No one seems to have even tried to name this technique before it became popular. nn Clients request a style that looks undone. They don’t want to fight with the hair on their head to arrange it. The same sorts of haircuts kept coming up. The ones with soft layers, face framing layers, and the ones that have lengths that don’t require you to do anything before you head out the door.
These styles tend to be my favorite because, with them, the hair is working with you. I think of the client I had a couple of years ago. She’d had a blunt bob since her 40s. When I finally got her to agree to have some layers added and some of the edges softened, her expression changed so much. It was like someone meeting an old friend. A hush cut won’t change your life or anything. It will stop you in your tracks, and that’s the aim for women over 50.
#1: Layered Cut with Soft Face-Framing Highlights
The layered haircut gives a balanced look where all the individual pieces sit well together. The length is just above or at the shoulder which prevents too much hair from weighing it down and creating a flat look. The highlights are natural and understated, keeping the look from being too salon-y. The gentle layering helps create the appearance of fullness and the desired lightweight and airy look. It’s a simple style and the most maintenance involved would be using a round brush to shape it.
#2 Casual Textured Lob with Soft Waves
I like this style because it doesn’t pretend to be something else. The waves are soft, the length is good, and the layers add just enough to the cut so people don’t think it’s a style they settled for. It works especially well for fine hair because the texture creates an illusion of volume and the shoulder length is where the gravity isn’t pulling the hair down. The face framing is more natural than structural which is why the cut is so easy to throw on every day without the need to restyle it every morning.
#3 Chestnut Layered Cut with Warm Waves
This haircut worsk great with thick and wavy hair. The layers add some bulk to the hair, and create an effect where the hair retains enough weight while the waves hold their shape. This is quite the technical feat! Chestnut is a warm color and has a rich depth that blends with evolving greys instead of clashing with them. The style, color, and waves will require some upkeep to keep the look intentional. The effort will reflect the payoff in sophistication that is not too stiff, which is exactly the goal.
#4 Sable-Toned Layered Bob
The first thing that caught my eye was the use of color. The illusion of density is created by the darker roots and lighter ends, a trick that a cut alone cannot achieve. For anyone suffering from thinning hair, this is more valuable than any product on the shelf. The bob is also balanced, resting above the shoulders with just the right amount of layering to form movement, but not too much to lose structure. The style complements the hair’s natural wave, so it’s an easy look to achieve with air-drying. The lighter ends will need more frequent color maintenance than the roots, so keep that in mind.
#5 Copper Tousled Waves with Natural Roots
The dark roots colour blended into the copper look intentional, instead of looking grown out. I like this choice. If you do not want to spend twenty minutes curling your hair before going to work, the texture is manageable with a scrunch and a diffuser. Although finer hair tends to lack the right amount of body to hold a good texturized spray for this look, medium to thick hair works best for this.
#6 Silver Waves with Soft Layering
This length of hair makes a statement, particularly with a good cut. A good cut is layered to provide volume at the top and middle so it doesn’t get limp or clumpy. For hair that is thinning, this style provides both coverage and movement. This style requires very little maintenance other than the occasional shape-up to keep the layers. The style is stunning both wavy and straight.
#7 Silver Layered Cut with Elegant Waves
The combination of grey tones makes it seem like the color is purposeful from every angle. This compares with silver hair that looks purposeful and silver hair that looks unintentional. The waves add enough volume and softness to the style without going overboard. She has layers around her face which really emphasize her features. This look is very low-maintenance. To touch up the waves after your last hair wash, just curl a few pieces in the front and you’re ready to go.
#8 Soft Layered Cut with Warm Highlights
With this cut it is easy to see how the layers harmonize with the highlights rather than appear separate. The highlights are coordinated with the layered movement so the dimension feels intrinsic to the cut and not like an add on. The length offers versatility, being mid-length that can easily shift from a Monday meeting to a Saturday dinner without any changes. This will give your hair a good look if it is on the finer side while adding texture and visual fullness, though regular trims will be needed to keep the layers purposeful.
