A recent client said to me, “I want balayage, but I’m seventy, is that weird?” This is one of the most outrageous things I’ve been told and is certainly not weird. Usually, seventy years old and wanting balayage is not a strange request at all, and is much better than people in their twenties. Clients in their seventies look great with balayage highlights. The highlights that are painted on blend wonderfully with the client’s natural hair color, be it warm brown, silver, or something in between, and grow out very gracefully. This means she does not have to keep a tight schedule, so she’s not going to be left with a harsh root line.
Many years ago, one of my clients was a retired judge. She was very serious and came in thinking she wanted “just a little something,” but she ended up being one of my favorite balayage transformations. She had gorgeous, shiny, natural silver hair and we added some platinum highlights to it. They looked luminous and intentional. She told me that after I did her hair, she had never had so many strangers comment on her hair when she went to the grocery store. That’s the beauty of good balayage. It doesn’t make you look younger like a lot of other hair services do, it simply gives you a more refined version of you. I have strong feelings for these 26 balayage looks and women in this stage of life.
#1: Rounded Bob with Those Perfect Caramel Pieces
I would ask for a bob on a bob for this one. It’s very effortless. The way these beautiful caramel highlights have been blended makes them catch the light and really frame the face, which is the whole point of a balayage, really. It’s layered just enough to give some movement on finer hair, but no one went too wild with the texturing shears so you should still have plenty of density. You could round brush this out in ten minutes and just call it good like that.
#2 That Layered Bob with the Soft Bangs
I love how bangs really make the haircut work. Bangs are soft enough to not need to be flat ironed, and that’s a dream even if you don’t have bangs. The cut is layered, so the hair moves, and it also looks good if you have a slight wave (which I’m assuming you do because you’re here) and it won’t look like you stopped styling your hair halfway. If you’ve been toying with the idea of bangs and have fine hair, this is the version I’d recommend because she’s not too wispy and will cut off enough length to give you bangs.
#3 Warm Auburn Curls with a Little Something Extra
I love this one! The auburn base with lighter pieces running through it brightens everything up. These lifts and frames the face in a way that feels organic, like I didn’t just pick this out from a swatch book. The curls look soft and bouncy as if they were done with a large barrel curling iron or maybe some overnight braids. You’ll need a good curl cream to keep the curls from going frizzy by noon, but that is a small price to pay for how rich this color is.
#4 Layered Waves with That Warm Caramel Running Through
It’s clear that care and thought have gone into highlighting the movement in the hair with the placement of the face framing pieces, and this is something that many people underestimate. The warmth added by the carmel tones throughout the mid-lengths of the hair is just enough to prevent unwanted golden washes of warmth to the skin tones and works well at this stage. I also like the slight wave here as it shows the dimension of the color more than a blow out would and that is something I often tell clients.
#5 Textured Blonde Bob with Quiet Caramel Depth
On first view, this seems like a simple cut, but look again to see all the detail. The blonde with caramel accents creates some depth to avoid a flat look— the number one concern with fine hair blonde bobs. Ending the length at the jaw is universally flattering and the texture is the perfect amount to keep it from being overly stiff. Staying blonde is a commitment, but for a blonde style, this is ideal since it will allow you to use purple shampoo in between appointments and won’t give you that high maintenance look where you’d need to come back every four weeks!
#6 Those Silver Waves, Softly Layered
I love how natural and silvery looks and i try to do less in my job. The layers in this cut are kept to a minimum in order to create movement but not to thin the hair out too much. The waves are also nice because they give silvery the almost pearlescent quality she definitely won’t get with straight hair. With this cut, the goal is to make it look like you put in a lot of effort when really you didn’t. You just wash it, throw a little serum in the ends, and let it air dry.
#7 Soft Waves with Light Ash Blonde Highlights
This ash blonde color is nice because it is modern and cool. It also doesn’t get too ashy and appears gray in some lights, which is a tough balance. The waves give enough texture to a shoulder length style to stop it from looking flat or out of date. Compared to other styles, this type of layering on hair of medium density gives you volume without that “triangle head” look that bad layering creates. If you want to keep the ash tones, I would describe this as a solid every-six-weeks color, but it fades nicely so you have some room to play.
