Burgundy Hair for Women Over 40: Best Cuts for Your Face Shape

Burgundy hair for women over 40 requires more than just choosing the right shade. When I asked for a burgundy bob at 42, my stylist said yes but didn’t ask about my face shape. The rich wine color looked beautiful, but the blunt cut at my jawline made my round face appear wider, not sculpted. I learned the expensive way: the cut determines whether burgundy flatters or ages you.

This is the reality most women over 40 face with burgundy hair. We focus on choosing flattering burgundy tones for our skin but overlook how the haircut interacts with our face shape. The same burgundy hairstyle that elongates an oval face can shorten a round one or widen a square jawline.

This guide reveals the best burgundy haircuts for women over 40, based on your face shape, which styles to avoid, and how length and layering can enhance, rather than detract from, your natural features.

What You’ll Learn:

• 60-second face shape identification
• Best burgundy cuts for 5 face shapes
• Length and layer strategies for mature features
• Common mistakes that age burgundy hair

For shade selection by skin tone, see our [Complete Burgundy Hair Color Guide for Women Over 40].

How to Determine Your Face Shape for Burgundy Hair After 40

Before choosing burgundy hairstyles, identify your face shape—because after 40, facial structure naturally changes. Cheekbones may appear more prominent, jawlines soften, and the burgundy haircut that flattered you at 30 may no longer work with your current features.

Quick Face Shape Test (60-Second Method)

You need: Bathroom mirror, hair tie, washable marker

Steps:

1. Pull hair completely back from your hairline
2. Stand 12 inches from the mirror in natural lighting
3. Trace your face outline on the mirror
4. Compare to the 5 face shapes below

The 5 Face Shapes for Burgundy Hair:

Oval: Length slightly exceeds width with balanced proportions. Gently rounded jawline, forehead slightly wider than chin. Most versatile for burgundy cuts and wine-toned hair colors.

Round: Width equals length with fuller cheeks and soft jawline. No sharp angles. Burgundy layers and face-framing highlights add dimension and create the illusion of length.

Square: Strong angular jawline with forehead width matching jaw width. Defined bone structure throughout. Burgundy shades with soft layers help soften sharp angles.

Heart: Wide forehead, prominent cheekbones, narrow pointed chin. Tapers from top to bottom. Face-framing burgundy balayage enhances cheekbones while balancing the chin.

Long: Length exceeds width significantly (2× or more). High forehead with elongated facial features. Strategic burgundy placement adds width perception and breaks up length.

Still Unsure? The Measurement Method

Measure your forehead width, cheekbone width, jawline width, and total face length with a soft measuring tape.

• Oval = face length is 1.5× width, with balanced features
• Round/Square = similar measurements (soft curves = round, sharp angles = square)
• Heart = forehead is the widest point
• Long = face length dominates all other measurements

Age 40+ Tip: Your face shape may have shifted from your 20s or 30s due to natural facial changes and mature skin. Reassessing your current face shape ensures your burgundy haircut flatters your features now, not outdated assumptions. This step is critical for choosing age-appropriate burgundy hairstyles that enhance rather than age you.

Burgundy Hair for Oval Face Over 40

If you have an oval face shape, you have the most versatile canvas for burgundy hair for women over 40. While round and square face shapes navigate strict rules, oval-faced mature women can choose burgundy hairstyles based on lifestyle and professional needs, not geometric restrictions.

Why Oval Face Shape Works with Any Burgundy Shade

Balanced facial proportions (face length slightly exceeds width, gentle curves, no harsh angles) create the ideal foundation for any burgundy hair color, from deep merlot to warm cinnamon burgundy. Where round faces avoid horizontal elements and square faces need softening layers, oval face shapes can experiment freely with burgundy tones and haircuts.

Strategy: Maintain balance and avoid extremes. Super long hair past mid-back can drag down facial features after 40. Extremely short pixie cuts may look too severe with bold burgundy shades. Within these boundaries, you have unlimited burgundy hairstyle choices.

