25 Age-Defying Bob Hairstyles with Side Bangs for Women Over 50

Recently, when I cut hair for one of my regular clients, I noticed she

had brought a reference photo of a bob haircut from the internet. I

mean, she’s probably around my mom’s age, so I understand that she

wouldn’t know what to look out for. In this case, the problem with the

photo was that the bangs were straight, as in the photo, and she has a

cowlick that would go against the bangs on the daily, thus she would

always have to fight it. When it comes to bobs and side bangs,

sometimes the photo is flattering, but the hair’s growth direction

determines how it looks.

I’ve done this cut hundreds, if not thousands, of times in my career

and the ones that grow out the best are the ones that I didn’t let the

Pinterest photo dictate how I cut the hair, but instead focused on

what I thought would work best for the hair. The angle of the side

bangs will determine whether you have to round brush it into

submission every single morning, and a bob that is either chin

length or collarbone length should be texturized at the tips so that

it has movement and doesn’t look like a helmet. I always say that

the best version of this haircut is the one that looks effortless and

undone when in reality your stylist put in a ton of effort.

Photos

#1: A Gorgeous Copper That Makes You Want to Be Brave

This hair color, especially with the copper look, looks great in photos and in real life, unlike many other coppers. The cut is a perfect medium length that just touches the collar bone, with soft waves that add body without the look of having spent 40 minutes on a curling iron. The side bang is doing exactly what it’s supposed to be doing, sweeping across the forehead and guiding the eye right to the cheekbones. I will additionally note that vivid copper/copper shades need frequent maintenance. Meaning, you will need touch ups and glosses every 4 – 5 weeks due to the red molecules fading first. So, if you’re not ready for that kind of commitment with your colorist, starting off with a demi-permanent might be the way to go.

#2 Curly and Textured with Bangs That Actually Behave

Working with a client with bouncy natural curls is always fun. With a volumized bob, it shows the potential. It’s just working out where to cut the layers to accentuate those natural curls and not make it triangled. With the side bangs cut longer than you would think, she looks really effortless as they just blend to the style. I would suggest using a curl defining cream when the hair is damp because she probably won’t want to disrupt the curls by fiddling with the hair while it dries. usually, that helps the definition of the curls really well.

#3 That Red Though

I love a rich red color, and this one looks amazing! It’s not too bright and looks ‘costumey.’ The cut is clean, a little above the shoulders, and the side bangs soften the look. I think the best part is how the color makes the entire cut look more upscale. This is something I try to explain to clients about going red – it’s the best! A solid, bright color makes a blunt cut look better than any amount of layering could. Yes, you will need to buy color-safe shampoo and lower your shower water temp, but that’s just part of the process!

#4 A Bob That Knows Exactly What It’s Doing

It looks like the technique is doing all the talking here. I love how it just grazes the jaw. That’s not an accident. It’s working with her face shape. The side bangs are soft enough to not create a heavy look and the slight wave in the mid-lengths adds personality without the chaos. I’d even say this is the kind of bob that looks better on day 2, once you’ve slept on it a bit and it has that lived in texture, which is honestly my favourite type of haircut to do on someone.’

#5 Gentle Waves That Do the Work for You

A bob with subtle layered cuts can look great with fine hair, and this is an example. The waves are loose and natural looking, and the side bangs are airy so that they do not weigh down the front where fine hair usually goes flat. I would keep this hairstyle just above the shoulders like they’ve done here because any longer you start to lose that sense of fullness. If you have the same hair density, I recommend a lightweight volumizing mousse at the roots before blow drying. It makes more of a difference than people expect.

#6 Auburn That Warms Everything Up

This auburn color is perfect for her skin tone. It has the right amount of warmth to liven up her skin without going orange, which I find happens a lot with newbies with this color. This haircut is a nice soft cut with a medium length style and nice movement, and the side bangs blend into the rest of the cut so seamlessly that they don’t appear to be a separate feature. They look like a unified style. Also, to make the color pop, try to avoid heat styling. A rough dry using your fingers for a soft and undone finish would look good with this style and would really show off the color.

#7 Textured and Easy Without Looking Like You Gave Up

This cut balances looking casual and looking messy. The layers at the shoulder length create enough movement to keep it interesting, and the side bangs soften and frame the face. For medium to fine hair, this bob is one of the most forgiving styles because it doesn’t require too much maintenance (which most of my clients over 50 usually want). If you notice that your hair tends to go flat by the middle of the day, try using a light mousse and then blow drying your hair. This will help keep your style in place better than using hairspray after.

