A woman over a certain age may have a few different reasons for wanting to change her hair to a shorter style. It could be that they want to experiment with a new style, or perhaps they are looking for something easier to manage. Even women who have just turned seventy years can experiment with different cuts and styles. There are also many different short hair styles that can be flattering, refreshing, and fashionable, even to older women. Options such as bob haircuts and pixies are quite popular at that age.
I have a different opinion now, inspired by one of my earlier clients, an elderly woman who had visited me at the salon for many years. She had always maintained the same old hair style. That day she was particularly bored by her style and said it was “doing nothing for her”. I remember suggesting to her a soft, feminine pixie cut, and to my surprise, she did not panic or cry when she saw the result. Instead, she smiled and said, “There I am!”. This is a memory that has always stuck with me, and it is a feeling I try to recreate with every client I get.
Short hair after seventy isn’t about giving up on your appearance or choosing the lazy option. In fact, some of the most fascinating short haircuts can be found here because the artist must work with all elements of the cut. At this age, a good haircut means there are no longer any tricks to hide behind. This means the haircut is precise and fully considers how your hair and face have changed through the years and is balanced to enhance and frame the contours of your face rather than just sitting around the perimeter. I always come back to these cuts with clients because they are the most likely to achieve that “there I am” effect.
#1: Silver Pixie with Real Texture and Movement
I love how the hair cut is very effortless. The hair is very texturized so it looks like there is more hair than there actually is. The silver in the hair works with the hair cut and gives it a nice flow. The hair cut looks great because it takes into consideration that the hair may be getting finer over the years. The cut works with less hair in an intentional way and also creates the look that you do not have to spend a lot of time on it to style it.
#2 Soft-Edged Pixie That Draws You to the Eyes
I love how important softness is, especially the softness at the edges. A blunt line would be too harsh, but the lightly feathered edges make it feel warm and soft. It’s the kind of cut that is going to make people look at your face first and the haircut second, which is exactly what we want. If you have fine hair and were worried a pixie cut would be too thin, look at how the texture here fills that out so nicely without any bulk.
#3 Curled Bob That Sits Just Right at the Jaw
The hair length is perfect because it sits just below the jawline. This is the perfect length to catch the light and frame everything. The soft curls look so natural and understated. From an outside perspective it kind of looks like you wrapped a few pieces around a big barrel iron and just let them go – in the best way! The softer under layers add so much life to the hair without making it look like a lot of work! I can imagine how amazing this would look on someone with a natural wave because the hair would just style itself post wash.
#4 Warm Layered Cut with That Effortless Wave
Thank you so much for your feedback! It’s awesome that this style looks better on day two than day one. The warm brown color really shows off the layers, and the waves are that slight and lived-in quality. That’s tough to create if the cut underneath isn’t helping. It’s a mid-length style that’s ideal for women who aren’t quite ready to go for a short style but want something that feels a little lighter and more current than the previous style that they’ve had. The movement through the front is what makes it, framing without crowding.
#5 Modern Lob with Bangs That Actually Work
There is always a risk when adding bangs to a lob when talking about the wrong density. But with fine-to-medium texture, the soft density is just right for bangs to look natural rather than chunky. The warm highlights throughout the lengths are subtle enough to be seen as dimension rather than color, which is lovely. This sits at shoulder length with enough movement to keep it flowing when you walk, and the layers prevent it from going flat by midday. For clients wanting something that gives them a bit more length to play with, this is a more polished option.
#6 Layered Short Cut with Volume That Doesn’t Quit
I appreciate the realistic look of this volume. I can tell the layers were cut and placed to add volume to areas where finer hair typically falls limp. There is some natural shine coming through, which suggests the individual genuinely cares about their hair and is not just styling it to cover damage, and that is evident here. A little root volumizing mousse while it’s damp, and this would hold shape all day without stiffness. It is a style that looks healthy and easy which is a combination that is harder to achieve than it seems.
#7 Layered Bob with Curtain Bangs Done Right
Curtain bangs are super in right now, and while most shorter styles don’t tend to work with curtain bangs, the length here is ideal! These curtain bangs will land perfectly at shoulder length so everything will be in proportion nicely. The warm brown color is also perfect for giving a glow to the face, and is especially flattering for more mature skin tones. I’d suggest a light flexible hold spray on the bangs to keep them separated where you want, but aside from that, this is a very low maintenance haircut.
#8 Wispy-Banged Bob with a Copper Glow
There is something special about the warm coppery color. It’s warm and not too brassy, and finding that balance is tricky. The color adds so much life to the look. The gentle wispy bangs are framed so the don’t cover the face. This length is ideal for the cut’s texture, and it keeps it from looking harsh. This is one of those styles where the color and the shape work in such harmony that you can’t picture one without the other.