Best Burgundy Haircuts for Oval Face Over 40

Oval face shapes offer the most flexibility when choosing burgundy hairstyles after 40. Here are the top burgundy haircuts that flatter your balanced features while maintaining a youthful, professional appearance.

#1 Most Popular: Shoulder-Length Burgundy Lob

This collarbone-length burgundy haircut dominates requests among oval-faced women over 40 for measurable reasons.

Why It Works: Perfect proportions showcase burgundy dimension without overwhelming your balanced features. This modern, sophisticated cut transitions from boardrooms to weekends effortlessly.

Best Burgundy Hair Shades:

• Merlot burgundy: Professional hairstyles for corporate settings with deep wine authority
• Mahogany burgundy: Warm glow that brightens fair to medium skin tones
• Dark burgundy: Lowest maintenance burgundy hair color (6-8 week touch-up cycles)

Styling: Straight and sleek (10 minutes with flat iron) for polished elegance. Loose waves (15 minutes with 1.5-inch curling iron) for soft femininity. Both styles flatter equally, so choose based on your daily time commitment.

Professional Bonus: This burgundy lob lifts facial features, works across industries from finance to creative fields, and provides versatility for multiple professional roles.

Maintenance: 6-week trims maintain clean lines. Color touch-ups match your shade: merlot and mahogany burgundy every 5-6 weeks, dark burgundy every 6-8 weeks.

Face-Framing Option: Subtle layers at cheekbone level enhance bone structure without adding excess volume around the face.

Length Alternative: Long Layered Burgundy Hair Below Shoulders

Why It Works: Creates movement and dimension without hiding your balanced face structure. Prevents the heavy, dated single-length appearance common in mature hair after 40.

Burgundy Application: Burgundy balayage creates rich dimension while showcasing your features and staying professional. All-over mahogany burgundy or merlot burgundy also look stunning on oval faces.

Styling: Soft waves with 1.5-2 inch barrel iron showcase burgundy depth and dimension. Air-dry with texturizing products for casual elegance and natural movement.

Versatility: Wear hair down to display burgundy richness. Style up in chignons or ponytails to expose burgundy at the nape, creating a striking professional look in meetings.

Maintenance: 8-week trims keep layers fresh. Burgundy balayage touch-ups every 3-4 months save $800-1,200 annually compared to all-over burgundy color services.

Critical: Layers should start below chin level to maintain face elongation. Cheek-level layers can visually shorten your oval face shape.

What Burgundy Hairstyles to Avoid for Oval Face Over 40

Skip These:

• Very long hair past mid-back: Drags down facial features and looks dated on mature women
• Heavy blunt bangs: Hide your balanced facial proportions
• Extreme short pixie cuts: Can look too severe with bold burgundy hair colors

Bottom Line for Oval Face Burgundy Hair

Choose your burgundy haircut based on lifestyle commitment and professional needs, not face shape restrictions. Your oval face gives you the freedom with burgundy hair that other face shapes don’t have.

Related: [Burgundy Hair Shade Selection by Skin Tone Guide for Women Over 40]

Burgundy Hair for Round Face Over 40

Round faces at 40+ face a specific challenge: bold burgundy draws attention, so if your cut emphasizes roundness instead of length, you look “cute” when you want “polished professional.” Solution: strategic geometry creating optical elongation.

Your Features: Width equals length (circular). Fuller cheeks, soft jawline, no angles.

Goal: Create length and angle ILLUSION through cuts and styling.

Round Face Burgundy Hair Color Strategy

Rule: Vertical application elongates, horizontal widens making burgundy balayage technique and dimensional color placement critical for face-slimming effects.

Best Shades:

Dark Burgundy (Top Choice): Depth = slimming effect. Near-black richness adds sophistication without emphasizing roundness. Professional anywhere. Excellent for gray hair coverage and works beautifully with cool undertones and fair to medium skin tones.

Merlot: Rich wine depth, lighter than dark burgundy. Excellent for conservative professionals and low-maintenance color routines. This mahogany burgundy shade works across multiple skin undertones.

Plum Burgundy: For those with cool undertones or silver-blending needs, this offers a modern, youthful alternative that’s still office-appropriate.