#8 Silver with Face-Framing Bangs and All That Shine
I can go on and on about the bangs because they do their job perfectly. They are sitting perfectly around the face without being too heavy. The silver hair is layered below the shoulders to catch the light close to a metallic effect. That may sound intense, but it really is just pretty. My biggest appreciation is that the look is designed for minimal heating styling, The shape is effortless, so if you buy sulfate free conditioner and leave your hair it is perfect. Or silver, I suppose.
#9 Modern Bob with Soft Silver Throughout
The layers on this bob are taking it beyond average to stunning. Without the layers, it would just be a plain, shoulder length cut. I don’t know who did this, but they obviously nailed the layering needed to create that goal, which is really hard to do on purpose. The silver highlights are so beautifully blended into what looks like a naturally transitioning base. This is the kind of balayage I aspire to. It doesn’t look like it is colored at all, it just looks like beautiful hair.
#10 Wavy Silver Lob with All That Movement
I like this length because I can play with it and style it in different ways. Longer hair can weigh down fine hair but with this length I can have some fun. The waves are also low maintenance but look great. The mid-length and end silver highlights look super natural and balayage is a low maintenance hair color option. I really appreciate you adding subtle layers because they add depth to the hair and fine hair can get a little too layered, which is often a problem.
#11 Textured Bob with Face-Framing Layers That Actually Work
Face framing layers can really help pull a look together, but a lot of the time I say “that actually works” because they usually look like they flip out awkwardly because they were cut too short or end up doing nothing because they were cut too long. These are placed fantastically. The straightness of your hair makes the layers really create nice, clean, iinstructed lines around your face. The highlights are also perfectly placed to add brightness to your face, and you don’t even need a foiled balayage for that. This cut is definitely a “your friends will ask who does your hair” cut. That really is the biggest compliment I can get.
#12 Pixie with Blonde Highlights and Real Texture
Not every haircut is honest, but this pixie cut is. Pixie cuts are honest haircuts as there is no length to hide behind. If something is wrong with it, it will be apparent. Thankfully, this one is right. The blonde highlights add dimension to it, as opposed to making the cut fall flat. The length at the nape of the neck keeps the cut soft, rather than making it look severe. If you have an oval face and have been considering going short, this is the example that you will want to use and will give you the best outcome possible. The only downside is that you will have to get it trimmed every four to five weeks, but your morning routine will become as easy as running your fingers through your hair and leaving the house.
#13 Caramel-Kissed Textured Bob
The front caramel pieces give an warmth to your face. It also makes it look like your hair just naturally does that. The gentle wave adds volume and makes it appear that your hair is not curled, and to me that’s the secret of making a bob look effortless and not styled. This length is actually quite good for fine hair because it sits above the shoulders and before gravity pulls everything down so you get the most fullness where you want it.
#14 A-Line Bob with Caramel Warmth
I like the A-line shape because it always looks good, and with caramel highlights, the warmth really softens the whole geometric structure of the cut. The length is collarbone height so it’s long enough to give you the option of wearing it behind your ears for something neat and tidy or blowing it out with some bend for a totally different look. This is the kind of cut that gives medium-density hair that feels sort of like your style is sitting there not doing much, a purpose.
#15 Layered Silver Waves with Bangs That Frame Everything
Her bangs have a soft cut so that they nearly blend into the layers. Soft blending like that is what gives it that pricey feel. Silver hair can be a little hard, but the layered waves provide enough movement so the hair color appears rich and dimensional without needing highlights. If your gray hair is coming in good and evenly and you want to embrace it, this is the way to do it. Others will be envious seeing you rocking your gray hair and not battling with a box of dye like them.
#16 Ash Blonde Bob with Volume and Soft Curls
This hairstyle features some of the most beautiful curls that I have looked at. They seem to wrap the hair around a barrel a few times and give them a little shake. This adds volume and makes hair appear thicker. It is great dye job as the grayish blonde color will not look bad when the roots grow out. It is colored but very obviously. For this look, I think you need about 15 minutes of curling to get a polished look. It is a great cut if you can wear it straight with the curls still looking good.
#17 Mid-Length Layers with Warm, Face-Brightening Highlights
The warm highlights are designed to brighten the face, and I mean this as a compliment. This is the most practical balayage I have seen. Balayage can be too creative and result in beautiful color placements at the back of your head where no one can see. However, this type of highlighting is really practical and works every time you look in the mirror. A little texturizing spray would give those layers even more movement, but to be honest, the cut has enough shape that you could completely skip product on a lazy day.
