Many women in their fifties value their individuality, and a lot of that comes from breaking the stereotypes of being ‘over the hill.’ I had a client who felt the need to cut her stunning long hair when she turned fifty, which we can all agree is a beautiful disgrace. I managed to convince her to keep the length and add some layers and she verbally cried when she saw the finished look. I love breaking the boundaries of beauty standards that society has created and helping women express their true selves, which is why I have a good connection with clients that are older than me.
When I refer to my clients in their fifties, I mean the sweet spot of the fifties. This was the case for my last week’s clients, and there was a fun pattern where there was a fairly even distribution of hair trend adopting, hair trend bucking, and a few that were very clearly trend setting. Many see haircuts as the main vehicle for creating beauty, and this is another of those misguided beliefs that people carry. At the end of the day, an individualized hairstyle is one that reflects personal beauty the best, and also one that is unique to the individual.
I’ve put together 25 haircuts and styles that I’m currently seeing and loving on real women in their 50s. Some of these I could talk endlessly about, while others are just ok. But let’s get into it.
#1: Shoulder-Length Waves with Soft Layers, Two Ways
It’s incredible to see how these two women interpret an idea differently. And they both look great! The left woman has a cool gray hair color while the right woman has a warm brown hue, which is a nice detail. And regarding the cut, both hair styles look good because of the hair fullness and good placement of the cut frame their face, plus the soft layers added that lets her hair move. When it comes to hair as a style, great hair thickness is a must because the soft waves in the cut will fall flat without it. This kind of style is great because once washed, all you have to do is put in a little sea salt spray, scrunch it, and go! With good maintenance, this style will look clean and not like a one length haircut. And don’t let the layers grow out too much, and keep up with your trims!
#2 A Textured Pixie That Actually Has Some Personality
This is amazing! The way the cut is finished it perfectly balances all the angles. The way it highlights and contours adds depth to the cut, keeping it from looking worn. The hair will appear to be fuller than it actually is because of how this will look on fine to medium hair, so get your hands on this! Use a light wax or texture pasta to give it the unpolished look. The cut will settle down by noon if you don’t do it.
#3 Soft Waves at the Shoulders with a Wispy Bang
It’s obvious she kind of threw this together, but it works. The slightly messy, loose waves, the almost non-existent bangs—she has the balance nailed down so they don’t overpower everything, and the light layers are great for adding movement without the ends looking thin. If you’ve been cautious about bangs and have fine to medium hair, this is a soft introduction to bangs. They’re not a full commitment at all; they just sort of blend into the rest of the haircut. A scoop of lightweight mousse in damp hair and some scrunching will do the work for you.
#4 Chestnut Layers with Warm Face-Framing Pieces
I have to say, I really like this color! The chestnut base with lightened pieces that frame the face brightens everything up, and you definitely won’t look like you’re trying to be 25 again. The cut is also quite simple and clever as it is just past the shoulders and has chin-layered cuts, which will create nice movement with fine hair so it won’t just hang there. For oval face shapes, this will be really flattering, but it can be adjusted to suit most shapes. One downside to this look is it will require maintenance, as the highlights will need to be refreshed every few months as they lose warmth and can look quite brassy.
#5 That Bronde Layered Look Everyone’s Been Asking About
I’ve noticed a lot more clients bringing in pictures of this particular color and I totally get it, it’s a pretty color! Bronde with subtle balayage is a great way to create a blend between blonde and brunette. It looks very natural like you’ve been kissed by the sun. The layers help a lot too! They really frame your face and the movement created by the layers makes fine to medium hair look a lot thicker. Here’s the thing, and I say this to people all the time, this color takes a lot of maintenance. You will need to come back to the salon every 8 to 10 weeks to keep it looking fresh and blended. You are also going to need a good purple shampoo to keep it looking good in between because it does get warm tones in it. At the end of the day, it’s 100% worth it!
#6 A Clean Bob with Wispy Bangs
This is a nice classic style and I think it fits people more with strong jaws or more angular features since the bangs and soft ends kind of soften that all up. The length hitting right at the jaw is key to that. It’s a nice bob that isn’t anything wild, not in a bad way, it’s just not trying to be fancy, good texture to not look stiff. I think if you have naturally straight hair that is medium density, you should be able to get away with a round brush blow dry. Just be on top of your bang trims. I would say every 3 to 4 weeks which some people hate but it’s just part of the style.
#7 Curly Bob with Layers That Actually Work with the Curl
I love when someone who really gets curly hair does a curly cut because of how it showcases the layers. She has layers up top that give lift to the crown. A lot of women in their 50s ask me about this because things tend to flatten at the top as we get older. The bounce in the curls is nice, and they definitely don’t look crunchy or overdone. The length is spot on, and it frames the face perfectly without overwhelming it. If you’ve got waves or curls and you’ve been wearing it longer, then this is the kind of cut that would be fun to change it up. Just know that if you want it to look like this, a little curl definition will go a long way. Wish there was a way to easily show it, but it’ll def require a good curl cream on wet hair. Plus, you’ll probably need a diffuser.
