About a month ago, a woman who had the same hairstyle for about 30 years came into the shop to get a haircut. I remember chopping off the first ponytail and she started crying! I was shocked, I never expected that people cry when getting their hair done. But as she started talking, she told me she had no reason to be upset. In fact, she was not sad. Instead, she told me it was quite the opposite. She felt a great deal of happiness and freedom and wasn’t really sure how to explain it, other than to say it felt good to let go of that part of her. Most of my favorite clients happen to be women in their 50’s who have been told that growing your hair out or wearing your hair natural is a signal that you are relaxing. This is an unfortunate stereotype. Getting your hair done, especially after growing it out, is so freeing in so many ways. You have no idea the internal battling you are doing until you get your hair done. Getting your hair done is the ultimate release from having to fight against your hair. Instead, you are in sync with your natural hair. To add to the experience, you are consciously getting rid of the stress and frustration that has come with your hair so that moving forward, you are not operating from a place of desperation.
I love cutting hair for women over 50 because they get to embrace their hair’s natural texture, and with this age group they no longer might feel the need to rely on heat for styling for it to look good, and now they can let their natural beauty shine through! The silver hair at the temples, the coils, the curl pattern; It all works together beautifully. Personally, I find all my most interesting and exciting cuts in this age group because they get it. They understand the value of the change, they’re open to being surprised, and they know what they want. A perfect example is one of my clients who came in last year for “just a trim” and she left with a fully tapered crop with her grey hair on show. The following week she told me she got three compliments from people in different grocery store aisles. That’s exactly how a great short, natural cut should be; A positive change that gives you confidence to show off yourself however you want.
#1: Silver-Kissed Textured Crop with Tapered Sides
I LOVE the curl definition on top of the fade taper. The silver highlights are strategically placed to catch light where the curls are most dynamic, which adds sooo much more intention to it. The cut is a wash and go type, just apply some curl defining cream and you’re good to go! The shorter sides keep everything polished and the top length is just enough to let the texture shine.
#2 Warm Copper Bantu Knots with Natural Texture
Bantu knots on shorter hair can have a sculptural quality, especially with warm copper tones that make them feel more intentional. The first thing I notice is how expertly placed the knots are so they complement her face – as opposed to simply being thrown on without consideration – so whether that is your talent or your stylist’s, it is skillful. The color definitely makes a significant impact here, and warmer tones like this will always flatter the skin more than cooler tones. If this is attracting you, keep in mind that the knots themselves don’t require as much time and effort as people assume, especially once you get your technique down. The takedown curls are probably even better than the knots, so don’t worry!
#3 Medium-Length Natural Twists with Full Body
These twists aren’t too long so they won’t weigh down the style, but are the perfect length for movement. The fullness comes from the natural curling of the twists, which offers a lively, textured finish that frames the face beautifully. I would choose these for a client wanting a protective style, but still wants that short haircut feel, if that makes sense. It’s all really put together, but not overly so. The way the twists fall around the cheekbones is lovely and that’s no accident. It’s a good cut underneath that causes the twists to fall just so.
#4 Warm-Toned Twisted Crop with Dimensional Color
The interesting part about this one is the warm tones used during the twists. The cut would have been nice without twists but the warm colors of the entire shape make it way better to look at. The length is practical with nothing in the face or needing to be adjusted constantly. The twisted sections have enough space in between to show skin and I think it looks healthy and intentional on shorter styles. Some cuts have a maintenance that is more about restyling but this is one where keeping the twists neat is all you really have to do. A quick twist cream retwist every few weeks will keep it looking fresh.
#5 Bold Curly Undercut with Warm Dimension
This look is definitely rocking an attitude and that’s a good thing! Soft, gentle curls alongside a clean shave look modern and effortless. I find warm highlights cupped within the curls provide a gentle touch from the sun that is gorgeous against deeper skin tones. I have to say the undercut section is a serious commitment because it means you will be back in the chair for those lines to be kept sharp, but if you enjoy those salon visits, then that’s hardly a downside to it, right? The top is the easiest bit, Just let those curls be and enjoy!
#6 Face-Framing Natural Crop with Tight Curl Definition
Some hairstyles require skill but look effortless. This is one of those cuts that takes a lot of work from a professional. With the tight curl pattern shaping and volumizing is achieved without product. The length of the hair is perfectly balanced to frame the face without being distracting. I tend to see that clients with this type of curl pattern tend to have a concern with the look of dry hair, but that is honestly misguided. After washing, just a good leave-in conditioner should be sufficient to keep your hair looking good. Everything else about this cut is genuinely easy.