#18 Warm Brown Pixie with All the Right Texture
This style is a lot more interesting than the ponytails i see everyday. The brown highlights are a nice touch and prevent the haircut from looking flat, which is a common concern with shorter cuts on finer hair. The top texture is great for styling too. I also like that the sides aren’t too short. The length is nice and keeps it softer, which is ideal for balancing more prominent features instead of drawing more attention to them. Pixies usually require more maintenance than other styles. Expect to come in every four weeks. But that’s the deal you make with a pixie cut, and it’s always worth it.
#19 Silver Pixie with Beautiful Textured Movement
All the details on this pixie cut are pulling their weight, especially given how much work it takes at this length. The silver lowlights mix with the natural base color so well, and the layered pixie cut adds enough volume so fine hair doesn’t lay flat against the scalp. Short styles like this are super low-maintenance; you can literally just towel dry it and go. You do have to stay on top of trims, though- there’s about a two-week window between “this looks perfect” and “this is growing out weird.”
#20 Silver-Highlighted Bob with Clean Texture
I enjoy the bob’s subtleness. The silver strands are blended in so well, they look as though they are a natural part of the hair. The smooth, straight finish looks polished, so really, no styling is required other than a fresh and clean blow-dry. This cut is very low maintenance and that’s nice to say about any hair. For fine hair, if you have been stuck in a cycle of the same boring bob hair cut, the highlight placement makes this one different.
#21 Ash Blonde Bob with Layers That Move
The face-framing layers are cut at the most perfect angles to create movement when you turn your head, and that little detail is the difference between a cut you enjoy to one you can’t stop playing with because it feels that good. The colour done in ash blonde is classy without being icy, which I appreciate because an ash tone can often be a little too cold and lifeless. At this length, just above the shoulders, you have just the right amount of hair to work with not so much that it’s pulling itself flat which means the layers can actually do their thing.
#22 Silver Bob with Soft Waves and a Little Asymmetry
The slight asymmetry is a smart choice here as it stops a silver bob from looking too “set” or matronly (a term I hope never to have to use in reference to anyone’s hair again). The waves create more volume, and shoulder length is universally flattering, but the unevenness is what gives it that modern touch. Gorgeous silver like this is mainly about the condition of the hair, so a silver gloss treatment every now and then will keep it from looking dull.
#23 Elegant Silver Blunt Bob, Subtly Layered
For this occasion, a blunt bob is more than appropriate, and this one certainly makes the cut. The face-framing layers are balanced so just enough that you might not even notice, but they really do a lot to keep the blunt line from feeling too heavy or too stiff. A silver shade at this length and this density is even more chic and sophisticated. Also, I appreciate that this type of cut looks just as good when you’ve walked straight out of the salon, and when you’re on day three of not washing it. (Let’s be honest, that’s something we all need to know!)
#24 Curly Copper Bob That I Can’t Stop Looking At
I would love to remain neutral, but the warm copper tones on curly hair are impossible to ignore. It is so amazing to see how the tone of the hair catches the light and is something that should be seen in person. And the curls add so much volume that fine hair is no longer a concern. This color will do something else to the green eyes. It will be necessary to have some curl defining love and a good gel will do the trick. Just remember that you will mostly be enhancing what is already there.
#25 Short Textured Crop with Warm Highlights
This is making me think about when someone sits down and is like “I want something easy but I still want to look like I care”. Because that’s exactly what this delivers. The warm highlights mean this doesn’t read too severe and the textured layers on top mean you have options. You can smooth it down for something polished or mess it up for something more relaxed and both look intentional. The length is manageable enough that daily styling is basically optional, which at a certain point in life is not a luxury, it’s a requirement.
#26 Layered Ash Blonde with Highlights Where They Matter
The most important aspect of these highlights is their placement; I like how they’ve been focused around the face and blended through the mids. This way, the brightening effect will be most noticeable at that spot. It’s great that the ash blonde is easily customizable to suit many skin tones, as it sits in the middle of the spectrum. It’s not too warm or too cool, and the layers provide enough movement in the mid-lengths. With this cut, it won’t feel heavy or stagnant. Overall, it gives off that effect of “She looks amazing, but I can’t quite put my finger on it!” That’s honestly my favourite type of colour work to do.
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