A great pixie cut can make a person look up to a decade younger. What’s even more fascinating is the change in a woman’s energy after she gets a haircut that fits her lifestyle. One of my clients from last year was 56 years old and hadn’t updated her shoulder length layered haircut from when her daughter had a bat mitzvah. When she sat in my chair she said, “I don’t even know what I want. I just know this isn’t it anymore.” We decided to do something a little different! I would say it was still a long haircut, but it was enough for her to move past the point of hiding behind her hair and personalized her style. Three days after the appointment, I received a text from her saying that she was complimented by a stranger at the grocery store and started tearing up. It is often forgotten that the goal isn’t to appear younger, but to reflect how you desire to in that moment.
I have compiled a variety of recommendations for women in their 50s that include a range of hair styles, bold colors, and subtle highlights. Most of these styles don’t require a lot of maintenance. I strive to include a wide variety of options because the ‘best haircut’ doesn’t exist for women over 50, but rather the best haircut exists for each individual based on their face shape, hair texture, and willingness to use a round brush. Let’s go!
#1: Blue-Black Textured Pixie with Feathered Crown
People see a pixie cut that short this and think to themselves, “never in a million years.” That’s completely understandable, but hear me out. If you have an oval face with fine, medium, and decent density hair, this is going to look amazing on you. The longer crown section gets razor texture and moves beautifully. And with the nape and temple areas clipped shorter, it looks super good as well. And the best part? The crown’s cowlick gets to be seen! You’re not fighting it but using it to get some lift! A blue-black glaze adds shine and blends grays to make the look seamless. Just keep in mind this cut will ask for something almost every morning. Not much is required but some texturizing paste and a bit of finger shaping will be necessary. You really can’t skip that part.
#2 Soft Textured Chin-Length Bob with Feathered Fringe
This style gives off the impression that it was done totally naturally, as if she just rolled out of bed and her hair decided to look that good. Of course, this isn’t the case, but that’s the impression we’re going for. The chin-length bob with a soft, feathered fringe is doing a lot to raise the face, and it adds movement to the hair while keeping it all light. This will help balance the overall shape. The point cut layers with short stacked nape layer add a lot of volume; if you have fine to medium hair and it’s wavy, your hair will look like this with just a diffuser and round brush. Be prepared to babysit the fringe. If your hair is really coarse or heavy, we will definitely have to come up with something else. If you want to go even further, a subtle root smudge with some low lights underneath would add dimension to this.
#3 Voluminous Layered Chin-Length Bob with Soft Face-Framing Highlights
I feel so happy when I see people get internally graduated haircuts. They see their hair looking ‘flat’ or ‘poofy’ and have no idea why. This one has an internal graduation with a stacked nape and longer face-framing pieces that lift at the jawline. The difference is wild. We’d remove weight by point cutting then add some light texturizing shears, and do micro-balayage with a root smudge so that the color has depth instead of looking flat and single-process. This works beautifully on fine to medium wavy hair. A round brush blowout with some root lift product to hold the shape is essential. The highlights do mean regular color appointments, but the payoff is a silhouette that looks fuller and brighter without any heaviness.
#4 Soft Brushed Pixie with Long Side Fringe and Root Smudge
When I see this haircut, I picture a specific customer. She’s a busy woman who doesn’t have time to style her hair for 30 minutes, but she still wants her hair to look like it was styled. This would be a good look for her with a short pixie cut that is right above the ear with a long side fringe that goes over the forehead. The graduated crown and tapered nape cut off all of the bulk in the back. The diagonal part towards the crown is good because it hides some thinning at the temples, common for women in their 50s, and is not something they want to talk about. A subtle root-smudge lowlight gives a bit of color, but isn’t very noticeable so you won’t have to upkeep it too often. Hair styling will be super quick so you just need a round brush flick and then add a bit of light paste and you’ll be ready to go. This cut best suits straight or slightly wavy hair and if your hair is really tight and curly then this isn’t the cut for you.
#5 Short Curly Asymmetrical Pixie with Face-Framing Highlights
It’s so satisfying to see the excitement and happiness on the faces of my clients with curly hair and see how short they can go with their hair. Just seeing their expressions change when they see how great their curls look short is so rewarding. I did my first asymmetrical pixie on this client and I love it. The nape is microtapered to about ear height to the crown and she wanted to keep it a bit longer. The internal layers came out so good and I love how they spring and bounce so perfectly. Her curls came out so good because my curls were about 3A curl type which is amazing. The root shadow and golden low lights are gorgeous. The golder low lights are so soft and understated and she has some great dimension too. For her oval face shape, this is so perfect and it covers her temple thinning so good. You might want to try a curl cream and a diffuser to get her light spirals to look their best. Plus, you can expect an occasional toning to keep the highlights from looking brassy. Once you get the daily routine down it will be so easy. The effort to maintain the highlights is really not that bad at all.
