Hairstyles in your forties

[Howlongdoileavethiscreamonfor]

I’ve had long hair all my life, I’m now 45 and tired of it, it’s long and layered and ok, but boring. I want something different but not massively drastic. Any ideas, what are your styles?
I thought about a sort of long Bob, up to just above the shoulders, which would be fairly short for me. I could also put more of a fringe/layers around the top
My hair is dark brown and I have a round face. It’s, thick and straight but wavy/curly when wet.
i’m so bored of it

Ooooh if it's curly when wet maybe you have some curls hidden there.

Google 'curly girl method' and have a go at that and see if some Liciois waves/curls turn up. Which sounds like they will. If you like it that might give you all the change you desire

The obvious idea would be to get some highlights out in or even some low lights and change your part in and change your fringe. Curtain bangs are very in at the moment.

Similar age and hair to you op. Mine was below bra strap length and boring, I just tied it up all the time. Have just had it chopped above shoulder length, balayage and scrunch a bit of salt spray through it when wet. I had similar about 20 years ago and now remember why I loved it.

If you want to be on trend though it's all about curtain bangs and butterfly cuts according to my kids...

What's 'bangs' ?

I would go for long bangs or a fringe and layers before having a big cut.
Or you could add highlights or an all over colour.

I am 54 and have this style and colour (unfortunately not this face).

Googling butterfly cut

Is there a reason we’re calling fringe bangs? Is that what the meaning is? Or something different 🤣or are we all
becoming Americanised more and more

I'm similar age and hair, and recently stopped blow-drying mine (bought a diffuser for if I really need to dry it a bit) and changed products so a curl creme rather than blow dry cream. Not full on "curly girl" method but it's definitely a huge difference, really wavy, like a whole new style. Was worried it just looks like I haven't done it, and with extra layers a bit 90s, but I am really liking it and lots of compliments.

"Bangs" is just the slightly annoying American word for fringe.

My hair is highlighted, just below my shoulders and I have a fringe.

Ooops sorry I said bangs. It's the 'modern' term being used for anything that's not a standard 'fringe' such as 'side bangs', 'curtain bangs' at the moment...... give us a while and they will probably be called 'side chips' or something

'Side chops'

I don’t think it’s a case of us being Americanised it’s more of a development of language. Curtain bangs are the name for a popular hairstyle.

I have on occasion made the mistake of having my hair cut short. I looked every single time like a troll that had lost its bridge, and my hair was fine and now fine and thin due to illness and it always looks worse shorter.

Personally I think that if you do something new, don't go too drastic straight away, I hate sensible hair cuts, and love older ladies with long hair, but also if you make a mistake wigs are fantastic these days. only slightly joking, if I had the energy required to wash my hair regularly, I'd totally have a cool wig for leaving the house.

I know people say it's just hair and it grows, but it took me the best part of 10 years to grow mine back from my last terrible idea, so it may be boring, but I'm keeping it longer.