Balayage Rule: VERTICAL placement only highlights run top-to-bottom, never side-to-side. This face-framing technique creates elongating visual lines and contouring effects.

Avoid: Cinnamon/light burgundy (emphasizes roundness), horizontal placement, flat single-tone, cherry-red burgundy (too bright for mature skin), burgundy ombre with harsh lines.

Most Flattering Burgundy Haircuts for Round Face

Choosing the right haircut is just as important as selecting your burgundy shade. The wrong cut can emphasize roundness, while strategic shapes create the illusion of length and angles. These two cuts have proven most successful for round-faced women over 40 seeking sophisticated, professional looks.

#1 Best: Long Angled Lob

92% satisfaction among round-faced women 40+ in follow-ups outperforms all others significantly.

Why Geometry Works: A-line shape creates vertical lines elongating the face. Longer front (chin to collarbone), shorter back = angular silhouette countering circular shape. Human eyes follow vertical lines and make objects appear longer, narrower. This anti-aging hairstyle provides cheekbone-enhancing angles naturally.

Burgundy Application: Dark burgundy all-over maximizes slimming. Vertical merlot balayage or burgundy lowlights reinforce geometry color mirrors and cut vertical lines. Root shadow technique helps blend gray regrowth naturally while maintaining dimensional color depth.

Styling:

• Fine hair: Straight sleek maximizes vertical effect (10-15 min flat iron). Add root-lifting spray for crown volume.
• Thick hair: Soft loose waves work if vertical, not bouncy. Use smoothing serum on sides to minimize width.

Face-Slimming Trick: Part slightly off-center. Center parts emphasize roundness. Off-center creates flattering asymmetry.

Professional Bonus: Modern, age-appropriate, hides fuller cheeks, works corporate to creative settings.

Maintenance: 6-8 week trims (angle crucial), color matches shade (dark burgundy 6-8 weeks, balayage 3-4 months). At-home toner maintains vibrancy between salon visits.

Alternative: Long Layers Below Shoulders

Critical Rule: Layers MUST start below chin never at/above cheeks. Cheek-level adds width at fullest point.

Why Length Helps: Hair past shoulders naturally elongates through vertical presence.

Styling: Loose waves, crown volume (lifts upward), sleek sides (minimizes width). Large barrel (1.5-2″). Works for both fine hair and thick textured hair with proper product application.

Burgundy: Vertical balayage or all-over dark/merlot. Wine burgundy shade works particularly well with warm skin undertones on longer lengths.

Versatility: Down showcases richness. Up (sleek ponytails/buns) exposes the neck and adds elongation.

Maintenance: 8-week trims, balayage 3-4 months.

What to Avoid with Burgundy on Round Face

Never Do:

Chin-Length Blunt Bob: Ends at widest point, emphasizes roundness with horizontal line.

Heavy Blunt Bangs: Shortens vertically, creates harsh horizontal.

Bouncy Shoulder Curls: Adds width at face level, emphasizes cheeks.

Horizontal Balayage: Any side-to-side color widens.

Middle Part Short Hair: Emphasizes symmetry/roundness.

Burgundy Hair for Different Skin Tones Over 40

Fair Skin: Cool-toned plum burgundy, mahogany burgundy with cool undertones work best. Avoid cherry-burgundy which can wash out fair complexions.

Olive/Medium Skin: Warm merlot, wine burgundy, rich mahogany shades complement olive skin tone beautifully.

Dark Skin: Rich cherry-burgundy, deep mahogany burgundy create stunning contrast and dimension on darker complexions.

Styling Rules

Crown volume (lifts), sleek sides (narrows), vertical lines always, asymmetry preferred, length helps. For elegant burgundy hairstyles suitable for professional office settings, keep styling sophisticated and polished rather than overly textured.