#9 Tousled Bronde Bob
The subtle highlights aren’t too harsh and give a natural look as they complement the bronde shade (blonde + brown). The sun will catch the highlights during the summer season giving a stunning effect. The tousled layers create a nice effortless volume. It’s a great option for oval face shapes. To prolong the life of this low maintenance hairstyle, keep sea salt, or other wave-enhancing products handy so that you don’t end up looking like you forgot to brush your hair.
#10 Caramel Cascading Layers
I love warm caramel colors because they look amazing and make the skin look radiant. They also look incredible mixed with layers that cascade to the shoulders. The way the layers are done takes only a bit of weight off the hair so it falls more softly instead of being too heavy if they have medium or thick hair. The angler face shape looks really great with the layering around the face and it’s really soft, so there are so many benefits. Upkeep on the shape and color is definitely a trade off but for a look this alive lots of people consider it a fair trade.
#11 Chestnut Waves with Face-Framing Highlights
The positioning of the highlights transforms this from being a standard nice cut to something really special. The way these highlights are blended with the base chestnut color is remarkable; they look almost 3D and add a lot of visual texture even before factoring in the cut. The added waves make the look even more flattering and will add to the volume if you have medium to thick hair and the length is practical enough to tide you over until your next hair appointment. The color is going to require some maintenance to keep the look fresh and muddy colors will be evident when the ends are not consistently trimmed; however, the added detail will make the maintenance worthwhile.
#12 Silver Bob with Textured Layers
The cool tones here paired with the clean bob are super modern. The layers are a nice touch so that the bob doesn’t get too thick and it gives the hair some nice movement. This color looks especially good on lighter skin tones and keeps the focus on the eyes, which is a nice touch for the cut. For a bob this is about as low maintenance as it gets, but a smoothing serum is for sure going to help the layers look good and control the flyaways.
#13 Silvery-Blonde Waves for a Mature Look
This is one of those styles that advocates for length over fifty. The contemporary layered length and the colour transitions from dark roots to silver tips. The waves also add the fullness fine hair lacks for this length. It is also quite graceful how the hair frames an oval face. I will say that long hair does require more styling for the waves to remain fresh, as you won’t have the ease of wash-and-go styling that comes with a shorter haircut. If you enjoy the styling process, and want your grey hair to stand out rather than something to be tucked away, this style will be great.
#14 Ash Blonde Textured Bob
I like the ash tone because it brightens the face without being too warm. For certain complexions, this is much better than the suggested warm golden blondes. The subtle layers bring fine hair movement without the thin, wispy look that over-layering causes. This is a great daily wear cut for hair that doesn’t need too much styling. Compared to other colors, ash blonde does require a little more maintenance when it comes to brassiness, so incorporating a good purple shampoo into your routine is a must.
#15 Beachy Waves in Caramel Balayage
A balayage looks lovely as it grows out, which is why this caramel one is ideal. Because the roots are left untouched, you can push your salon visit closer than you would with traditional highlights. The volume in this shoulder length cut is great, so the waves will have nice movement and are more pronounced if you have fine or medium hair. For the lighter tones, you will want to use a color safe shampoo, but given the amount of style you have, your maintenance is really low.
#16 Golden Layered Waves
The light waves and golden blonde highlights frame the face and create the illusion of added volume to thin to medium hair. The layers are placed perfectly to highlight the cheekbones and soften the jawline. That’s what you call intention. The test is whether the style looks good at the salon, and then even better four weeks later, and this one passes. The cut is strong enough that it doesn’t need serious upkeep, although you will want to do some work to the waves when they start to lose their definition.
#17 Layered Cut with Soft Highlights for a Natural Look
Let us transform your appearance with a fresh haircut! Our face-framing layers will give your hair more dimension, and subtle highlights will add brightness to your color without it looking different. You’ll be receiving compliments about your hair that people can’t quite identify the reason why, and that is a good thing! Regular haircuts will maintain fresh layers and will be the most beneficial!
