25 Trending Face-Framing Short Haircuts for Women 35+

#1: Copper Crop with Soft Layers That Actually Do Something

I tend to be a little biased as I do love copper for nearly every look, but this shade is warm without being brassy, which is the tightrope people fall off of going the red direction. The layers are short enough to create movement without being so choppy you’d have to style them into submission every day. If you have fine hair, this is the kind of style that gives the illusion of fullness, which is the best a haircut can do. The color, although it will need some love every few weeks as copper is famously disloyal, looks amazing when fresh.

#2 Warm Highlighted Bob with That Effortless Texture

This is a super easy haircut to do, because the cut is so great. The highlights are really good, and catch light around the face and frame the face nicely. The layers are moved and alive enough to the whole thing. I really like this on a person who wants to look like they’ve tried, but wants to not look like they’ve tried too hard. If that makes sense. A good texturizing spray will help maintain that piece-y quality between washes, but the cut is so good that the dry styling will do most of the work.

#3 Tousled Bob That Looks Better the Less You Fuss With It

I frequently visit bobs like this one because they address many concerns. The length is perfect for sitting behind your ears but is still short enough to not just hang there. The softness of the texture with a little bit of messiness is my favourite way to wear a bob. This style is confident rather than soft and sweet. You may need to use a straightener to get the right bend in the hair if it’s straight, but this style would survive even if you just let your hair air dry.

#4 Silver Bob with Layers That Feel Modern, Not Matronly

Natural gray hair can look absolutely stunning, especially when it is cut and styled in a way that complements it. This is a great example of that. The layers really help the overall look, as they focus the eye up and add a softness that works with the gray instead of against it. I’ve had clients who are so terrified of the idea of going gray, and then they end up loving it more than any color that they have had before. This cut is a big reason why. The wave in the hair helps add body so it doesn’t look flat. That is usually a concern when dealing with finer gray hair. The good news is that it doesn’t take a ton of work. When your hair is damp, just run some volumizing mousse through it and you should be set.

#5 Copper Bob with Waves That Have Somewhere to Go

I won’t say sorry about the copper again. This one is slightly more lengthy than the crop above so waves can actually develop instead of just suggest movement. The face framing layers are subtle but they do a lot especially if you tend to feel like your features get lost behind your hair. The styling commitment is slightly higher on this because those waves do require some coaxing to look this intentional, but it is like ten minutes with a flat iron and some heat protectant, nothing too crazy.

#6 Gentle Wave Bob That Does the Work for You

For customers wanting a cut that looks nice and pretty, I take them at their word when I say I don’t think they’ll do much styling, and that’s fine. The wave pattern is designed to be loose so it will happen naturally if your hair has any waves or texture. The layers will help reduce that bob-default triangle shape that thicker hair tends to do. The color depth is so pretty, rich and not flat. If your hair is very thin, this version may not translate as well, but with some adjustment to the layering I think it definitely could.

#7 Short Blonde Cut with Volume Where It Counts

This one has me really excited. The jawline length is really flattering and I can’t quite describe it without seeing it on you. It really opens the entire neck and shoulder area and elongates everything, making it look leaner. The brightness of the blonde is light-catching, but it won’t wash anyone out because it isn’t platinum. The soft wave prevents it from being too structured, which is nice. For anyone who has been sitting on the same length for years, this is a great “I just did something” cut. It offers the chance to do something without going full pixie.

#8 Jaw-Length Bob with Highlights That Know Their Place

The highlights are stunning, and coming from someone who is known to be very selective about highlights, that says a lot! The highlights’ placement gives great dimension to the hair without being too stripy (which is an easy look to fall into with fine hair). I really love the length that hugs the jaw as it is universally flattering (and there aren’t a lot of things that I would say that about). The soft enough texture means it can be used for a school pick up or dinner out without being changed.

This is the kind of hairstyle that gets better as it grows out, which means it is a really good haircut. The layers are going to settle in easily and look intentional even as your next appointment is coming up.

