When it comes to age, there’s no such thing as hairstyle rules (Embrace the gray. Go super-long. You do you.). But short hairstyles are a go-to for many as they get older for a reason: Our hair changes drastically over time, and the goal is no longer just about personal preference, but about functionality as well.
“[Hair] gets finer, loses density, and dries out because the scalp produces less oil. Gray and white hair is coarser and more porous, which changes how it takes color and responds to products. Curl patterns can shift, too,” says celebrity hairstylist David von Cannon. “All of this is why the cut that worked for years might evolve as one gets older.”
“The goal becomes less about fighting these changes and more about working with them strategically,” adds Joseph Maine, global artistic director of ColorWow and cofounder of Trademark Beauty.
So, other than being chic and effortless, short hairstyles come with loads of benefits. It creates the illusion of fullness and lift, says Maine, and can help give you some softness and shape.
If you’re looking for some inspo, below are the eight short hairstyles for women over 50 that are asking for right now (and how to style them), straight from the pros.
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The Blunt Bob
The bob continues its reign as the most in-demand cut of the year, especially with women over 50. “I hear it constantly,” says Von Cannon. The most requested type, he says, is the blunt bob, which has that clean, sharp line at the edges to give you a modern feel.
To style, he likes to start with a heat protectant like L’Oreal’s EverPure Iron Sleek Coat before blowing hair out. Use a round brush to smooth and do a single pass with a flat iron to keep hair looking sleek (or to add a little flick at the ends for a nice added touch).
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The Bixie
Half bob and half pixie, Maine says the bixie is another super-popular option for women over 50 looking to change up their look. To style, you’ll want to apply a lightweight styling cream or paste (we happen to like ROZ’s Evergreen Style Cream) and use your fingers instead of a brush to set hair in place and give it a more lived-in look. Add a texture spray to create more separation and volume.
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The Textured Bob
For women with naturally curly and coily hair, Von Cannon loves a textured bob. He says to opt with a cut that provides more movement so that you don’t have a heavy shape weighing the entire look down.
He says to skip the heat and opt for air drying or diffusing. Look for mousse like the Crown Affair Texturizing Air Dry Mousse or the Pattern Curl Mousse to add movement and a soft hold without any crunch.
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The Layered Shag
There’s just something so effortlessly cool about a shag. Maine recommends opting for face-framing layers and to either air dry with a curl cream or diffuse with something like the Kenra Volume Mousse to give hair an extra lift.
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The Graduated Bob
Adding another bob into the mix, Von Cannon says that a graduated bob never really goes out of style. “It’s a classic [women] keep coming back to,” he says.
For a graduated bob, he recommends a blowout with volume at the crown. To lock it all in, he recommends using a medium hold spray.
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The Lob
Not ready to completely say goodbye to long length? Von Cannon says that a lob is the happy medium for someone who wants the shape of the bob but isn’t ready to go short. “For a lob, you have the most options,” he says. “Blowout, air dry, soft waves with a large barrel, etc. [But] always use a heat protectant.”
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The Classic Pixie
And if you’re really ready to go for it, go with the classic pixie. Both Von Cannon and Maine love this short hairstyle for women over 50. Maine recommends the same styling methods as you would a bixie, using a lightweight styling cream or paste and zhuzhing it up with your fingers.
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The Curtain Fringe
Maine says that short cuts paired with curtain bangs or some sort of fringe is a great combo as it really opens up the face and gives your face some lift. And pro tip for any cut: Von Cannon says it’s important to keep up with your trims. “Finer hair shows damage at the ends faster,” he says. “The cut has to stay fresh or the whole thing falls apart.”
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