#7 Silver Curly Pixie with Luminous Texture
I love the silver hue of this pixie! There’s something quite editorial about the way this color and cut reflect the light. Light would really bounce off curls like this at a photoshoot. The curls appear soft, which makes me think the styling product used here is quite light. This is a great example of how much body you can achieve with the right cut if you have fine hair and are concerned about going short. To maintain that shape, you’ll need to book trims every four to five weeks.
#8 Voluminous Curly Taper with Lifted Crown
I appreciate the liveliness at the crown and the neat closeness of the sides. That’s the contrast that energizes this cut. Top curls have a great bounce and the soft side fade stops it from reading as “too much hair” and just reads as great hair. I’ve done this cut on women who were concerned about top volume and every single one of them has loved it because it lifts the whole face. What makes this work is the layering throughout the curls; if you took just one blunt cut to the top, it wouldn’t move the same.
#9 Gray-Embracing Textured Crop with Soft Curl Definition
I think the decision to leave the gray hairs is a good one. Gray hairs can be an awesome addition to an overall hairstyle. The curls are very nice as well and the mid length keeps everything nice and spaced so the curls can really form and bounce. They could really use some products to make it look intentional as opposed to just undone. I would suggest a curl enhancing mousse because it will give that more airy, natural look and feel.
#10 Silver Buzz Cut with Soft Shimmer
Getting a buzz cut isn’tfor everyone, and wearers of this hairstyle possess a unique kind of boldness and confidence. This hairstyle is meant to place attention to the wearers face and draw the eye to the jawline, and ears and jewelry. This client’s earrings were perfectly placed for the occasion against her freshly shaved head. The silver-tone clasps present an elegant touch and pair with the clean look of her head. As for recommending this style to clients, there is no rule about face shapes, but to really enjoy the stylist’s work, and most importantly, the cut. Women often have a great deal of confidence about sporting a buzz cut and it really shows.
#11 Soft Curly Crop with Face-Framing Layers
There are layers happening in this crop that are doing something subtle, but important – they are softening the shape around the face, while keeping the overall silhouette rounded and full. The natural curl pattern has just enough variation in it to create visual interest without being too chaotic, and the length stops at just the right point to sit short enough to be easy but long enough to have real movement. I think this would look amazing on someone who’s been wearing their hair longer and wants to take that first step towards something shorter without the feeling of losing all their hair. It still feels substantial.
#12 Defined Short Twists with Honey Highlights
These honey colored highlights are well sized to grab the attention of others and draw focus to the wearer’s face. It looks like the most is in the front and around the temples, which tells me the person who colored these was considering how they would look in the front and not flat lay. The twists are also clean and not too uniform, adding to the natural and lived in feel to the style. To keep them looking intentional, it’s best to retwist every week and a half to two weeks, and sleeping in a satin bonnet will help prolong the life of each set.
#13 Full Natural Curly Crop with Rounded Shape
What an amazing shape! The curls look fantastic with great volume without too much poof! The little taper at the nape gives a nice clean taper effect super noticeable from the sides and back. What really makes this cut successful is the length chosen so that it would match the curl’s natural spring factor. This means that when dry the hair will sit where it is supposed to rather than shriveling up into something unexpected. I always try to talk about this with clients with tighter curl patterns. I like to say that the cut has to account for where the hair actually lives rather than where it lands when wet.
#14 Tapered Curly Cut with Natural Texture on Top
The close sides let the curls take the spotlight, and they definitely deserve it. The definition is beautiful and tight and springy with just enough height to create a really strong silhouette. This type of cut also photographs well from almost every angle, which isn’t something many cuts can say. From the front there’s curl texture that nicely frames the forehead, from the side that clean taper is all visible, and from the back there is shape. The length on top is really versatile. You can flatten it with a bit of gel for a nice sleek look, or let it spring up for maximum texture.
#15 Defined Curly Crop with Natural Growth Pattern
What I like about this cut is how it works with the natural growth pattern. You can see the curls and how they do their own thing. It looks deliberate because the cut is shaped around them, rather than imposed over them. There is volume, but it is controlled and the overall shape is framing the face without any pieces falling where they are not supposed to. This type of cut is low effort, but high reward. My clients rebook for this cut over and over again because once you find this groove with your natural texture, there is really no reason to leave it.
