairstyles in the 1980-1990 decade. Modern look on both haircuts is usually styled differently, with short fringe or long, delicately angled one. Different hair colors and tones are usually blended together to add more dimension to the hairstyle.

You’ve probably seen loads of articles on trendy new short hairstyles. After all, they’re trendy, they’re new, they’re short, and their hairstyles. All of this aside, there are certain things that you can do to take the trendy new short hairstyles and make them your own. But what are a few of these trendy, new, short hairstyles?

First, you have the bob. A great hairstyle, very versatile, very easy to maintain. You can wake up, hop out of bed, and go straight to the bathroom. Maybe shake your hair out, put a little bit of mousse or gel or anti-frizz in it (depending on what precisely you need) and voila! Your hair is taken care of!

Then you have the pixie. A popular favorite from the eighties, this haircut has recently come back into style. Why? Well, it’s quick, easy, and you just have to run your fingers through it and you’re done. You don’t even really have to brush it (although it is recommended. Scalp stimulation and all that jazz.) but you can still spike it and style it.

As for what to do, the first step is to research. Sure, you could probably sit around and just randomly decide that haircut is for you—but you need to keep in mind that all haircuts have their pros and cons. For example, pixie cuts will look oily the first week or two unless you wash them every day. And perhaps even after a few weeks if you have an oil problem. A bob is nice, but if you have really thick hair, it can be kind of hot!

Second, discuss the styling process if there is one. The two trendy new short hairstyles mentioned here are actually pretty easy to style—if you have hair that’s longer in the front than it is in the back, however…it might take some time to get everything to correlate right.

These are just a few hints and tips about trendy, new, short hairstyles!