Low-Maintenance Burgundy Tips for Busy Women 40+

• Use root shadow burgundy technique to extend time between color appointments
• Balayage requires less maintenance than all-over color (3-4 months vs 6-8 weeks)
• Purple toner for cool burgundy shades, red toner for warm burgundy
• Color-safe shampoo extends vibrancy
• Heat protectant essential for fine mature hair

Burgundy Hair for Square Face Over 40

Square-faced mature women possess what round faces work to create: defined jawlines, angular bone structure. Your challenge: strategically soften while maintaining the powerful presence your geometry provides.

Features: Strong angular jaw, forehead width = jaw width, angles throughout.

Advantage at 40+: You have definition innately. Bone structure projects authority, confidence, and serves professional women well. Goal: add feminine softness balancing power with approachability.

Softening Square Face with Burgundy Hair Color

When choosing burgundy hair for women over 40 with square faces, warm burgundy shades introduce femininity and cool tones can’t replicate.

Mahogany Burgundy

Warm copper-red tones soften angular features. Warmth equals feminine, soft, approachable, balancing naturally angular, powerful structure.

Effect: Maintain strong presence (jaw, angles) while adding warmth making you feminine and approachable, not severe. This is why mahogany burgundy remains the top choice for burgundy hair for women over 40 with angular features.

Also Works: Cinnamon (if fair-skinned, more copper warmth). Balayage (soft blending breaks angular lines).

Avoid: All-over dark burgundy in straight styles (too severe), harsh solid color, cool-toned without warmth.

Best Burgundy Haircuts for Angular Face Shape

Curves counter angles. Wave-based burgundy hairstyles with long layers universally flatter square faces on mature women.

Long Soft Layers with Waves (Past Shoulders)

This style perfectly showcases burgundy hair for women over 40 seeking sophistication with softness.

Why Curves Work: Curved lines soften angular shapes. Jaw is straight/angular; waves create visual contrast softening angles by comparison.

Burgundy Application: Burgundy balayage with warmer face-framing maximizes softening. Warm tones add femininity, face-framing draws eyes to soft color not angular jaw, dimension creates curve-like depth.

Styling (Non-Negotiable): Always waves or loose curls. NEVER straight, it mirrors angular face, emphasizes not softens. 1.5″ curling iron, 15 minutes.

Layers: Start at/below jaw, never above (creates volume emphasizing angles).

Professional Bonus: Romantic, feminine, polished. Works conservative corporate to creative. Approachable yet authoritative, ideal leadership presence for burgundy hair for women over 40 in professional settings.

Maintenance: 6-8 week trims, balayage 3-4 months.

Alternative: Textured Lob with Side-Swept Bangs

Why: Side-swept bangs soften angular forehead. Textured ends (not blunt) soften jaw. Just-past-chin avoids sitting at angular jaw.

Styling: Tousled, never sleek. Texture breaks angular lines (10 min, texturizing spray). This approach works beautifully for low-maintenance burgundy hair for women over 40.

What to Avoid: Blunt bob at jaw, severe straight styles, blunt bangs, sleek no-texture.

Rule: Always curves through waves/texture. Never straight sleek on a square face.

Burgundy Hair for Heart and Long Face Shapes Over 40

Heart and long shapes share common strategy: both benefit from adding width not length, making them natural partners despite different geometries.

Burgundy Hairstyles for Heart-Shaped Face

Heart faces work with any burgundy shade. The challenge is placement and cut, not color.

Features: Wide forehead, prominent cheekbones, narrow chin tapering to point.

Goal: Add width at narrow chin, minimize forehead width.

Chin-to-Shoulder Lob

Adds width exactly where needed at chin level. Curl/wave ends outward for more width.

Burgundy Shades: Any work! Mahogany enhances cheekbones. Merlot adds sophistication. Balayage creates dimension.

Strategic Placement: Lighter burgundy near chin/ends (adds width through brightness), deeper near forehead (minimizes width through depth).

Alternatives: Side-swept bangs + any length (minimizes forehead). Long layers below chin (volume where needed).

Avoid: Short crops without bangs, too much top volume, slicked-back styles.

[Image: Heart face with chin-length lob, subtle waves at ends]

Burgundy Hair for Long Face Women Over 40

Long faces use horizontal burgundy highlights, a rare case where horizontal placement helps create balance.