#16 Silver Tapered Cut with Soft Curl Definition
Silver tones in the tapered cuts add even more refinement to the overall appearance. These layered cut styles offer greater volumization at the top, while the remaining sections of the hair give an almost bob-like appearance around the sides and nape. The cut is a great way to embrace the change during the slow transition to gray or silver hair, instead of having to fight their natural color. The definition of the curls looks soft and not severe, which gives everything a relaxed and natural look. To keep the style and to avoid drastic changes to the shape of the cut, aim to schedule haircuts approximately every five weeks.
#17 Short Natural Taper with Subtle Gray Highlights
I like how relaxed this cut is. It is not trying to be super loud or dramatic. It is just a nice taper and natural curls with some blended grey. The curls are well defined, good product, and some finger styling on wash day but nothing too crazy. This is the type of cut I think a lot of women feel the most like themselves in, because it really doesn’t take the focus away from the face, it just draws attention to everything there.
#18 Sculpted Short Twists with Clean Lines
What I love about this style is how it constructs a sense of architecture. The twists are designed and proportioned to sculpt around the head, whilst the clean lines at the ears and nape keep it all sharp and tidy. I have executed styles like this on clients who compartmentalize their weeks between the office and weekend socials, and it works for both without any adjustments, which is honestly the hallmark of a great style. A light edge control around the hairline would keep this looking fresh between salon visits.
#19 Coily Twisted Crop with Rich Natural Texture
I love how much character these twists have, especially with how coily the texture is. Each twist looks different and distinct because the natural texture is being neither smoothed out nor suppressed. Rather, it’s organized into twists, and free to be itself. The length is just perfect for the coiled texture to be fully shown, and for the twists to remain light, without becoming heavy enough to unravel at the ends. I really admire this style, it’s so honest. You can really tell the wearer has a great relationship with their hair, and that shows.
#20 Rounded Natural Curly Crop with Soft Layering
This crop’s overall shape is amazing! The curls are so bouncy and healthy it’s like they’ve received a moisturizing product, and combined with a cut that really honors the curl pattern, it’s stunning. The soft layering throughout means this won’t just look like a big clump of curls, but like it will actually have movement and dimension. With a style like this, hydration is your number one priority. And especially if you live in a humid environment, you’ll need to do weekly deep conditioning treatments to reduce frizz and maintain curl definition.
#21 Airy Silver Taper with Textured Crown
The silver color is stunning and fresh. It looks nice the way the light reflects off of it. The crown texture is very nice. It will make the cut seem less dull. A close taper on the sides gives a more contemporary feel as well. Women who wear silver and sport a short haircut receive a significant amount of praise, usually more than they did with longer hairstyles and colors, probably because this look is so self-assured. It is very simple to achieve and effortless to maintain this short and lovely style.
#22 Twisted Updo with Sculptural Definition
I like the way the twists for this updo have been designed to avoid looking repetitive. It seems someone expertly placed each twist in just the right spot for the design to be successful. The height and volume on top are perfectly balanced by the shorter sides, which is where the proportions come together very nicely. I love that this style is versatile enough to go from day to evening without any restyling. Most of my clients aren’t going home to restyle before dinner, so I appreciate those little things. In terms of the twist definition, that shouldn’t be an issue as long as you use a good product and don’t touch it once it’s all set.
#23 Textured Coily Crop with Soft Volume
These coils are beautiful! The cut is sculpted in a way to allow the curls to express themselves while keeping an overall shape that is intentional. The length is perfect! This means the curls have the right amount of weight to define themselves but not so much that they stretch out and lose their curl pattern. I’ve found that coily hair at this length is among the most rewarding textures to work with. While close to the scalp, the hair has so much natural body. The key with this hair texture is to keep it really hydrated and well moisturized. Find a moisturizing hair butter that you love and use it generously.
#24 Close-Cropped Coils with Clean Shape
A good haircut doesn’t have to be complicated. In this case, the simplicity works in their favor. They kept the texture on the side coils, and the shape on the head is neat and even, with no bowls. The highlight is the edges, plus the natural coil pattern is allowed to show even at short length. This is a go and wash cut. It speaks to the type of haircut that makes your morning routine a matter of seconds, instead of minutes.
#25 Defined Curly Crop with Subtle Highlights
The highlights give the curls a 3D effect in a subtle way. These curls are nice and not so tight that they look unapproachable. This is definitely medium density, and this cut is doing the most with just the right amount of hair for fullness, and not so much that the curls don’t compete for space overall. A lightweight gel should keep the curls defined between washes without any buildup or flaking.
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