Choosing a good hair style can be difficult to achieve, but it is particularly challenging for women over 50 if they want to look good but also want a hair style that is easy to maintain. For women over 50, layered shags offer a great balance because they can be easily tailored to suit individual preferences. In this article, we will show you 24 of the most popular, easy to style layered shag options for women over 50.
Since bad examples of layered shags exist, some people can look much older than they actually are, at least older than they would after a bad night’s sleep. At the same time, a good layered shag can have the opposite effect, putting them in a good mood! A while ago, I had this one client who was a 54-year-old grandmother. She had sported a blunt bob style for decades. She was concerned that having layers would look too juvenile and messy. We eventually convinced her to try a soft shag, and I received a text from her a couple of days later with a photo of a dinner party, and she said that 3 people asked her if she had had work done. It was just hair movement.
A layered shag cut does not work with your hair, it works against it. This is especially true for women over fifty, as the hair has become much coarser. With these styles, some will be an effortless, wash-and-go type of style, whereas some will require a bit more time in the morning, and I’ll let you know which are which. So let’s dive in!
#1: A Silver Bob with Soft Layers and Just Enough Wave
I like this style in particular because it sits just above the shoulders. That length is perfect because you still get movement without it being so long that it drags everything down with it. The waves are soft and the layering gives a lot of volume which is really forgiving if your hair has thinned out a little over the years. Silvers like this are super nice but I won’t lie to you. Keeping it as bright and even as yours is gonna mean regular toner appointments. When it’s fresh, it glows. Everything about it is modern but not like it’s trying too hard and that’s exactly what you want.
#2 A Soft Lob with Side Bangs in Silver
I would suggest this haircut for clients who do not want a drastic change but want a cut that feels a little lighter and more purposeful. What really helps with this style are the side bangs, they soften the face around the eyes and temples. The layers throughout the hair also help to break up the solid block look. This is a great style for finer hair because less styling is required. The cut provides enough movement that there is no need to spend twenty minutes round brushing the hair to get movement. Some styling will definitely be necessary, but it can look really nice even with minimal effort.
#3 A Shoulder-Length Silver Shag with Face-Framing Bangs
This style looks fun! The bangs are nice and will not feel bulky or end up feeling blunt because they fall to frame the style nicely. The length is to the shoulders which helps create easy bounce. With these layers movement will be given even on fine hair types. If you want a smooth and neat style this may not be the one for you though. Shags are meant to be lived in. The idea of this style is to have fun with the texture and you will!
#4 A Warm Auburn Bob with Texture and Soft Waves
I love this color! Auburn is gorgeous, and this shade is classy and doesn’t look costume-y. It even makes the skin look warmer, especially those with pink or golden undertones. The cut is a textured bob that sits just above the shoulders. The layering should be just enough to keep people interested. This will take some work with a curling iron to get those waves, or some mousse and a good scrunch should do the trick. But the color really is the star of the show, and I just wish more women over 50 would consider going warm instead of the typical blonde or gray defaults.
#5 A Mid-Length Shag with Wispy Bangs and Textured Ends
This is awesome because it looks like an effort was made when it has that “just woke up” face. The bangs are not too wispy, so you don’t have to commit to a full bang look, and the ends are nice with the cut too. The best thing about this cut is how the different lengths see me work together, and there are no lines showing where one layer is cut and another is added. Because all the elements work together, the cut looks good on most face shapes. The ends will require a bit of product, but other than that it is low maintenance.
#6 A Layered Silver Shag with Soft Bangs and Natural Texture
This haircut will accentuate your hair’s natural texture and waves, and the layers will further boost the effect. The bangs are soft and a little on the playful side, and being a little imprecise means they won’t look too stiff. There is a lot of movement created by the length, and the color is lovely. I think if your hair is very fine and very straight this may not give you quite the same effect unless you style it, as the wave in the model’s hair is doing a lot of the work. If you have any kind of natural bend at all, this haircut will be gorgeous and require pretty much no upkeep.
#7 A Blonde Layered Shag with Gentle Face-Framing Pieces
For someone who likes the idea of having layers but doesn’t want to feel like they’ve had a whole “hair cut,” I like this style. It’s soft, and the face framing pieces are soft so it all flows together really nicely. The blonde is warm and light, so it’s not too harsh. If your hair is fine, just a heads up: be sure to use some volumizing mousse or some root lift to keep it from falling flat by the afternoon. But for a cut that looks nice and doesn’t require a lot from you in the morning, this is good.