#18 Textured Lob with Understated Highlights
I don’t say this often, but a look that works for nearly everyone is this length, soft bob, just sitting above the shoulders. This cut suits all face shapes because the length creates equilibrium. Fine hair also appears fuller because of the subtle soft layers that are left in. The highlights are color balanced to frame the face and draw attention. Bright highlights mean more color maintenance, but the refined, lighter hair paired with low styling effort every day is worth the upkeep.
#19 Tousled Bob with Caramel Highlights
The illusion of thickness works well on finer hair types when getting a bob. This is because the varying tones give the eye more to read, as there is more density. This is also a result of the color of the highlights. The length of the bob also plays a part as it falls around the jawline and the messy texture keeps it from looking too polished. This is the kind of cut that will take you from morning errands with no need to change anything and then out to dinner with friends. While some maintenance on color will be necessary for the caramel to look intentional, the everyday styling is minimal.
#20 Sun-Kissed Tousled Bob with Blended Roots
The blended colors look good. They create a natural depth at the crown of the bob and blend into the lighter hair. It gives the bob some dimension without the obvious grow out stripe that can make highlights look dated. The tousled texture also adds volume to fine hair and the face framing is really flattering. It will just take some time to maintain the highlights and the color will need to be kept fresh. Between appointments this will be super easy to live with.
#21 Chocolate Bob with Subtle Highlights
I can see where the minimalism is coming from on this one. The highlights look understated enough to not compete with the chocolate base, but offer enough tonal variation to make the texture noticeable and interesting. The soft framing layers around the face give the bob structure, and the tousled finish gives it a bit of an edge. This kind of texturing in the fine to medium hair creates a playful movement that a blunt bob just won’t have. You’ll have to style it fairly regularly to keep the shape, but it gives the impression of a low effort cut, while in truth, it likely takes a good amount of effort.
#22 Medium-Length Shag with Soft Highlights
This shag cut’s success comes from the layering. The layers are positioned to add fullness throughout the crown and mid-lengths without the mushrooming effect that shags with bad layering often fall into. The highlights add to the natural dimension of the hair, which gives the hair great lived-in texture. This particular cut works best with fine to medium hair. To maintain the shape of the cut, you should get trims every 6-8 weeks because shag layers that grow out too long lose their purpose.
#23 Shoulder-Length Shag with Soft Layered Texture
The shag hairstyle can be hit or miss, but this one is soft and the shag’s loose pieces and gentle waves create body and structure to fine hair, allowing the layers to provide a perfect face-framing look without any sharp lines. Plus, this shoulder length is super easy to manage. The overall shape is particularly great on oval and heart face shapes. You might need to style the waves to look intentional, but the cut does most of the work!
#24 Textured Bob with Soft Highlights
A good haircut doesn’t always mean a big change and this is a prime example of that. The soft highlights and waves create a more natural texture and feel to the hair. The mid-length is also forgiving and suits most face shapes. For the rounder faces, the longer length and layering help to elongate the features, but it’s subtle and effective. It is a hairstyle that can be mostly ignored. Just a little upkeep is needed to stop the shape from going soft.
#25 Copper Layered Shag
I really like the confident use of copper coloring. A woman over 50 wearing this color is making a statement. It says to not settle for a neutral color. The feathery layers help showcase the cheekbones. They also help to relieve the weight from thinner hair and create the appearance of more volume rather than less. Medium length is really what the hair needs to be. Shoulder length provides versatility without committing to longer hair. Bright copper is one of the worst colors for fading which means you will be signing up for a lot of maintenance if you want it to look intentional. This cut also suits hair that is naturally wavy and of lighter density.
