17 Medium Length Hairstyles Men Over 40 for Grey, Wavy, and Thinning Hair
Most men reach a point where the same short cut starts to feel flat. You want some length, but you do not want to look like you are trying to be 25.
That is where medium length hairstyles men over 40 come in. The right cut softens thinning at the temples, makes grey look planned, and still takes about five minutes in the morning.
Below are 17 cuts, from silver waves to clean tapered slick backs. Each one comes with simple notes on styling and what to tell your barber.
Some are easy and some take work. Save the ones you like and bring them to your next appointment.
1. Soft Swept Back Waves With Warm Highlights
Length that reaches the collar and still looks put together.
- The hair is brushed up and back off the forehead, with a natural wave at the front.
- Lighter golden strands run through the brown and give the waves some depth.
- The sides sit over the ears and blend into the back with no hard line.
- The beard is full but kept short along the cheeks and neck.
Ask your barber for long layers through the front. That is what gives the wave room to lift instead of lying flat.
2. Slicked Back Hair With Silver Streaks at the Front
Silver at the front is the part many men try to hide. In this cut it does the opposite. Combed straight back, the lighter strands catch the light and frame the forehead.
The hair tucks behind the ears and ends above the collar, so it looks neat even with a full beard.
To get a similar finish:
- Towel dry until the hair is damp, not dripping.
- Rub a small amount of cream or pomade between your palms and run it through.
- Comb straight back with a wide-tooth comb and let it set.
💡 Quick Tip
Use less product than you think. Silver strands look best with a little shine, not when they are coated and flat.
3. Dark Waves With a Wet, Combed Back Finish
Dark hair with natural curl is the star here. The front lifts and curls just above the forehead, while the sides stay close to the head. Grey stubble along the jaw adds contrast, and the red brick wall behind makes both stand out.
The same cut can go two ways, and the finish changes the whole mood.
| 💧 Wet finish | 🍃 Dry finish |
|---|---|
| Gel or light cream on damp hair | Matte paste or salt spray on dry hair |
| Sleek, shiny, a little dressy | Loose, soft, easy for daytime |
| Best for evenings and fresh hair | Best for day two hair and weekends |
4. Classic Side Sweep With a Clean Taper
Taper first, then let the top do the talking.
The sides: short and gradual around the ear, so the line stays clean.
The top: long enough to build height at the front and sweep to one side.
The finish: a soft sheen, not a stiff helmet.
Light stubble along the jaw keeps the look relaxed. Book trims often, because a taper loses its shape quickly around the ears.
Rough dry the hair, pushing the front up and back with your fingers.
Switch to a brush and sweep the top toward the side as you dry.
Finish with a small amount of wax and shape the front with your fingertips.
5. Long Fringe on Top With Short Faded Sides
Bold, but the length stays where you can control it. A long fringe sweeps across one side of the forehead while the sides are cut short and faded.
The beard is full and shaped, which balances all that hair on top. Earrings and small tattoos fit the edgier mood.
This is the most daring cut in the post, and it works best on men who like a strong shape. If a fringe in your eyes would bug you, ask for it a little shorter.
The fringe falls forward, hides the eyes, and looks messy by the afternoon.
The fringe is swept to one side with a pinch of paste, so the line across the face stays sharp.
6. Lifted Side Part With Lighter Strands and a Full Beard
Height at the front, calm on the sides. The top is lifted and brushed to one side with a loose, textured finish, and lighter strands run through the brown.
The sides stay short and tidy, so the whole shape reads as polished. A full beard with a clean cheek line and a cream quarter-zip keep it warm and easygoing.
Here is the cut in three parts.
7. Wet Look Slick Back That Ends at the Nape
Hair combed straight back and left a little longer at the neck.
- The sides tuck behind the ears.
- The ends flick out slightly at the nape, which gives the cut some life.
- Dark hair with high shine makes the shape look sharp.
- A thick beard is shaped under the jaw to match.
Best right after a shower, when the hair is wet and easy to comb. Once it air dries, expect it to soften.
