Fashion trends change as a person ages, but the desire to look good and feel good will always remain constant. If you are looking to make a change to your current outfit, one of the best ways to refresh your look is to change your hairstyle. Here are some sophisticated and stylish haircut ideas for mature women that will enhance your look and style. These haircut ideas will help you personal style current, while helping you embrace your boldness and your hair.
A common misconception is that older woman’s hairstyles should focus on making a woman appear younger. I learned this lesson many years ago when I was beautifying a lovely woman in her sixties who used to bring me photos of her daughter’s hair. Most of the time when she was done, she looked lovely, but she didn’t look like her. One day she came in without a photo and told me “Make me look like myself, but better.” This was an amazing brief. I think out of all my clients I was most satisfied when I gave her a messy layered bob. This experience was very clear to me. The goal should never be to reverse the aging, but to find the haircut that emphasizes the person’s facial features and hair.
I have a better understanding of what this list is showing me. These particular cuts embody the concept of being playful with the texture changes and density shifts in the cuts, rather than working against them. Some may surprise you with how long they are, and some may even defy your expectations with how short they are; a couple are even just classics that are executed so well, that they really didn’t need to be reinvented. I will be breaking down these fifteen cuts, and I plan on being completely open and honest (no sugar coating this).
#1: Smooth Blunt Bob with Just Enough Softness Around the Face
I have a theory that a blunt bob is the haircut that says “I have my life together” the most. This style hits at the shoulder. The secret is the lines are clean, but not too harsh, and there are some face-framing layers to keep the bob from looking too helmet-y, and that’s all you need! The warm, natural color does some of the heavy lifting as well. For those with fine hair, the blunt ends will actually create some thickness and work in your favor. The only downside is, because blunt cuts have no where to hide, you’ll need to make trims every 5-6 weeks to keep those split ends in check.
#2 Soft Waves That Basically Style Themselves
This haircut has a quality that will make people ask you what you did differently and you won’t be able to explain it because it looks good in an unusual way. This cut has almost unnoticeable layers which allows your natural waves to be free. Because of this, the cut is able to retain a lot of length so you won’t lose hair that you want to keep. For me, the real magic is in the waves. These waves can easily be created using a large-barrel curling iron set to a low heat. Simply wrap and release (not hold) the hair for a few seconds to create volume. This look requires effort to achieve but we’re talking about ten minutes. Not thirty.
#3 Shoulder-Length Curls with a Really Natural Feel
I love it when people want soft, natural looking curls, and this is just that! The base is shoulder length which lets the curls be bouncy without being too crazy, and the layering is soft enough so that you don’t lose density where it’s needed. The dimension in the color helps the curls pop from the light-catching effect that happens when you move! If your hair is on the finer side, a lightweight volumizing mousse before you diffuse will be your best friend. The whole vibe of this cut is effortless, which ironically means you have to be a little intentional about it!
#4 That Perfect In-Between Lob with Wispy Texture
I often recommend this haircut to clients asking for a change but are unsure what they want. It’s a good length, above the shoulders, so it still moves, but you don’t have to commit to really short hair. The wispy ends also stop it from looking too boxy. This haircut is great for softening rounder face shapes because the texture, instead of drawing the eye from side to side, moves the focus vertically. The layers are extremely subtle so you don’t notice them until the hair starts moving, at which point, it creates a lovely airy feel. It takes very little styling and has such a big payoff.
#5 Textured Bob That Feels Lived-In
I love this cut’s unfinished aesthetic. It’s a bob, but the waves and texture bring it more toward a cool casual cut rather than a blow dry. I think this is especially nice for finer hair, since the layered texture gives the appearance of way more volume. I think a light balayage with this would look great for added dimension. The reason I love this look and keep coming back to it is because it’s low maintenance.
#6 Shoulder-Length Loose Waves with Some Real Movement
This hair looks amazing in photos, and will also look amazing in real life, in real light, at a real dinner. The texture works really well here for medium density hair, giving body without going poofy, which is a surprisingly fine line to walk. What makes this cut nice is that the wave pattern is not uniform. If you’re going to do color, a warm toned balayage would add even more dimension to those waves and complement this cut really well.