#8 Rich Chocolate at Chin Length

I take pleasure in cutting chin-length bobs because of the details within the haircut. There is very little room for mistakes, and the details have a big impact on the cut. Bangs placement is crucial, and if they are placed incorrectly, it can throw the whole haircut off. As for this bob in particular, the rich chocolate brown color gives the cut a good dimension. The subtle wave offers some softness to the hairstyle and offsets some of the harshness. The side bangs are also great here considering they are soft and light and at this length, it is best to steer clear of blunt bangs because they tend to be a bit heavy on the face if you have a smaller profile. I also believe this haircut will grow out really well, and something that goes through my mind when I cut hair is how well it will grow out, especially when I think about how it will look in 6 weeks.

#9 Curls and Side Bangs Playing Nice Together

Cutting side bangs may seem simple but when it comes to curly hair, it involves a lot of skill. If you don’t take into account the shrinkage that curls experience when cutting, a client is getting bangs three inches shorter than what they asked for. Fortunately, this cut has a good outcome as the curls are bouncy and defined, and the side bangs are just right to sweep and not fly up. If you have this type of texture, I recommend that you get a good diffuser attachment if you don’t have one, as it helps a lot in maintaining the curl pattern while it dries.

#10 Curly Bob with Real Volume

This seems like it will be a fun cut to do as I can see there are working real texture and layering potential. I love how they’ve cut weight from the interior while keeping the curl shape on the outside, provides you volume and movement without that mushroom look that curly hair gets when cut too blunt. The side bangs give a nice frame to the face without fighting the texture down below which is not as easy as it looks. Hair like this won’t need too much product at all, and for the love of everything don’t brush it out once it’s dry. A lightweight curl gel applied to soaking wet hair and then scrunched should do the trick.

#11 Copper That Catches Light

I like the softer shade of copper. It is nice that it is not as intense as some other reds we have seen. I think it works for this one, as the cut is clean and simple, and a more subtle color allows the shape to speak for itself. The hit of color just under the chin is nice and flattering on pretty much everyone. Those side bangs are just there enough, a hint of fringe that prevents the forehead from feeling too naked. With fine hair like this, you want to ask your stylist to point cut the ends rather than use a razor, as razor cutting will make fine hair look thinner and stringier over time.

#12 Blonde Waves with Bangs That Blend

I love this cut! The texture is doing all the heavy lifting and the soft curls give so much more volume to what seems like fine to medium density hair. The side bangs are cut to the perfect length to sweep into the style rather than sitting out of it. This is such a great example of how a little styling can make such a difference! I’m guessing this took about 10 minutes with a medium barrel and some finger tussling and that’s it! The warm blonde keeps the entire look soft and approachable rather than harsh.

#13 Warm Chocolate That Wears Well

I can tell the bob is effortless and I mean that as a compliment, as hair that looks effortless usually takes a lot of work. The chocolate brown is rich but not too flat and there’s enough natural variation within the hair to give the bob more dimension. The subtle wave in the mid lengths gives the impression that she just washed her hair and let it dry. The side bangs are soft and lightly parted which is better than a heavy side swept bang as it looks more natural. It also grows out better which is ideal when you aren’t getting trims every four weeks.

#14 Elegant Layers with a Soft Touch

The highlights in this cut are doing something subtle yet effective, they’re creating an illusion of more volume by catching light through the layers. This is a trick I do with a lot of clients that have finer hair. The side bangs are feathery and blend into the first layer which creates a cohesive look to the entire cut, nothing looks added on or like an afterthought. I feel like this would be a really good option for someone wanting a bob that looks polished without being too done. It’s the type of cut you can wear to lunch or to a meeting and feel equally appropriate at both.

#15 Auburn at the Chin, Simple and Stunning

I love chin length bobs in an auburn color, the color and hue just fit so well and the warm tone, compliments the skin tone! I find the cut to be classy and sophisticated. The side bangs are very subtle and blend well with the cut. It’s nice because they won’t need to be trimmed regularly to keep the cut looking nice. The soft layers in the cut give this fine hair more volume than a one-length cut, which is something to consider if your stylist suggests cutting it to one length.

#16 Silver That Actually Shines

Clients often try to battle their silver hair for years. Then, when they finally accept it, we see a wonderful transformation. The difference with this transformation is not the color, but the attitude shift. The change is clearly positive from not having to battle with their hair anymore. This cut reaches the shoulders and has side bangs with just the right amount of layers to make the hair look like it has movement. The client’s silver hair looks shiny, which means they are using the right products. Those going silver should use a purple shampoo once a week to avoid any yellowish tones. This also goes for silver hair conditioning because silver hair loses moisture more quickly than hair with pigment. A good deep conditioner once in a while will keep the hair looking healthy.