#8 A Platinum Pixie with Textured Layers and Wispy Ends
If you have thought about going short, this may be the style for you! The movement created by the layers and the ends helps the style stay away from the head and fall flat. The shade may not be for everyone, and platinum can be pretty bold, and not everyone will be able to pull it off. Because this shade can go brassy and damaged really quickly, you need to make sure your colorist is experienced. With a cut this short, you will have to get touch ups every four to five weeks, but morning routines will be practically nothing. All you have to do is toss and go.
#9 A Copper Layered Shag with Soft Waves at the Shoulders
I have a huge soft spot for copper hair—and this particular shade of copper is warm, beautiful, and lively! This shade does something for people’s complexion that cooler shades just can’t compete with. The shag is a shoulder-length style with soft wave detail that looks like you slept on a braid, yet still wakes up looking fabulous. The layers are fantastic for fine to medium hair, as they really enhance any natural movement you have. I’ll be honest: copper hair colours fade really quickly! So, to keep that fresh copper appearance, you’ll need a color-depositing shampoo to keep it looking good between appointments. Otherwise, you’ll be dealing with a muted brown fade sooner than you expect.
#10 A Blonde Layered Shag with Soft Bangs and Subtle Texture
This shag is a timeless classic and versatile enough for looks at the office and casuals such as errands and lunch with friends. The bangs are soft and easy, and the texturing is nice, making thick hair a lot less heavy while giving finer hair more body. The face framing layers are flattering and subtle, and that’s always a win for me. The bangs will need a more regular trim (maybe every three weeks or so) but the upkeep on the rest of the cut is pretty chill.
#11 An Ash Blonde Feathered Shag with Light Bangs
The feathered bangs look fun and effortless and keep the look feeling dynamic and active rather than stagnant. I also think the ash blonde is a really clever choice. It’s one of those colors that blends with growing gray and doesn’t fight it, so you’ll end up spending less time and money at the salon. The length sits at the shoulders, and layering throughout helps it float and move. If your hair is medium to fine in density, this will be great as is. You won’t have to do much to it to get it to behave. Just regular trims to keep the layers from growing into each other will be enough.
#12 A Curly Layered Shag That Basically Styles Itself
You must pay attention if your hair has a natural curl. This is the type of cut that works with how your hair grows instead of just ignoring your texture. It has layers that enable the curls to flow freely as opposed to being weighed down, or worse going triangular like how curly hair gets cut with no layers. It does a great job of framing the face and the whole look really gives off a super nice vibe. A curl cream will definitely help with keeping definition and cutting down on frizz, but this look is super low-maintenance because the curl really does all the work.
#13 A Black Layered Shag with Wispy Bangs and Subtle Back Layers
I think this cut is really interesting, especially the layers at the back. They look overall quite modern unlike the cut at first glance. The bangs make the front look really soft, and the face-framing pieces are really classic and pretty, but then at the back there is more structural layering which adds some really nice edge to whole cut. On finer hair, the layers help create more volume, which is nice and I feel this would look good on so many people. I think it would be best to use a flat iron, as well as a round brush, to help keep the layers looking more intentional than messy, especially on day two hair. This should look really nice.
#14 A Silver-Lavender Layered Shag with Soft Bangs
On this one, we have a beautiful silvery lavender color. I won’t act like it’s a simple task to achieve. But when it’s done right, it’s stunning. The shag is of medium length and includes soft bangs. There’s nothing complicated about the cut. The best part about it is that it creates a lot of volume and movement which is great. This lavender color is much more reflective than a silver or gray. I appreciate that quality a lot. You are going to need touch ups more often and purple shampoo will become your best friend.
#15 A Burgundy Layered Shag with Warmth and Movement
Burgundy is a color that a lot of people either love or hate, and I think more women should try it . This shade is warm and brownish so it tends to come off as less punk and more interesting. This goes with a medium length shag and soft bangs and some layers framing the face. With this color, the layers really pop with all the dimension. This hairstyle is most ideal for oval and round face shapes. The downside of this color is that like all red shades, it fades. This means you would need to be commited to regular touch up appointments or be okay with the color settling into a warm brown before appointments.