#6 Copper Curly Pixie with Textured Crown and Micro-Tapered Sides
This look is phenomenal. Natural 3B/3C curls and copper color combined with freckles is just too good. This is about a crown length pixie with micro tapered sides. And this is a dry cut, period. nnPoint cutting and precise clipper tapers at the crown is what keeps the cut from looking too boxy around the parietal ridge. That’s the number one mistake I see with curly pixies; they cut the curls wet and the end result is a shape nobody planned for. The lift is really noticeable and the softness of the curls is even better. nnThe only real downside is that red fades faster than most colors, so you’ll need demi-gloss refreshes in between appointments. But it’s totally worth it.
#7 Pastel Rose-Silver Feathered Pixie with Micro Fringe
Women over 50 look particularly stylish and sophisticated in pastel shades. In contrast, 22-year-olds tend to look childish and costume-like. I am obsessed with this super short pixie whose bangs look incredible with a rose silver shadow root. It is stunning on straight, fine hair that has medium density. It looks best on medium density and oval face shapes. It lacks bulk but gives a lot of movement and texture. I should note that pastels have a quick fade and can look dull in just a couple of weeks. You may have to visit the salon frequently in order to glaze the color and then you may have to use a toner at home. If you want fullness at the sides of the face, this haircut won’t do that.
#8 Short Textured Crop with Lifted Crown and Piecey Bangs
This cut takes so much technique because if the point cutting is off the crown will have too much weight and that will never be a good look. If point cutting is done correctly, the crown will give a nice lifted airy shape and will be flattering with piecey bangs that sit just above the eyes. This cut is great on oval to heart shaped faces, and works best on fine to medium straight hair with a medium density. This includes internal layering that adds body where it’s needed. This cut will also work with a natural crown cowlick which will also disguise mild thinning (without it looking like that’s what it’s trying to do). This cut is great because it won’t take much effort to style with just a round brush, some light texturizing paste, and daily root shaping for that maximum lift.
#9 Rounded Copper-Toned Curly Crop with Face-Framing Layers
I’m considering how to remove weight and with this much bulk, I need to figure out how to prevent a pyramid shape. It comes down to how I place the layers. This look complemented with chin-length rounded bob styles and 3C to 4A curls, will require some soft face framing layers, and warm copper root shadowing will also be needed to look more natural. It must be dry cut with pivot point layering so that the perimeter remains soft and I will need to diffuse it to ensure the right amount of curl is there. With this curl pattern, it’s helpful to know the difference in actual length. The moisture needs are significantly higher and the copper will fade sooner than desired, but the shape will be easy to maintain between appointments.
#10 Textured Chin-Grazing Angled Bob with Deep Side Sweep
The angled bob looks really cute! The diagonal slicing in the front gives the illusion of lifting the cheek line which is such a neat trick. Not everyone will notice that detail, but the impact will be felt by all. This style has a chin length angled bob with a side sweep and soft internal razor texturing along with a light stacked nape for added volume in the back. It is most suitable for medium to fine waved hair with medium density. Keep in mind that it isn’t a wash and wear style. The effort to style it is worth it, as it will look great with a round brush and a lot of texturing products along with some blow drying. It has a solid dark glaze, which means the roots will be more noticeable than they would be with a color that has a lot of dimension. If you go that route, be ready for a lot of maintenance. Otherwise, some soft lowlights will help with that.
#11 Teal Feathered Mid-Length Shag with Wispy Curtain Bangs
I’ve had several clients choose teal as a color option for their hair, and they all said it was the most fun they’ve ever had with their hair! This mid-length razor feathered shag sits collarbone with some interior stacking at the crown for added lift, and wispy curtain bangs that won’t drown an oval face out. The hair is a soft, natural wavy texture that is fine to medium. The gray blending demi-permanent teal glaze with subtle root smudge is very modern, adding some depth and blending grays, and is salon dependent. This is not a color you want to do at home. The razor layering and color technique are expert-required. You want to also make sure to get color-safe products because teal fades very quickly.
#12 Effortless Wavy Bronde Chin-Grazing Bob with Soft Side Sweep
This cut works with the cowlick rather than trying to combat it. The clockwise crown cowlick adds lift that people often spend 20 minutes trying to achieve with a blow-dryer. This chin-length, wavy, bronde bob incorporates subtle balayage combined with a root shadow to lighten the ends, and has diagonal, point-cut layers that sit right at the chin, which is the most flattering for oval or heart shapes. It’s perfect for fine to medium hair of medium density. For those perfect waves, a diffuser and a light texturizing spray will be ideal. If you have very thick hair, avoid a heavy finish by doing some interior thinning. The overall look is pretty effortless and relaxed, but is easy to maintain.