#17 Soft Texture with Just the Right Amount of Bang

The waves in this hairstyle are impressive. Loose waves give the appearance of naturally wavy hair, or possiby an expert styling technique using a curling iron. The side bangs are a gentle touch that frame the face nicely. The shoulder length helps keep the hair bouncy, and the cut looks great with little styling. I really wish more people would take this advice. Just put some product in your hair while it’s wet and let it do what it wants to do!

#18 Chestnut Layers That Move

This chestnut color is gorgeous! It is a medium chestnut shade that appears to suit everyone, which is not something I often say as I usually think that most color choices are very dependent to each individual’s skin tone. With this bob, the textured layers really create movement, and the side bangs are integrated so seamlessly that the entire cut merges into one cohesive shape rather than a collection of separate pieces. I would recommend this to anyone with fine to medium hair who wants to achieve the look of having a lot of hair without having to wear extensions or use really strong volumizing products, as when the cut is done well, it actually adds a lot of volume.

#19 Layered and Lifted with Bangs That Frame

I really appreciate the layering on this cut. The layers are subtle enough that you don’t see obvious steps or chunks, but they give an overall sense of movement and really bring the hair to life. The side bangs are great for highlighting the cheekbones. The shoulder length is in the sweet spot right between darling and casual. I would use a medium round brush during the blow dry to get the ends to curve under a bit, because just that little bit of bend at the ends makes a bob look more polished without looking too styled.

#20 Subtle Bangs and Soft Dimension

The precision of this haircut is amazing; the side bangs are a soft sweep of hair across the forehead, the rest of the bob is simple and clean, and the texture makes sure it doesn’t look one dimensional. It could be taken to the next level with front highlights, but it looks beautiful even now. This length, just above the shoulders, is one I keep recurring to, because it is long enough to tie back if you’re gardening or exercising, but short enough to give the impression of a real haircut with some shape and intention behind it.

#21 Silver Bob That Feels Modern

Compared to the last one we viewed, this silver has a slightly cooler tone and I think that contributes to a more modern look. There is an almost metallic feel to it which is very contemporary. The collarbone length allows for some swing, and the side bangs are soft and not limp which suggests the cut has good internal structure even if the layers can’t be seen. This color is one that looks best when the hair has some shine to it, so I would recommend a lightweight shine serum on the ends after styling.

#22 Classic Layered Bob with Side Bangs

This haircut is definitely not trendy and I mean that in the best way possible. It’s a classic layered bob with side bangs that are warm brown and very natural. The layers add some body but the cut is still clean and moves as one piece which is ideal for a bob. You don’t want separate layers that do the opposite of what you want. I think this bob will also carry really well through the seasons. You could wear it smoother for summer and then add some texture in the fall with a texturizing spray when you want things to feel a bit more lived-in.

#23 Textured and Warm with Bangs That Blend

I enjoy the looseness of this bob; it breaks up the shape just enough to capture natural movement of the style rather than looking like an editorial shoot. For women over 50, this vibe is way more flattering than super polished styles. The side bangs are blended beautifully into the layers, which means when she grows them out there won’t be that awkward phase where your bangs are too long to be down but too short to be behind your ears. If you’ve grown out bangs, you know. The color is a warm medium brown which is nice as it is, but it has some natural-looking variation at the ends that I would assume is sun exposure, giving her a subtle highlight. Overall, her color is really pretty.

#24 Fresh and Unfussy in Every Way

I would suggest this bob if someone told me they want one that they don’t have to think about styling every morning. With some product it would look good even just air dried. The soft side bangs help and the textured layers are enough to create shape. It’s just past collarbone length so you can tuck it behind your ears, do a half up, or just let it all hang. I would recommend if you’re doing a single process color to ask your stylist about some highlights on the top layers to break it up because at this length the flat color can read a little heavy.

#25 Chin-Length Texture with Bangs That Soften

The bob hairstyle is fun and playful with the addition of waves and side bangs. The bangs are softer and that tone down the rest of the hairstyle. The texture in the bob suggests that some of the hair can be styled using a little beach wave spray and some product. This is actually my favorite style to teach clients because it looks effortless, like you just woke up and stepped outside to look this great. I prefer the bangs longer so they can swing freely to either side based on your mood or look, or the side part you decide to go with. If your bangs hit your eyes, I recommend using a clip to pull back the bangs. And please, for the love of all things good, do NOT ask your friends to cut your bangs. I’ve seen those results far too many times.