#9 Cropped Layers with Volume That Doesn’t Quit

Consider this as a rebuttal to the belief that short hair appears thinner. I’ve heard the claim that cutting fine hair short will make it look thinner. However, these layers are combining to create true fullness around the crown, while the face-framing layers are soft enough that they don’t look like they’re trying to be curtain bangs, they just exist. A small amount of lightweight mousse scrunched in while it’s damp should get you most of the way to this look, the rest is just the cut doing the work.

#10 Silver-Highlighted Layered Bob with Real Versatility

The silver highlights provide two functions; they add dimension and help the transition to a natural gray look more intentional. The length hits at that ideal spot for it to read as a bob, but you could also push the front pieces back if you needed to, which actually matters more than people think at this length. The layers soften the look without being too wispy, and the overall shape is such that it would look equally as good on a Tuesday morning as it would Saturday night.

#11 Short Curly Bob with Warmth and Personality

I love all the ways you can style this, and the curls are stunning. The cut is designed to work with the curls, which is always the goal, but you’d be surprised how many stylists try to force curls into a straight-hair shape. The warm tones in this color are so complimentary to her skin. The way the curls finish off at the collar bone really makes the whole style clean, but not stiff. If you have a natural curl or wave in your hair, you need to save this photo for your next appointment and let’s chat.

#12 Feathered Bang Bob That Hits All the Right Notes

I think the bangs are what really bring the look together. They’re nicely blended into the cut, rather than sitting there as a separate piece from the rest of the cut. That’s the difference between bangs that look good, and bangs that scream a decision you already want to take back. The shoulder-length cut gives it a nice movement and the layers add an airy feeling. It makes everything seem a lot lighter. I’ll be honest, bangs like these are going to take a little extra work. Maybe thirty seconds of round-brush drying, and that effort is going to pay off, because you’ll have a polished and flirty look.

#13 Clean Blunt Bob with Just Enough Softness

Chin-length blunt bobs are one of the most satisfying and confident cuts a hairstylist can do. This particular design features subtle face-framing layers to prevent the hairstyle from feeling too severe. The modern cut gives the hairstyle a fresh look. For those with fine hair, a root volumizing spray will work wonders to prevent the cut from laying too flat to the head. However, the cut is fairly low-maintenance to begin with.

#14 Tousled Short Bob with Bangs and Warm Color

A relaxed French touch is appealing. The style has an “I woke up like this” attitude and exudes chic energy. Bangs that are soft and wispy rather than harsh and blunt is ideal because it really amplifies the relaxed nature of the look. The warm lightening accents in the mid-lengths brightens the whole look very naturally. The key element is the tousled texture because it gives the style a youthful feel rather than just a short cut. If you have been considering bangs but are still apprehensive, this is the style I’d recommend starting with because it is very forgiving and grows out nicely.

#15 Cropped Pixie with Highlights That Add Depth

I get that that’s a commitment cut. The hair is above the ears and means your face is fully exposed, which is a bit terrifying. But that’s the idea. When the cut is that good, there’s nothing to hide behind and no distractions from your features. The layers on top will give just enough volume to keep it fun. The highlights will add some warmth to prevent it being too stark. The hair will need monthly trims, every four to five weeks, so keep that in mind. The good news is that morning styling is basically nothing, which equals a lot of time saved. Cutting your hair is a time saving choice.

#16 Balayage Bob with Effortless Body

The balayage is so subtle that it seems to be naturally occurring in your hair, which is the entire goal of this look and also the most difficult to do. The volume is soft and natural rather than blown out, and the layers allow just enough movement so that the hair moves as one cohesive piece rather than separating into lots of different sections. I think this cut is particularly effective on individuals whose hair has undergone textural changes over time, whether it be finer hair or a loss of some natural wave, as the layering really helps to enhance that.

#17 Soft Layered Cut with Highlights at the Perfect Length

I get a lot of requests for collarbone length in my seat and for good reason. This length hits right at the collarbone, giving the illusion of having more hair while still being short enough to have shape and movement which is the sweet spot most people are looking for. The highlights are just right to frame the face and brighten without being too heavy, and the soft layers add just enough so it doesn’t sit there. If you’re looking to go shorter gradually, this is a great transitional cut.