#7 Long Layers with Copper Highlights That Actually Look Expensive
I get very excited when a client with warmer skin is receptive to copper, and this is why, it’s stunning. The long layers give movement to the hair and are nice to keep the length. It is a common misconception that women of a certain age need to go shorter and that isn’t always the case. The copper highlights are done in a way that means they will catch the light super naturally rather than being stripy and obvious. I will say it does take some effort to keep longer hair looking nice. Longer hair does need more frequent conditioning treatments and more time in the morning, but if you put in the effort, it is so worth it.
#8 A Really Flattering Layered Cut with Highlights That Glow
Some haircuts I can tell in advance are going to look fantastic — and this is one of them! The highlights are soft, but they’re going to add warmth, and depth to the hair so it looks like it’s glowing from the inside. If you have fine or medium hair, these layers are going to create volume and leave you with that full hair look all day. The only product I would recommend is a root lifting spray, which is absolutely necessary!
#9 Warm Chestnut Waves That Just Feel Right
A haircut can sometimes take a backseat to the color, and that’s the case here. The warm chestnut color is incredible, and the richness makes the waves more defined and the layers more purposeful. The mid-length cut is smart as well because it’s long enough to pull back if you want to do that, and short enough that you won’t feel weighed down. The body added by the layers is great without being too bulked up (which is always the worry with layers with hair that’s not super thick). For the finer textures, a quick pass of a texturizing spray through the mid-lengths and ends would do the trick to give it that bouncy, full look.
#10 Textured Shoulder-Length with Face-Framing That Actually Frames
Face-framing layers are a tricky style. Some people do way too many layers. Others don’t cut enough for them to stand out. This specific haircut gets it done perfectly. The face pieces are a great length to soften things up without looking too curtain-y (definite no). The rest of the body hair texture is also modern enough to give personality. The balayage is nice as well, giving the right amount of depth without it becoming too much of the focus. Cuts like these are great because they give a polished look even on days when you didn’t try hard to look put together. This is the goal most of the time.
#11 Long Layers with Highlights for People Who Like Their Length
It can be tough to want to cut your hair when so many people around you are pushing you to do it. You can show this to your stylist and say you want this type of cut. Longer layers on straight to slightly wavy hair creates a good drape that a short hairstyle just won’t achieve. In this picture, the highlights look good and natural, just like how sun exposure would look. One last thing to keep in mind is that longer hair needs regular trims on the ends, even if you are growing it out. A split end serum does a lot in between your appointments.
#12 A Pixie That Feels Modern, Not Matronly
Women may face challenges when making the decision to get a pixie. With a multitude of distinct styles, this specific hairstyle can land anywhere from, “I have given up,” to, “I am trying way too hard.” The soft layers make you look like you are going for an editorial look but instead create the opportunity for you to fully embrace the grey. This look will still require maintenance every four to five weeks which sounds like a lot, but it will change your morning routine to basically nothing. It is very low maintenance. You simply style it with a wash and add some styling paste, through the top, and you are done!
#13 Layered Bob with Waves That Have Some Real Energy
We adore this bob for all the people who think bobs are boring. It is the most fun! The layers create movement and the waves create a playfulness that a sleek bob would not have. I think my favorite part is that it looks like it’s not trying hard! It looks like your hair naturally does something amazing, but there is some intricate cutting underneath the texture that does the work. This is ideal for fine to medium hair density because the layers add volume where it tends to fall flat. Great transitional cut, it will work as well with a summer tan as it does with a winter coat.
#14 Softly Layered Bob with Bangs That Don’t Overwhelm
I’d say **** bangs are a pretty huge commitment. However, bangs that are soft and blended into the rest of the cut, with face-framing bangs that don’t hide the face too much, and the length hitting right above the shoulder is super flattering. It creates a long line from the jaw to the clavicle. The smooth layered bangs create movement and volume without looking thin, which is something I’ve always been concerned about with layering fine textures. The bangs will need a trim every three weeks to avoid an eye poke, but everything else about this cut is low maintenance.
#15 Textured Bob with Soft Bangs and a Lot of Personality
I think this looks great! The texture really adds dimension and movement to the style and the bangs look intentional. Plus, having fine hair makes this look lightweight and airy instead of heavy like the scene cuts many people end up having. The soft layers are very flattering while the bangs give a youthful vibe and also a more casual appearance. This looks like a great style and I imagine it will be very manageable. You’ll obviously need to do some styling to get it looking nice and probably round brush it to smooth it out, but otherwise it should be pretty easy.
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