Recreate this look
8. Neat Brushed Back Top With Short Tapered Sides
Two minutes with a brush and a little cream is all this one asks for. Light brown hair is brushed back from the forehead with a slight sweep to the side.
The sides are short and tapered, and light stubble keeps the face from looking too sharp. With a plain collared shirt, it reads as work ready without trying.
The trick is knowing where the top should sit.
Keep the top long enough to brush back.
Ask for a taper that blends into the top.
Heavy gel that locks the top stiff.
Sides cut so short the top looks heavy.
9. Textured Spiky Top With a High Faded Side
This is the shortest cut in the post, so think of it as the starting point of medium length. The top keeps some length and a rough, spiky texture, while a high fade sits on the sides.
Hair is thinner near the temples, and the short sides keep that from pulling the eye. A full grey beard with a dark suit and white collar makes the whole look sharp and grown up.
Good to know: the grey in the beard makes the dark hair read even darker, so the two balance each other.
Short sides and a full beard frame the face, while the textured top keeps the cut from looking too severe.
10. Windblown Quiff With Grey Temples
Sea wind is the hardest test for any hairstyle, and this one passes. The front is lifted and swept back with a little shine, and the sides are kept short.
Grey shows at the temples and in the stubble, so the whole cut looks natural instead of colored. A big smile and a warm coat help too.
Take these lines to your barber.
11. Easy Side Swept Waves With a Full Beard
Soft waves do most of the work in this one. The hair falls to one side across the forehead and covers the tops of the ears, so the shape looks relaxed.
- ▸Longer layers on top so the wave can fall to one side.
- ▸Sides left long enough to cover the tops of the ears.
- ▸Beard connected to the sideburns for a clean frame.
Styling stays light. Let it dry mostly on its own, then guide the front to the side with your fingers. The full beard, with a little grey at the chin, keeps the face looking balanced.
12. Silver Hair Combed Back and Worn With Glasses
Silver hair needs less help than you think. It is full, combed back and slightly to the side, with the sides kept short and neat.
Black frame glasses add contrast against the light color, and the relaxed outfit of a plain tee and loose jeans shows the cut works with everyday clothes.
Why it works: grey hair already has natural shine, so the cut can stay simple and the product can stay light.
13. Tousled Quiff With Grey and Sandy Tones
A little mess can look sharp when the sides are clean. The top is wavy and loose, with lighter grey and sandy tones running through it.
The sides fade down short, and a medium length beard fills out the jaw. The result looks like it took no effort, which is the point.
One warning: too much clay leaves this cut dull and heavy. Start with a pea-size amount.
14. Grey Waves Long Enough to Move
Grey waves look best when they have room to move. Here the hair is brushed back with natural waves that fall over the ears and curl at the ends.
A grey beard trimmed short on the cheeks matches it, and thick black frames give the face a strong anchor. The tweed jacket and denim collar echo the texture of the hair.
You could keep the grey natural, as shown, or tint it to blend. If you color the hair, color the beard too, so they still match.
15. Sandy Blond Waves With a Loose Side Part
Light waves, a loose part, and no fuss. The hair is a sandy blond with golden strands, parted slightly off center and falling around the forehead in soft curls.
It stays short at the nape with a small flick, and light stubble plus a small hoop earring keep things casual.
To grow into this cut, let the top gain length first, then ask for layers so the waves have a shape. Air drying works well if your hair already bends.
16. Silver Waves With a Softly Flipped Nape
The side view shows the real secret here: the back. Silver hair is brushed up and back from the forehead, falls over the ears, and flips softly at the nape. The hairline is thinner at the temples, and the sweep keeps attention on the movement instead.
It is a gentle take on a longer back, and it only needs one small check.
⚠️ Watch Out
A flip at the nape turns scruffy once it passes the collar. Trim it before it touches your shirt.
17. Tapered Slick Back With a Trimmed Grey Beard
Neat from every angle. The top is combed back with a soft sheen, the sides taper down close, and a trimmed grey beard connects to the sideburns for one clean shape. The warm light brown to sandy blond hair looks natural beside the grey at the chin.
Here is how the lengths stack up.