I remember one of my clients who is seventy-three years old. She had grown her hair long for two years to avoid people thinking she had ”given up” on her appearance. I understand this fear. I’ve noticed that there is a fear of being considered less valuable due to their appearance. While I appreciated my client for this mentality, I must say that my favourite haircuts I have done for women over seventy have actually been for those women who feel more ‘themselves’ after that haircut. It had never been less effort, it had just been so much more of their personality.
I spent a lot of time thinking how I would ask older women with short hair about something that is not a compromise. What I have come to understand is that a good haircut for a woman in her seventies can do so much more than having long hair. Short hair can open a space around the face and reflect the light that looks good. Hair that moves looks intentional, and for that reason, I have come to love the short hair that older women have. I have loved many of the short haircuts that I have chosen to share with you, and I loved doing these haircuts time and time again. I want to say that these haircuts are low key, but that does not mean they look boring.
#1: Layered Bob That Catches the Light Just Right
This is one of those haircuts that doesn’t need anything extreme to be stylish. It’s chin-length with soft layers, and a shape that says you’ve been somewhere exciting lately. The layers create movement, which is fantastic when your hair is on the finer side. It adds a lot of body. I think it’s great that there’s a light color around here, but I have to say, a pale, icy, or very blonde shade around your face means you’re going to get very chummy with your colorist.
#2 Silver-Toned Pixie with a Little Attitude
I can’t even describe how excited I get when I get a pixie haircut. The texture is EVERYTHING- those choppy layers give the illusion of movement in the hair, even if you haven’t done anything to it this morning. The silver highlights in the hair bring out the softer features and fair skin in a flattering way, without drawing attention to the skin. You will most definitely need to come in for trims more often than you think to keep the look precise, but the time you save on styling your hair excused the time spent in the salon to maintain the look.
#3 Silver Bob with Feathered Ends That Move Beautifully
The beauty of this style is in its simple elegance. The feathered layers are literally super lightweight. That certainly is an asset when working with finer hair. I love this length as it is really nice sitting at the level of the jaw. Ideal as it is long enough to tuck behind the ear yet short enough to style out! Just something to consider, fine hair at this length can after a while look rather flat and lacking movement, especially by the afternoon. A bit of texturizing spray worked through the mid-lengths should definitely help with that!
#4 Cropped Pixie with the Prettiest Silver Undertones
This hairstyle allows your face to do all of the talking. It shortens the hair enough so that the eyes become the center of attention, and that’s great. I like the subtle layers around the crown because they add some lift to the hair, if it were to sit flat against the head. This is the look I would recommend to anyone with fine hair who has been apprehensive about going this short. It has natural volume without the need for too much styling.
#5 Cropped and Bright with Soft Silver Dimension
I like this safe style because it works for running errands on a Tuesday morning but is also nice enough to go out to dinner. The layers keep it from looking one-dimensional and the highlights add nice dimension. I wouldn’t say this is the most exciting cut but it’s very good and will work for daily use. A trim every five to six weeks will keep this looking good.
#6 Curly Bob That Feels Effortlessly Fun
If you have some natural wave/curl in your hair, then this will help bring that out! The crown area of your head also has good volume which helps you look youthful, and the jawline length is very good with curls. The curls will help frame your face instead of just falling. You will want to use some curl cream while your hair is still damp (scrunch it in) and then leave it alone. The less you touch it while it dries, the better it will turn out!
#7 Clean Blunt Bob with a Soft Fringe
It’s all about the bangs! n nWithout bangs, this would just be another bob, but with a soft fringe across the forehead, it adds a little something extra. This style is polished without being stiff. The blunt ends are densing and super flattering if you have thinner hair because they create volume. n nIf we’re being honest, bangs are a risk and a commitment. The grow really fast, and in three weeks they will be poking you in the eyes! So, you have to be prepared to do a lot of trimming on your own or come in for some bang trimming appointments.
#8 Side-Swept Bob with a Natural Silver Glow
Depending on if you let it air dry or use a round brush while blow drying, you can pair this style with a morning walk or more dressy occasions. I love the romantic look of the side swept fringe, and the soft layers provide movement without the ends looking wispy. It’s stunning with grey hair because the different layers reflect light in various directions.
#9 Soft Textured Crop with Height at the Crown
If your face is rounder, and you are wondering what cut would be the most flattering, I would honestly send you here. Height at the crown helps to elongate everything, plus the textured layers keep it from looking like a structured helmet. The color on this one is also really pretty, that soft pale color shows the texture nicely. You might want a dab of lightweight mousse at the roots to maintain that lift throughout the day, but other than that, this style is pretty low maintenance.
#10 Voluminous Silver Pixie with a Wave Through It
I love how this looks! The waves are romantic and soft, and there are no harsh lines which is impressive for hair this length. The wave details create the illusion of more hair and are great for those with fine hair. I don’t think people understand how transformative twists are on a pixie.
#11 Textured Short Cut with a Soft Sweep
This haircut is nice and quiet which means it’s not too loud and the subtlety is appreciated! The side sweep across the forehead layering softens everything and gentle layering at the crown gives just enough body to keep it from looking flat (or “too far gone” as the kids say) In salon terms, this is a cut where people aren’t likely to pinpoint what changed – they’ll just think you look really well rested and put together.
#12 Feathered Pixie in the Prettiest Silver
The feathering is impressive and the fact that every layer moves independently gives the cut a lot of energy, considering how short it is overall. What strikes me the most is how luminous the silvery color is and that is just from the light reflecting off the layers rather than from the color being flat. If you have fine hair, this kind of feathered texture will give you the best results because it creates the illusion of fullness through movement instead of bulk. A tiny bit of flexible wax on the ends will keep the pieces separated and defined.