#8 Short Silver Pixie, Sleek and Simple
The overall presentation is polished, contemporary, and quite remarkable. The silver color is lovely and the textural layers assist in making it look neither too flat nor too overdone. What works best is the plainness, as there is nothing else vying for your attention, it’s all about her. Particularly her eyes. Fine to medium texture hair is best for this because you want it to be close lying, but still have some freedom. For pixies this short, that means more frequent salon visits, probably every 4 to 5 weeks. The shape is lost very quickly once it starts to grow out. However, if you have a passion for shorter hair and don’t mind that, this is a beautiful way to go silver.
#9 Silver Bob with Bangs and a Lot of Texture
There is a lot of personality in this look and a big part of this is the bangs. They soften the look and add a youthful vibe without being too try hard. The texture helps to avoid the silver looking flat. With silver hair, if there isn’t enough dimension to the cut, it can be hard to avoid that stuck look. The length is perfect, just above the shoulders, since it is long enough to have some nice movement and not so long that it starts to look thin at the ends. The silver tones here are modern, nicely done, and intentional instead of just going gray.
#10 A Long Silver Lob with Those Nice Face-Framing Pieces
If you want to go silver but are not ready to go short, I totally get it. The straight style at ob length gives you room to play with styling whether that’s a curl, straight, or an up do. The straight style softens the look around the cheekbones and jaw. Longer silver hair can look polished, but it does take effort. Hydrating conditioner is a must, especially since gray hair is naturally dry and coarse. Split ends will also show up fast, so you will need to commit to regular trims. When it comes to keeping silver hair looking polished, you will need to put in the effort, but if you keep these things in mind, it will look great!
#11 Another Silver Bob, This Time a Little More Relaxed
We have seen many silver bobs, but this one stands out! The vibe here is more relaxed, less formal, and more effortless. The layers are more about movement and less about shape, and the complete hairstyle is very low maintenance. This look is great for fine straight hair, as it gives volume without the need of product (or heat) so it is great for that). I can definitely see this worn straight for a fancier occasion, or with a loose wave from a big curling iron for a more relaxed look. Just keep in mind, you’ll want to get regular trims to keep the ends clean, but this takes very little effort day to day!
#12 Curly Bob with Serious Texture
What are you going to do if you have curly hair? Take a look at this cut. The curls are so nice and soft. The length is perfect for showing off curls and framing the face. The volume is there without being too much. The layering is also subtle. This really is a cut that needs to be done by a person who cuts curly hair all the time. I can’t stress this enough. The wrong layers in curly hair can go sideways really fast. For styling, you’d want something like a curl enhancing gel scrunched in on wash day and left alone.
#13 Short Textured Cut in a Warm Auburn
There is a certain European essence to this style, it’s very chic and understated. The bangs are especially nice, as they add some gentleness to the look and help to draw people’s attention to the eyes and cheeks. The warm auburn is lovely – it brightens the whole complexion. I understand that a lot of women in their fifties opt for a lighter shade, but a rich, warm tone like this can be very flattering if it works with the skin undertones. This cut is ideal for fine hair because the layers will create volume and it won’t go limp. To keep the shape, you’ll need to come in for a trim every 5-6 weeks, and the colour will need to be brightened to keep the warmth. Auburn hues tend to fade quicker than other shades, so you’ll want to come in for a refresh on the same schedule.
#14 Silver Blunt Cut, Very Clean Lines
This design is understated and classy, perfect for those who have a polished aesthetic. The show stopping feature is the blunt cut at the shoulders. The subtle layers only exist so the cut doesn’t look like a curtain. With fine hair it will look super smooth like in the photo, but you must also keep up with the ends because a blunt cut with straggly ends is a totally different look. A smoothing serum on the ends will add shine and keep the line from being ruined by frizz. It’s simple, but that kind of simple takes a bit of effort.
#15 Long Layers with Warm Balayage, Easy and Lived-In
The reason I gravitate towards this look is because it seems more realistic. I mean, I like how simple the hair looks. The long layers soften the face and the warm balayage highlights add depth without looking stripy or overdone. This would look best on medium to thick hair as you need enough density for those layers to show up, on finer hair you’d lose away a lot of the effect. The slight wave gives it that relaxed feel, honestly you could get that with just braiding damp hair overnight. I wouldn’t recommend this length if you hate styling though. Longer hair with layers needs some attention to not look like it’s just… hanging there.
#16 Fluffy Silver Bob with Wispy Bangs
This hairstyle is spectacular. The softness really makes it so much easier to make the silvery hair romantic rather than harsh. The bangs are nice and airy which helps to collaborate with the airiness of the entire hairstyle. The style is quite simple to upkeep with the help of a dryer and a round brush. Hair grows really fast and it may get more difficult to upkeep the cut, however, the style calls for trims every six weeks and up. Once the ends of the hair are free to move, that is the goal!