#26 Warm Auburn Layers with Gentle Volume
Thank you for taking the time to tell me how you feel about this particular hairstyle. It is wonderful to hear about someone else’s opinion about this style instead of discussing hair aesthetics. I know what you mean when you talk about the beauty of the auburn tones. The look as a whole is complete with the waves that will frame almost any face shape nicely, and the extra volume at the top from the layers that really help the look. Plus, it is great to hear how the cut actually has a stylistic statement, and how it really lets the hair shine and look its best. It is clear you take pride in this style. As I’m sure you know, cuts that have a lot of layering do tend to require a bit more maintenance with regular trims, and I’m sure that was in your mind when you were considering the next appointment.
#27 Layered Cut with Subtle Bangs
The soft bangs look nice and airy. They break up the space on the forehead and bring focus to the eyes. The layered look in the hair pushes the volume up. You could have fine to medium hair and this cut will feel like it was made just for your hair type. Just as you would like, the bangs and the cut will perform well. You will appear to have made a lot of effort when in reality you did not.
#28 Feathered Layers with Gentle Bangs
Feathering looks soft and creates a flowing effect rather than a rigid one. Those soft bangs are more gentle on the forehead and look especially nice on oval and heart shape faces; the overall shape adds a nice volume, something that fine hair tends to lack. Also, I’ve noticed the light highlights that are scattered throughout and add dimension without requesting a big color commitment. To maintain that look, a few minutes of blow drying with a round brush will be needed, which is little to pay for the effect.
#29 Textured Bob with Soft Face-Framing Layers
My favorite thing about this haircut is that sits just below the chin. It provides a nice facial shape without covering the face. The soft, wavy, and fine layers let the hair do the styling. This is a very youthful look, which is important to have. This will sit and look nice if you style it, but the structure of the cut is good enough that even on a lazy day it’ll hold up to it.
#30 Layered Cut with Textured Waves and Soft Bangs
These bangs gently draw attention to the eyes, and the mid-length layering adds texture and softness throughout the rest of the haircut. This is a great-balanced style for women over 50, giving just enough detail to look completed, but not so much that it becomes high-maintenance. For fine to medium density hair, the waves create volume. A bit of wave-enhancing mouse will be needed to maintain the definition throughout the day, but the styling is otherwise low for the effort you receive in return.
#31 Shoulder-Length Cut with Textured Layers
I like the natural gray highlights. They aren’t vying for attention, they just blend in, and that sort of acceptance gives the whole look an ease that’s hard to fake. The textured layers add fullness to fine to medium hair, and the soft waves create a flattering frame to the face. It’s a low-maintenance style, although the layers will need some attention when they start to lose their definition between cuts.
#32 Layered Cut with Warm Face-Framing Layers
The effect of the golden tones in this cut gives it a nice shine that improves the overall look, and the natural wave adds movement that styling can’t replicate. The face-framing layers are just right to soften features and not overly structure them, which is why this cut is more personal and less generic. The length creates versatility for wearing it down and up. For fine to medium hair, the layering provides more fullness . With this one, stay on top of your trims and the results will always be the same.
#33 Textured Lob with Face-Framing Layers
The warm shade boosts the complexion and brightens the look of the hair without making the overall look dull. The face-framing layers provide enough definition to draw the eyes without being too strong on the features. The body, paired with the texture, gives fine hair something to grab on to, along with the medium length suiting everyone. Soft waves, seen as more youthful, give the look an effortless fresh quality that adds to the style a lot of people like. This style works best for someone who’s after a low maintenance hair styling routine, as it does take some work to keep it looking fresh.
#34 Layered Cut with Gentle Bangs
The soft bangs here do not take over the face, they frame it, which is how good bangs should be. The versatility that comes with shoulder grazing is ample, the type of cut that works just as well tucked behind the ears as it does left loose. The highlights are subtle and make the color warmer in a way that flatters older skin tones, but does not overdo it. The maintenance bangs require does mean that this cut is not for everyone but if you are willing to put in the work it gives you a comfortable and polished style that is easy to live with.