#18 Burgundy Bob with Volume and Attitude

I don’t recommend burgundy to everyone because it can go wrong in specific ways, but when it’s right, it’s right, and this is one of those occasions. The depth of the color combined with the textured volume does something that feels almost editorial in the best way possible, and the practicality remains. This is where a sleek finish keeps it really usable, because a tight bob in this shade would definitely tip into costume territory. If you’ve been wanting to try a fashion color but you’re not quite ready for pink or purple, this is the adult version of being adventurous with color.

#19 Face-Framing Layered Bob That Photographs Beautifully

As soon as I saw this one, the first thing I noticed was the layers because they are cut at such a perfect angle to highlight the cheekbones, which is an extremely small technical detail, but makes a huge impact visually. The length just above the shoulders gives that airy feel while still allowing it to be styled in a bunch of different ways, and the overall texture isn’t salon fresh, it’s lived in. If you get a balayage with your cut then this is a good reference photo to bring, because the cut and color combo so nice. Just be prepared that the layers are going to need to be trimmed a little more often to maintain the shape.

#20 Versatile Textured Bob with Great Movement

I would call this a workhorse cut, which is a compliment. It works on a Wednesday when you’ve done nothing, and it works on a Friday when you’ve put five minutes of effort into it, and purposely the dramatic range between the two is not that large. The face framing layers are soft enough to work for basically any face shape, and the subtle messy texture gives it that quality where people can’t quite tell if your hair does this naturally or if you styled it. That is the sweet spot.

#21 Warm-Toned Shag with Lots of Personality

Currently, I’m totally in the shag era, and I tend to go through phases of cutting constantly and then take a break for a bit. This one is good in particular because the layers feel intentional rather than just existing. They create volume at the crown and softness around the face which is the whole promise of a shag, and most shags fail. The warm tones provide depth and the tousled finish is forgiving; even on day 3 hair, it will still look like a choice.

#22 Curly Bob That Celebrates What You’ve Got

If you naturally have curly hair, don’t straighten your hair just to try to fit into a hairstyle that doesn’t even suit your hair texture! Check the example of the cut with the volumized curly hair! Most of the volume in this hairstyle is from natural curls and good layering. The curls are supposed to bounce and frame the face, rather than being weighed down and look good during the cut process. After you get the cut, you may even want to get a curl defining cream to help keep the curls hydrated and bouncy, but that will not be needed because the cut will be doing the most work in maintaining the hairstyle.

#23 Wavy Bob That Looks Good Without Overthinking It

I like this haircut because it isn’t overly complicated, and I have witnessed plenty of overly styled looks that have a lot going on. It appears as if a lot of effort was put into this style, but the waves are encouraged to fall to help create that effortless look. It is very relaxed and the length is above the shoulders, allowing for movement. There are enough layers to add variation while maintaining a natural and not overly chopped appearance. If you have wavy hair and want a haircut that embraces that, this is it.

#24 Copper Bob with Bangs That Frame Everything Perfectly

The bangs on this copper bob do what they are supposed to do – draw attention to the eyes and cheekbones and soften the forehead. They are not heavy at all which gives a curtain effect. The warmth in the copper tone is really flattering to the skin and gives it a \”lit from within\” glow. The mid length cut gives it a good amount of weight to feel substantial without dragging anything down. It\’s important to note that copper is a high maintenance color. If you tend to go long stretches between salon visits, you may want to talk to your stylist about a more muted version that\’ll fade more gracefully. Color depositing shampoos can extend the vibrancy between appointments as well.

#25 Clean Pixie with Soft Bangs and a Whole Lot of Confidence

This might be the last one, but a good pixie is, in my possibly biased opinion, the most life-changing haircut one could get. It’s a style that leaves nothing to hide behind, and that’s the beauty of it. Soft bangs help with the exposed feeling, and bring a femininity that softens the cut. The nape cut is smooth, but not too tight. This kind of haircut alters your persona and I’ve seen it enough to say that with conviction. If you’ve been thinking about it, this is your sign! Some subtle highlights on top would be lovely for added dimension.