Quick answer: The "Bougie Bob" is a soft, layered bob inspired by Martha Stewart's look at 81. I cut mine to add lightness and lift in 2023 — but the deeper reason was hair thinning from stress, hormones, and aging. My four-part fix: Nutrafol Women's Balance, weekly scalp exfoliation, a microfiber hair towel, and a silk pillowcase.
Hey ladies — welcome back. I have a new little haircut, and it was inspired by an 81-year-old lifestyle icon. I'm calling it the Bougie Bob. Let me tell you where it came from, why I really did it, and the exact routine I've built to take care of thinning hair as I get older.
What is the "Bougie Bob"?
The Bougie Bob is a layered, texturized bob with enough movement to curl or style sleek and polished. It isn't a dramatic chop — from the front it looks similar to my longer hair — but the added layers create lift, lightness, and versatility I never had before.
The name is half inside joke: one of my girlfriends has called me "bougie" for years, so when I channeled that elevated, put-together energy, "Bougie Bob" just fit.
Who inspired the Bougie Bob?
Martha Stewart at 81. I've admired her since the '90s — I recorded her shows on VHS and saved the perforated four-course-meal cards from her magazines to host Sunday dinner parties. Recently she posted a fresh haircut she got after a canceled flight, just to feel better. That was my sign: it's time to do a layered bob, lift things up, and feel lighter in 2023.
The real reason I cut my hair: thinning
Here's the honest part. The haircut was fun — but underneath it, I've been watching my hair change.
Around December I noticed the texture shifting as more gray came in, along with thinning at the temples and a sparser area up top. I have a lot of hair, so people assume I'm being dramatic. But you don't know my hair when I brush it or wash it. I've talked to my stylist about the thinning on the sides multiple times.
Three years of intense stress played a role, too — pouring myself into my product line, logistics, and a warehouse house-project. I kept telling myself this pace isn't sustainable. Stress like that shows up in your hair.
My mom went through it as well: after we helped my parents move out of their home of nearly 50 years, she lost weight and her hair really suffered.
My philosophy: the worst thing you can say is "I'll just watch it." I don't want to write it off as age or stress. I'd rather be proactive.
My 4-step routine for thinning hair over 40
After a lot of research, here's exactly what I'm doing. These target thinning from the inside and protect the hair you have on the outside.
1. Nutrafol Women's Balance (over 45)
I finally started Nutrafol — the Women's Balance formula for 45+. What sold me:
- 100% drug-free, medical-grade natural ingredients — ashwagandha, marine collagen peptides, saw palmetto, and curcumin.
- It's a clinically proven daily hair-growth supplement designed to support more visible thickness and less shedding, plus fuller-looking lashes and brows.
- It also targets stress and sleep — which, given everything above, is exactly what I needed.
I take four capsules at night with dinner and a healthy fat (like avocado) for absorption. My mom and I committed to three months together. Funny sign from the universe: when I took her for a haircut in South Beach, the salon had Nutrafol displayed right at the front.
Nutrafol targets the root causes of thinning from within — stress, hormones, nutrition, metabolism, aging, and lifestyle. Their site's before-and-after photos are genuinely worth a look.
2. Exfoliate your scalp weekly
If you're not using a scalp scrub, you're doing your scalp a disservice. Think of your scalp like your face — you exfoliate, you use retinol, you brighten and smooth the skin. Your scalp needs the same care.
I use the Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub (a salt-based scrub — thick and incredible on the skin). The trick: section your hair and work it in, don't just blob it on top. I take my time with it once a week.
3. Switch to a microfiber hair towel
Stop scrubbing your head with a regular towel — that causes breakage. A microfiber towel absorbs the water gently, then you unwrap and go straight to styling. No tugging, no damage.
4. Sleep on a silk pillowcase
A silk pillowcase isn't just for your hair — it protects your eyebrows and lashes, too. Cotton creates friction and heat (that's literally why it's called "bed head"). Silk keeps things cool and smooth. If a full pillowcase isn't your thing, a silk cap or scrunchie works.
The bottom line
You can have beautiful hair — it just depends on how you approach it: your shampoo, your scalp exfoliation, your supplements, and your lifestyle (stress and hormones included). Managing all of that is a daily learning curve. I'm right there with you, and I hope this can be a resource on my Fierce Aging series.
Channel your inner Martha Stewart energy — and maybe a little sassy Bougie Bob. 💇🏼♀️
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bougie Bob haircut?
The Bougie Bob is a layered, texturized bob with subtle movement, inspired by Martha Stewart's look at 81. It adds lift and lightness while still looking polished, and can be styled curly or sleek.
What causes thinning hair in women over 40?
Common root causes include chronic stress, hormonal shifts, nutrition and metabolism changes, and aging. Hair texture often changes as gray comes in, and stress can accelerate shedding.
Does Nutrafol Women's Balance work for thinning hair?
Nutrafol Women's Balance (45+) is a clinically proven, 100% drug-free daily supplement formulated to support visibly thicker hair and less shedding, using ingredients like ashwagandha, marine collagen peptides, saw palmetto, and curcumin. Best results are typically seen over about three months of consistent use.
How often should you exfoliate your scalp?
About once a week. Use a scalp scrub, section the hair, and work the product directly into the scalp rather than applying it on top of the hair.
Why use a silk pillowcase for your hair?
Cotton creates friction and heat that lead to breakage and tangles. A silk pillowcase reduces friction, helping protect hair, eyebrows, and lashes overnight.
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