#35 Layered Cut with Gentle Waves
This hairstyle gives a look that is both soft and confident. It can be done on all hair types. The hair looks even and balanced with soft waves and layers. The length of the hair should be just above the shoulders. It is better if the hair is medium or fine because it won’t get too thinned out, which is what creates more movement in the hair. This look is also really good for oval and heart shaped faces, and the soft framing effect is even more flattering. To help the waves to stay longer, a little bit of styling cream should be worked through the hair.
#36 Layered Cut with Bright Face-Framing Highlights
I liked the way the highlights and layers worked on this cut. The depth the highlights added to the cut was great. Instead of just sitting on top as a disconnected piece, they helped incorporate the layers. The soft bangs also help the look become more universal to many face shapes. The medium length hits just right to create versatility without being wishy-washy about the length. This combination of layering and coloring really gives fine to medium hair a lift. Regular upkeep on the layers will keep them sharp and the look intentional.
#37 Layered Cut with Soft Fringes
Fringes are the softest bangs there are – they are delicate enough to break the forehead while adding softness to the look without the bulk that some bangs can have. On fine to medium density hair, this type of fringe gives a great illusion of volume at the front, while the shoulder length layers give enough movement that frame oval and heart shape faces. The very light blonde color is perfect for bringing out the layers and texture in the cut. The good thing about the fringes is that they will need to be trimmed quite a lot to keep them in the right position, but this is a small price to pay for how much of a difference they make to the cut.
#38 Shoulder-Length Layers with Soft Bangs
This Cut is suitable for this hair type. It contains soft bangs, which are not as blunt and harsh, and the layers are voluminous and wavy, creating movement. The shape is balanced well with medium density hair. The versatility of the face framing works with many different face shapes, however, the bangs are the most integral part of the cut, and will need to be maintained often. Bangs can become long, annoying, and, in some cases, very hard to manage in as little as two weeks. Overall, the cut is low maintenance and very forgiving in between appointments.
#39 Layered Cut with Effortless Bangs
This haircut has a well-balanced thoughtful artistic quality with the bangs, the layers and the length. Each element works together without fighting for attention. The overall look is relaxed and effortless. With the hair falling slightly past the shoulders, the layers give a soft texture. Bangs that frame the face but rest gently and don’t overwhelm are also a plus. Instead, the hair can be kept looking fuller with a root volumizer. Fine and medium hair tends to lose fullness with this many layers but this is as low maintenance as it gets for a cut with bangs.
#40 Textured Mid-Length Cut with Wispy Bangs
Those wispy bangs highlight the eyes, and instead of completely covering the forehead, you still get that peek-a-boo look that is great on just about everyone. With soft waves, the layers at mid length will create movement without needing to add tool movement, which is a great plus for air dryers. Fine to medium hair will take this texture best. The layered shape will need some maintenance to remain clean, but you will find daily styling to be quite minimal.
#41 Mid-Length Cut with Soft Framing Layers
The layers around your face add to your natural waves which makes it soft around the features, and to make it everyday you wouldn’t have to add to the construction. The length is practical and flattering, sitting just above the shoulders, with medium-density slight wave holding shape with less than bare minimum. The cut is well enough but highlights would add depth. Some styling is necessary to keep the look polished, but the wave pattern does most of the easy work.
#42 Long Layered Cut with Face-Framing Bangs
The bangs fit the face shape and are not too overwhelming. This indicates that they were cut with the person in mind instead of based on a specific style. Hair of medium to thick density benefits the most from this style of layering as it no longer has that ‘dead weight’ feeling and movement is created that animates the whole cut. The base color of the highlights gives a brightness that refreshes the overall color. Since bangs are one of the first things people notice about a person, they are going to have to be maintained often. Bangs are also one of the first things to go when someone is overdue for a haircut.
#43 Layered Cut with Wispy Bangs
The flowing warm chestnut tones in this cut give off a rich luminosity that looks even better in-person and photographs beautifully. Wispy bangs are cut to fall just so; airy enough to drift and substantial enough to really frame the face. That balance is what sets apart decent bangs from good. Just above the shoulders is a practical length for everyday life, and the slight wave helps the hair’s natural medium density to add body without requiring a lot of complicated styling. While the bangs will require a bit of upkeep every few weeks, the cut itself is very easy to maintain.