#13 Feathered Ginger Mid-Length Shag with Soft Fringe
I admire the time and effort that went into this haircut. There is a tiny vertical snip at the top which helps control a small cowlick. That’s the sort of little detail that can elevate an average haircut to an exceptional haircut. This shag haircut is ginger with a collarbone soft fringe and internal layers which are point cut to the ends and are short. The waves in this hair are medium-thick and naturally wavy which is nice and not too overbearing. There is a subtle root melt so you won’t have to get stuck in the chair every 4 weeks to do your hair because of your regrowth. The bright red color will be very hard to maintain because the pigment molecules of red hair demand more frequent coloring than other shades. But, if you love red hair, you know the struggle and have accepted it.
#14 Textured Copper Lob with Wispy Micro-Bangs
It’s definitely true that some individuals adore micro-bangs, whereas others despise them. Nevertheless, certain attitudes are not without reasoning, and this is one instance. There is a lot to be said for the combination of wispy micro-bangs and soft waves along with a shoulder length lob. The versatility of the oval face and point cut layers with the lob is greatly enhanced, and for those with medium to thick coarse hair that just hangs, this will really provide some movement. The gloss on top of the subtle root-shadow radial balayage also gives a lovely shine. If you’re this invested, you understand that copper shades will require toning regularly and micro bangs will require daily styling because there won’t be sufficient hair to cover an off day. That said, cheekbones and thinning temples really do thank you for micro-bangs.
#15 Edgy Textured Chin-Grazing Bob with Airy Micro-Bangs
This stacked nape bob style achieves what most bob styles achieve by needing backcombing or products to create the illusion of crown volume. This chin-grazing stacked bob with airy micro bangs and inner razor texturing is perfect for over 50s who want a haircut with some edge but not too much. This look also works best with straight to slightly wavy medium density hair. It is especially good for those with a heart to oval shaped face. The point-cut bangs create that soft peekaboo framing which draws attention to the eyes and keeps interest without covering the whole forehead. Short bangs will require some smoothing and a bit of heat to get them in place. If you are looking for a solid color darker than your natural, it will show regrowth at the part very quickly, so you may want to consider a root smudge. Very fine babylights or some smudging may be ideal for extending the time between salon visits.
#16 Textured Navy Shag Pixie with Wispy Micro-Bangs
Women over 50 with navy blue hair are truly inspiring! This shag/pixie cut includes a micro fringe that hits just above the jaw, creating a beautiful frame for the brow and compliments oval and heart face shapes. The demi-permanent gloss over shadow roots is beautiful and the depth of the gloss dims the sparkle of the silvers. I have to say, though, vivid blue usually requires pre-lightening to get to the right level. It will fade (and can stain towels/pillowcases). The best hair for this look is fine to medium hair with a natural wave and medium texture. This look is definitely higher maintenance which will be perfect for clients who love the maintenance as much as the final look. Don’t forget to ask your stylist for a shadow root blend and some razor texturing!
#17 Warm Copper Mid-Length Curly Layers with Crown Lift
This warm copper mid-chest length cut is a perfect match for 2C/3A curls! It’s so example of how a clever cut can change how hair curls and behaves without having to lose any length! The long mid-face-framing layers & tapered ends cut removes some mid length bulk, but still holds onto all the spring and bounce. I think the lift also comes from the soft off-centre part, and because the density is medium-high with a natural crown cowlick. I really think the warm copper dimensional colour highlights the curls so beautifully! Defining the curls with the correct products and technique will really make a difference, and the cut will need to be dry, Deva style with the coils defined. This cut won’t be suitable for soft fine limp hair as the layers will just collapse, but will be stunning for those with the right texture.
#18 Voluminous Copper Ringlet Collarbone Cut with Lifted Side Part
I appreciate the detail of the cut with the frontal loop and the way the cut has been designed with a single ringlet to capture your attention and frame the eye. The cut also works with long graduated layers and a lifted, deep side part, and it suits naturally curly hair type 3B to 3C with a lot of volume. The hair is at collarbone length. For the colour, it is single-process red and has some subtle root depth which gives some internal dimension. Unfortunately, having red is quite high-maintenance. The reduced layered bulk at the crown enables the ringlets to spring into action without clumping. The layers will require some specific curl products, a diffuser for drying, and some drying curl-by-curl sculpting to maintain the shape of the curls between salon appointments. This look is perfect for oval faces and high-density curls.