#16 A Golden Layered Shag with Feathered Bangs and Highlights
This golden tone is gorgeous! It is warm, and the highlights in the layers catch the light beautifully and make the cut more dimensional. Better yet, the bangs are not heavy and out of style, and the length is easy to maintain since it is above the shoulders. The layers create the right amount of volume in fine to medium hair so it doesn’t fall flat. More effort goes into styling feathered bangs and layers as opposed to a blunt cut, so you will likely roundbrush and blow dry most mornings. That said, the shape and movement you achieve are worth the extra work.
#17 A Beachy Textured Shag with Soft Waves Just Above the Shoulders
This hairstyle is perfect for that post-holiday look you want; the one where your hair dries naturally in the salty sea air. It is the ideal fantasy look. The waves look effortless while layers are cut to perfection. They keep you feeling light and breezy and having the right hair length means you can rock more low maintenance styles. Fine hair? This cut is for you. The texture created from the cut makes it look like you have way more hair. Sea salt spray is perfect for those days when you hair just isn’t feeling it, and will give you the effortless waves you desire. Not that you’ll need it though. This cut falls perfectly on it’s own.
#18 A Layered Shag with Face-Framing Strands and Subtle Highlights
I really like this hairstyle. It frames the face, and is milder and more subtle. The rough balancing looks amazing, and is just slightly above the shoulders. Thanks to the layers, this hairstyle is full of life. The highlights make this hairstyle appear to have more dimensions than the typical two that solid medium length hair is. This haircut is nice and practical, allowing people to look nice without having to put in too much effort. It looks good with most hair textures and face shapes.
#19 A Brown Layered Shag with Curtain Bangs and Natural Wave
Curtain bangs are not going out of style any time soon, especially with shags like these. They fall to the sides and are very forgiving because they grow out gracefully. Blunt bangs will look awkward at the three-week mark, but curtain bangs won’t. There are lots of layers that will blend the long and short pieces to create movement, and if you have any natural waves, they will work beautifully with this cut. The richness of this brown hair color looks natural with nothing complicated about the color. You will want regular trims to keep the shape looking fresh, but this cut will be easy to wear in between appointments.
#20 A Softly Layered Shag with Delicate Highlights and Textured Waves
It’s discreet and effortless; the type of cut that lets you look good without all the fuss. The layers are gentle and subtle and frame the face softly. They are perfect for oval and heart shapes. The highlights are very natural and provide just the right amount of warmth and dimension without making it obvious that you are trying to go blonde. Length cut at the shoulder makes it a breeze. It gives the fine hair the volume it needs. This is really easy to maintain and you wouldn’t even need to touch the ends. Just a little bit of light hair oil would be great.
#21 A Curly Layered Cut That Gives You Volume Without the Effort
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#22 A Copper Shag with Layers That Blend Like a Dream
Another copper, and I’m not sorry because this shade works for so many people. I especially love how on this cut the layers blend to the longer lengths so fluidly, no chop, no abrupt transitions, it just flows. The soft bangs also frame the face beautifully, and the overall shape is really easy to style. This works with fine to medium textures because the layers give volume without looking thin at the ends. Yes, regular maintenance will be needed to prevent the layers from losing their form, but that’s true for most shags, and for copper, as I’ve said before, color maintenance is not ideal, the fades and the color just don’t work, so plan for that.
#23 A Short Layered Pixie with a Soft Fringe
Because of the numerous style options and the phenomenal flow, this cut is super easy to maintain. The cut has a layered, volumizing crown, which shapes the hair, and the simple fringe softens the look. It’s particularly flattering with finer textures; the hair stays off the scalp because the volume is just right. It’s astonishing how low maintenance this look is, given how much volume and shape it has. The upkeep is the trade-off, as with all pixie cuts. Without trims every four weeks, the shape will be lost. If you’re willing to put in this effort, the cut is super easy to maintain.
#24 A Light Gray Textured Pixie with Soft Volume and Highlights
This cut is a great way to accentuate gray hair, and the texture and layers give the color dimension rather than a flat and washed out look. It’s also a lot more intentional and chic. The face framing layers soften the jawline while the highlights break up the solid color and offer variation. On fine hair that means more volume and thickness in the layers which is a concern with shorter styles. As with any pixie cut, regular trims are a must, but the styling is nearly no effort at all. I’d consider a bit of matte paste worked through with fingers a pretty good trade off.
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