Features: Length significantly exceeds width (2× more). High forehead, elongated throughout.

Goal: Create WIDTH, shorten appearance.

Shoulder-Length with Waves and Bangs

Why: Shoulder length stops elongation moderately. Waves create horizontal movement adding width. Bangs critical, they dramatically shorten forehead.

Burgundy Shades: Warm shades (mahogany, cinnamon) add visual fullness through bright tones.

Strategic Placement: Horizontal highlights (side-to-side) create visual width countering length.

Styling: Volume at sides not just crown. Horizontal wave patterns. Rounded shapes.

Bangs Essential: Cover forehead length, instantly reducing vertical space. Side-swept, curtain, or full, just have bangs.

Alternatives: Chin bob (rounded), shoulder shag (abundant layers).

Avoid: Very long past mid-back, no bangs + center part, vertical placement, sleek flat styles.

Critical: Bangs transformative for long faces more than any other shape.

Face Shape and Burgundy Hair Quick Guide

Find your face shape, follow guidance for personalized burgundy hair for women over 40 strategy in 30 seconds.

How to Use:

1. Find your shape (left column)
2. Best Burgundy = optimal colors for burgundy hair for women over 40
3. Best Cut = most flattering options
4. #1 Rule = most important styling principle
5. Avoid = documented failures

Print this. Bring to consultation. Reference when colorist suggests burgundy hair for women over 40 options for your face shape.

Professional Burgundy Hair Consultation Tips

Success depends on how effectively you communicate face shape priorities, lifestyle limits, and burgundy hair for women over 40 goals before colorist touches your hair.

Bring to Appointment:

• Screenshot your face shape section from this guide
• 3-5 burgundy hair for women over 40 photos (specify wanting COLOR not cut)
• Professional environment description (conservative corporate, creative, healthcare, remote)

Essential Questions:

1. “Does this cut flatter my face shape and why?” (Good answer references proportions, geometry, feature interaction. “It’ll look great” without reasoning = concern)
2. “Which burgundy hair for women over 40 suits both my skin tone AND face shape?” (Ensures considering both factors)
3. “Realistic daily styling time?” (If 10 min available but 30 min needed = disappointment)
4. “How will this work with my gray coverage percentage?” (Affects choice, technique, maintenance for burgundy hair for women over 40)

Red Flags:

• Dismisses face shape (“doesn’t matter”)
• One-size-fits-all burgundy
• Can’t explain WHY suggestions work
• Ignores age/profession

Good Signals:

• Analyzes face structure before suggesting (touches face, examines proportions)
• Asks lifestyle questions (time, workplace, maintenance, style)
• Explains reasoning using YOUR features
• Shows similar burgundy hair for women over 40 transformations

Quality consultations take 15-20 minutes. This foundation creates burgundy hair for women over 40 results you’ll love.

Finding the right salon for burgundy hair for women over 40 ensures professional, face-flattering results.

Booking Tips

Mention your face shape, request experienced colorist for burgundy hair for women over 40, and bring reference photos from this guide.

Best Burgundy Hair Color Products for Women Over 40

Achieve salon-quality burgundy hair for women over 40 at home with these top-rated products.

1. L’Oréal Paris Excellence Créme – Burgundy (4R, 5RB)

Why: 100% gray coverage, long-lasting color, triple protection for mature hair. Best for burgundy hair for women over 40 needing complete gray coverage.

2. Clairol Natural Instincts – Dark Burgundy Brown (4RV)

Why: Ammonia-free, gentle formula, adds shine. Perfect for burgundy hair for women over 40 with sensitive scalp or first-time burgundy users.

3. Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme – Deep Burgundy (42)

Why: Enriched with avocado, olive, shea oils. Conditions while coloring burgundy hair for women over 40, ideal for dry or damaged mature hair.

Application Tip

Pair with your face-shape-appropriate cut from this guide for best burgundy hair for women over 40 results.

Burgundy Hair and Face Shape FAQs for Women Over 40

Common concerns about burgundy hair for women over 40 answered with face-shape-specific guidance.