#19 Sun-Kissed Textured Jaw-Length Bob with Soft Curtain Part
The small details in this work are very much appreciated, and in this case, what caught my attention is the longer left-side face-framer that’s designed more to soften smile lines. That shows intent and effort. This is a jaw-length bob with texture and a soft curtain part. She uses razor-point techniques to create movement in fine to medium wavy hair and oval faces. The natural crown cowlick lifts, and a subtle root-smudge with lowlights makes the color super low-maintenance. You can really let this air-dry and it’ll look good, which is not something I say a lot. When it’s sleeker, grab a round brush for some extra effort, and texture paste is going to help it hold, but overall this is about as easy as a styled look as it gets.
#20 Textured Chin-Length Curly Bob with Side-Swept Swoop
This cut includes an inner bevel technique that allows the curled petal texture to form. I know I sound a little particular, but it looks so effortless and natural in person. This chin length curly bob with a deep side swoop looks stunning on oval and heart shaped faces. The loose S-shaped curls that are medium to thick in density layer beautifully with short internal layers and a stacked nape. This cut is designed for maximum natural volume, and looks great on full curls with a diffuser. It also blends gray hair well but do keep in mind it has to be cut dry to set the curl pattern. If you live in a hot and humid climate, this silhouette will widen. For the majority of the year we can expect this bob to be beautiful and have a loose curly aesthetic.
#21 Warm Copper Layered Collarbone Lob with Curtain Face-Framing
I do a lot of lob cuts, and for good reason; they work for a lot of people! For this version, I did long curtain bangs and face framing layers with a slight interior graduation for some crown-like lift. I love this warm copper with subtle balayage and soft root shadow because it adds depth and warmth without being too much. It’s easy to style as well, just do a round-brush blowout and waves with a 1-inch barrel. One thing to keep in mind is copper will fade pretty quickly compared to cooler tones, which is why you’ll want glossing appointments between full color sessions. If your hair is really fine and lifeless, you might need a root lift or a bit more interior layering in some spots to get the same volume. The good news is the overall shape is super flattering on oval and heart-shaped faces.
#22 Soft Layered Bronde Shoulder-Length with Crown Lift
My job is made easier because this cut has a natural crown cowlick, and it also means less work for a style like this that has so much volume! This appearance features a cut that hits the shoulders, a bronde color, soft layers, and long face-framing slices with a subtle deep side part. The color is warm and multi-dimensional, which adds depth without thick streaky highlights. It works well for fine to medium wavy texture and medium density, and it’s also air-dry friendly which I don’t say lightly. The precise slicing needs to be done by someone who knows how to work with the weight and how it falls when dried naturally. You’ll want to have a root melt strategy along with babylights with your colorist to avoid a harsh line of demarcation at four weeks.
#23 Warm Auburn Textured Chin-Length Shag with Soft Micro-Fringe
I love chin-length shag hairstyles. They have the ability to look a bit messy while still being very sophisticated, and this one really hits the mark. Other details include a soft micro-fringe that just barely covers the eyebrows, a bunch of point cut ends, and a few internal short layers in the crown for some weight and lift. For fine to medium with a little wave, and oval face chin-length shags texture gives a bit of movement and masks light thinning hair without looking like it’s compensating. It needs to be airy, so don’t go for hairspray or heavy back combing to get the volume. The shape has volume, and the warm auburn is gorgeous, unfortunately it also fades quicker than most. The fringe requires daily shaping, but if you wash your face (assuming you wash your face, which I hope you do) that means you count as a fringe shape up, and it makes it look a bit more put together. The results from the root-melt color technique are also stunning. Because the color is less obvious, you can go longer between color appointments.
#24 Soft Layered Shoulder-Length Lob with Root Shadow
I enjoy keeping some recommendations straightforward, and this is a perfect example of that. An above the shoulder lob with long, face framing layers, soft, natural waves, and a subtle root melt to grays. The crown layering adds some volume and the diagonal point cutting keeps it from feeling too heavy. This is particularly a super good go-to shape for women over 50 with oval face shapes and medium to thick density hair. It does require some styling to get those waves to form and maintaining the color will include some toning, but for the look you get the maintenance is good.
#25 Soft Face-Framing Blonde Shoulder-Length with Curtain Layers
I appreciate the use of the natural silver at the temples. Instead of hiding it, it’s being used to space highlight appointments. That’s a smart color strategy, and I wish more clients had that vision. This cut is shoulder length with long face-framing curtain layers starting at the chin and feathered ends, a soft root shadow, and money-piece highlights to brighten the face. Ideal candidate is fine to medium hair with medium density. The layers give lift, movement, and with the low-contrast regrowth, you’re not in the chair every six weeks panicking. The flipped ends will require a round-brush blowout to hold their shape, and if your hair is very thin, the layers could remove too much bulk. That’s a conversation to have before we start cutting. For the right person, this will be an easy, beautiful, livable look.
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