#44 Textured Bob with Soft Curls
The soft curls here are a bit more wavy than curly which keeps the overall look more modern and effortless. The layered bob gives structure without being too stiff. The face framing is excellent for softening the jawline and is flattering for a variety of face shapes. This length and texture works great for hair that is fine to medium and strikes the right balance between styled and relaxed. Regular maintenance on the curls will be necessary to keep them fresh, but the cut will give you the freedom to go without styling for a while.
#45 Long Layers with Soft Curtain Bangs
Curtain bangs are in style and this is a great example of how to do them nicely. They separate of their own accord and outline the face without the cloying effect that is too common. They blend into the layers so seamlessly that the transition from bang to length is totally unnoticeable. For fine to medium hair density, the light layering keeps the volume, and the length creates movement. Those subtle highlights really do the job. They bring dimension to the color that makes it feel multi-tonal, even from far away. The upkeep for this hairdo is actually pretty moderate, and the bangs give you a lot of bang for your buck. They need a little shape, but the rest of the cut grows out really nicely.
#46 Elegant Layered Cut with Textured Bangs
Your stylist will use ‘feathering’ which adds an extra dimension to the style which basic layering won’t achieve. This technique creates a lightness and movement making mid-length hair more dynamic. Soft bangs suit beautifully and the shape light highlights are soft enough to enhance the texture and not over complicate the color. This approach really adds volume to fine to medium hair types. To be honest though, it will take some maintenance to achieve this ‘effortless’ look. A couple of minutes with a round brush and dryer will keep everything looking how it’s supposed to between appointments.
#47 Soft Textured Cut with Light Bangs
This haircut is great for those who have chosen to embrace their natural gray hair. The soft bangs and layers around the face look purposeful and modern. Plus, the soft finishing touches add movement to the haircut, which complements heart-shaped faces. For fine to medium density hair, this shape is incredibly easy to achieve with minimal effort in styling. It just sort of *is*. It’s a cut that shows you know what you’re doing, and that’s the most appealing thing someone can show.
#48 Layered Cut with Volume-Building Bangs
The bangs here are so thick that they really create a focal point right at the top of the face, emphasizing the eyes and giving the entire cut some purpose and direction. On fine density hair, that type of thickness in the bang and crown area makes a big difference in how full the hair looks overall. The highlights are subtle enough that they add dimension to the hair without changing the overall look of the hair color. You will have to consider how much maintenance you want to keep that volume, because fine hair will need a root lifting spray or something like that to hold the shape throughout the day.
#49 Copper Layered Cut with Soft Face-Framing
Warm shades of copper hair color can either work or not work at all in making your face and skin look warm and radiant, and in this case, it works magic. The layers are masterfully done to give volumetric illusion to fine hair without leaving empty gaps, and the face framing layers are soft enough to flatter positionally round, oval and all other shapes. Having hair cut to mid length gives you the freedom to style your hair in multiple ways. One thing to consider when making your decision though is that the copper hues will need more maintenance than the cooler colors.
#50 Textured Shag with Modern Waves
This shag is a perfect mix of edge without being too childish for the wearer. The soft waves are great for adding personality, while the layered structure for volume will work great for those with fine to medium density hair. The hair falls at a just below shoulder length so it will be easy to manage and style. The cut will do a lot of the work, especially with the natural texture of your hair. An even texture paste applied through the mid-lengths will keep the waves defined, but even without it the cut still has so much shape to stand out.
#51 Layered Cut with Soft Textured Bangs
I like the bangs because they look like they are part of the haircut. They look like a good add on. They make the haircut look better. The overall layered style gives fine hair a lot of volume. It can feel full and healthy. The highlights look good in the sun and in the pictures. If you want to get this haircut, just know that you will have to style the bangs and the waves. You will have to do some work, but it will look like you didn’t.
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