#13 Textured Pixie with Just a Whisper of Highlights
I appreciate the soft highlights that don’t fight against the natural gray and just add depth so the cut doesn’t appear too one-dimensional. The layers and shape seem well balanced, and I think they sit close enough to the head to feel intentional, but not so tight that it feels masculine. The fine hair works to your advantage here as it allows the layers to blend seamlessly.
#14 Short Crop with Subtle Texture and a Modern Edge
This cut looks like it does its job well. Of course the layers are what makes it not plain, and the highlighted focusses dimension. I also find this shape on rounder faces most flattering because it draws the eye up and elongates the face. It’s not the most exciting cut in this collection, but for how easy it is to achieve the look and how polished it is, I’d recommend it.
#15 Short Curly Cut That Lets Your Texture Shine
Oh this is the one where I’d be grinning in the mirror with you! When someone has natural curl and they let it do its thing at a shorter length like this, the results are just gorgeous. The silver highlights give each curl its own little moment. The length sitting just above the ears keeps it feeling fresh without losing all that beautiful texture. Curls at this length spring up in a way that creates incredible volume, so you actually don’t need to do much at all. A small amount of curl gel scrunched through while it’s wet, and then walk away.
#16 Gently Curved Bob with Airy Layers
How classy is this look. The bob shape creates a strong frame around the chin while also projecting a sense of confidence and sophistication. The layers are so subtle, but give the hair a touch of movement. On finer hair, those layers are super important to keep the bob from feeling heavy or too blunt at the ends. I would even love to see some face framing pieces a couple of shades lighter than the warm tones in this hair, maybe a soft champagne – just to draw a little more contrast around the eyes.
#17 Short Layered Cut with Easy, Everyday Texture
This cut is truly effortless. It has a clean look and has perfect layering that will fall into place and frame your face. Your styling routine will be super quick because the cut does most of the work. If you want to be able to look great without spending a lot of time on your hair then this is where I would suggest starting. This style is great for fine hair because the layers create a lot of volume and form well.
#18 Pixie with Gentle Layers and a Little Extra at the Crown
The crown on this pixie cut is slightly longer, which I think makes a big difference. It gives you a little more to work with up top for a little height and some movement, while the sides stay clean and close. With finer hair and lower density hair, I think that kind of strategic layering kind of creates an illusion of thickness, which I find really satisfying. It’s a cut that doesn’t require a lot of you day to day, although to keep the shape sharp you will need to get trims every four to five weeks.
#19 Softly Curled Bob with a Healthy Sheen
The shine in this hair is such a lovely and radiant beauty, and that sort of luminosity is not simply happenstance. Whoever is responsible for this hair is clearly doing something right, and it most likely has to do with a really good hydrating mask weekly. The delicate soft curls, which rest just above the shoulders, are very fluid, and the lighter shade is a lovely illuminating touch to the entire face. It is a style that is effortless, yet it does require some level of maintenance. You would want to set those curls with a large-barrel iron or rollers and let them cool before shaking them out. It is worth the few extra minutes.
#20 Face-Framing Bob with Soft Layered Movement
This haircut will work well with a rounder face since it adds length without overly extending any specific area. The face framing layers create a downwards illusion and give a gentle and soft slimming effect to the face. The style works well with very fine and straight hair as it lays nicely and does not oppose the shape of the cut. The only thing to note is that fine hair of this length can look limp and lifeless especially if it goes a while without being washed.
#21 Asymmetrical Pixie with a Confident Shape
I appreciate that I can see how this one could take some nerve. The asymmetry, shorter in the back and longer as it comes forwards, gives it a sense of direction and purpose that I especially love. It’s not a huge asymmetry, it’s just enough to feel modern without being a statement haircut that you have to live up to every day. The silver tone is very pretty and will suit a lot of different skin tones. If you have had your hair longer and you want to do something really different, this one will feel exciting without being too crazy.
#22 Soft Blunt Bob with Textured Ends
This bob has received a special touch with added texture to keep it interesting through the added personality. The length is quite wearable as it is long enough to still have some play but is short enough to save on drying time. This style in particular is very intentional with a sleek look for fine, straight hair. Because the hair is cut so well, it’s best to go to a stylist who is great with detailed blunt cuts, as this will really elevate the look.
#23 Silver Lob with Waves at the Ends
Lobs are ideal for women wanting something short-ish without full commitment to a pixie or chin length bob. This one is just above shoulder length which I believe works on most face shapes. The ends are slightly wavy which prevents the look from being blunt or heavy while showing off the gorgeous color. The layers are light enough to keep the ends thick, just enough to give the hair a little movement.
#24 Blunt Bob with a Quiet Fringe
This is a style for people who prefer a neat and minimalistic cut. The soft fringe barely touches the eyelids so there’s no need to worry about upkeep. The blunt edge provides structure and definition. The medium length allows for a nice sit regardless of whether you blow out the hair straight/smooth, or let it dry in its natural state. Ideally, the cut works best for straight and fine hair, as this allows the geometry to really shine. It’s clean and simple, which is why I think it takes a lot of confidence to pull this off.
#25 Layered Pixie with Gentle Framing
Thank you for the feedback, and I appreciate your comments on the softness of the finishing note as well as how great pixies can look at their best – soft and flattering and completely unfussy. The finest of the delicate layers create just enough texture to look like nothing is flat. Further, the fall of the pieces around the face adds warmth to the shape as a whole. Especially fine hair which shows every bit of movement beautifully, really responds well to this sort of layered pixie. I enjoy this cut’s ability to be modern without being edgy; it’s simply a clean, well considered cut and I think it would look lovely on a wide variety of women.
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