#17 Long Layers with Face-Framing Bangs
The bangs are a true highlight. They’re nice and light, blend into the layers, and soften the face nicely. The warm highlights look great for the straight, medium density hair and give a beautiful sun-kissed effect. This hair cut gives a perfect polished look and not too obvious which is why I love it. I won’t lie, this length and layering is a high maintenance cut. If you start skipping trims the layers will blend together and you’ll lose all the movement and dimension that make this hair cut good.
#18 Blunt Bob with Soft Textured Ends
The blonde hair looks amazing, simple, clean, and classy. this is a basic bob with shoulder length and with just the right amount of layering to soften the ends. Having the hair fine and straight is ideal especially when going for thickness- because a cut like this would help achieve that as it holds all the weight at the bottom. The shade is bright without being icy which I consider to be a little more essential as one ages, because very cool blondes can be quite washing out. In terms of upkeep, it’s low maintenance, although a blunt cut like this does get damaged easily, so ends will require more regular trims.
#19 Curly Crop, Short and Full of Life
This hairstyle puts a spring in my step! Confidence looks good in a short curly bob and this one deserves all the praise. She confidently rocked the curls and everything just seems to click! The layers at the crown really help to enhance the height and give more dimension to the style – it is so defined and really helps to add some character. The curls are wildly fun. Plus if you’ve been looking for a style like this it’s going to give you a simple styling routine. On day two just spray somecurl refresher and you’ll basically be done, The best part is the volume and texture allow it to be suitable for almost any face shape.
#20 Short Silver Pixie with Soft Movement
Although this style may look effortless, a lot of consideration went into how the layers are done. Layers are designed to create movement around the crown and face, without looking overdone. If you go grey and don’t want to cover your grey, this style is great for making you look good during your transition. This style also helps hair look alive and full of movement, even if it is one solid color. This style works best for fine to medium hair as it is a low maintenance cut. It allows you to go 4 to 5 weeks without a haircut and still keep a nice clean shape. Just be sure to not wait too long to avoid a messy look.
#21 Curly Platinum Pixie, Bold and Fun
I want to be clear that this is a commitment. Short, platinum, curly hair is beautiful, but be prepared for regular root touch-ups, bond repair treatments to keep your curls healthy after lightening, and frequent toning to prevent your hair from getting yellow. I completely understand why people want it though. The contrast of bright, platinum curls is hard to not love.
If you would like to achieve this look for yourself, be sure that you have fine to medium natural curls that are in good condition. It is also important that you go to a specialist in both curly hair and coloring because you don’t want this to be a guess cut and color.
#22 Rich Chocolate Bob at the Chin
The chocolate brown color right at the chin is traditional and sophisticated. This is a straightforward haircut, with few if any layers. It is soft and adds some movement at the ends. The warm brown color does the heaviest lifting here and provides a healthy glow when not too dark. This length is perfect if you have fine to medium hair because you keep the maximum density and thickness. It’s maintenance is super easy; the cut kind of looks after itself.
#23 Curly Bob with Soft Volume, Natural and Easy
Even though natural curls and pixie cuts don’t tend to go together, this model pulls it off and wears a mid-length bob beautifully. The modern touch to this haircut comes from the softness in the volume, the curl definition at the ends, and the ends that are not over producted. The layers around here are what allows the curls to pop and not just mush together. It looks like a pretty basic styling job of just some curl cream and THEN diffused, but it probably took a lot of time to get that look just right. The way it frames the face is going to cater to more round and oval shaped faces, but the truth is, most people are going to find this look on them pretty flattering.
#24 Curly Lob with Volume and Definition
This hairstyle is perfect for medium to thick curly hair which is wanting to keep some length. The curls are soft and bouncy, not crunchy with enough definition, and volume is well controlled. The layers also help prevent that triangular shape which curly-haired people will know well. This length is also perfect so you can have it up in a ponytail, or down, and it looks great both ways. To get this style, you do have to invest in some good quality products such as a leave in conditioner and either a gel or mousse to really help with defining the curls. It’s worth the money.
#25 Short Pixie with Light Blonde Highlights
As a final look, we are doing a pixie, and this is a lovely one to close on. The light blonde highlights brighten and add a little more dimension so it doesn’t read as a single flat color, and the layers add texture to create that lightly tussled effect that is super nice. On fine to medium hair, this gives volume and shape without any heaviness, and I would say this cut leans best towards oval and heart-shaped faces, though with fairly minor adjustments, it could suit most people. For day to day styling, it is really low maintenance, you just need some product and your fingers most mornings, but for upkeep, the cuts will need to be done regularly, and the highlights will need to be redone every few months as well if you want to keep them.
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