#9 Wavy Chestnut Bob with Relaxed Texture
I have to say the richness of the chestnut brown color is really beautiful, and the depth from the waves is so much more interesting than what flat color would achieve. The shoulder length is really forgiving, and works with more face shapes than people expect. I would say for this cut those waves need a wave cream scrunched in while the hair is still damp and then you want to just leave it. The more you touch it, the less it cooperates, and that relaxed quality is the whole appeal.
#10 Short Pixie with Highlights That Add Dimension
These highlights in this pixie cut give the illusion that the hair has more depth and thickness than it actually does. With a cut just above the ear, it is kept clean and easy, but the soft layers on top balance it out so it doesn’t look too close or too masculine. I completely agree that this is a style that can transition from casual to dressed up without any retouching, and I think we under appreciate this a lot. You wash it, you run your fingers through it, and you go.
#11 Naturally Soft Layers with Quiet Movement
I appreciate the restraint this cut displays. Nothing looks overdone. The soft layering, the ideal volume that gives it shape, and the waviness which looks completely natural and not styled is wonderful. It hits at that perfect length so you have options without making decisions every morning. The highest compliment I can give to a haircut is that it will feel like it was always yours, which this cut will. That is especially true if your hair is medium to fine and naturally wavy.
#12 Flipped Layers with Delicate Bangs
I like the personality of the cut. It is chin length with soft bangs and that gives a youthful appearance while not looking childish, which is nice. The soft layers allow for movement rather than fine hair just sitting there. I would love to see this with some subtle low lights for added dimension. The base color is warm, but with added variation, it would accentuate the layers. This is definitely a style that just needs a round brush and maybe five minutes.
#13 Clean Blunt Bob with Soft Fringe
A blunt bob is a great choice, and straight across cuts like this are a rare find. Length at the jawline works because it brings instant structure to the face. The added soft bangs help round things out a bit, which is helpful because blunt cuts can get a little too rigid on fine hair. I think this style is for someone very neat and precise, one who grabs the flat iron regularly, and won’t mind the upkeep of honest edges being a trim every five to six weeks.
#14 Airy Short Cut with Root Lift
This cut adds volume and an ‘effortless’ feel to your hair that is hard to achieve. The hair lighting helps to give dimension to your hair and helps to avoid an ‘over-processed’ look. The face-framing layers will add a flattering look that is not ‘overly’ done and will work for any occasion. This type of cut is great for clients who want a neat and polished look if going from the grocery store to dinner and do not want to do anything different. Keeping length above the shoulder offers versatility to the cut and the texture will help create movement.
#15 Chin-Length Bob with the Softest Bangs
The bangs are light enough that they feel almost non-existent. They help to soften the forehead and the chin-length bob is full enough to be substantial but not heavy. The layers provide that soft movement that allows fine hair to look alive. This is a cut that flatters quietly. This is the type that people will say you look great but won’t be able to put their finger on exactly why.
#16 Side-Swept Bangs on a Textured Short Cut
Movement is created by these side-swept bangs while also giving the face an asymmetry for more visual interest than a simple straight-across line. The layered texture gives the bangs more fullness and I appreciate the modern overall shape. Trends come and go, but good shape is permanent. This cut will make it look like you have a stylist, and I understand that’s sort of a compliment circle, but I mean it.
#17 Silver Pixie with Just Enough Volume on Top
Silver hair has a distinct feel to it and can be a little rougher and look a bit wiry. This type of cut can help manage that texture by keeping hair shorter on the sides and back while leaving enough on top to allow for soft flow. The volume at the crown is very subtle, but the way the hair is shaped gives a nice change to the balance of the face which works especially well for round and oval faces. The cut will give you that shape whether you intend to style it sleek or prefer a more casual, messy look. This is because the fundamental components of the cut are very well done.
#18 Warm Textured Crop That Lights Up the Face
The warm color here is just as good as the cut, reflecting light to the eyes and cheekbones and making them pop brighter than cooler tones would. The soft bangs are cut so that they do not stand alone, revealing an outlined design. The medium short length is at that sweet spot where it still feels like hair and not a style, if that makes sense, it moves and falls and behaves like something natural. I surprisingly find this one nice.
#19 Textured Bob with Bangs and Warm Undertones
The warm tones are amazing since they give a healthy glow, especially for more mature skin. The bob is just under the chin which is great because it goes with the weight of the medium density hair and holds it’s shape pretty well. The bangs need to be the right length and these are just right as they sit on the brow, and don’t cover it. It’s a whole look where all the pieces just work together nicely.
#20 Blonde Layered Bob with Effortless Bounce
The blonde color is bright and the layers give the cut its liveliness. Each layer is designed to fan movement away from the face and open everything up. On fine hair, this kind of intentional layering makes the difference between a style that looks flat by noon and one that keeps its lift into the dinner hour. I’d advise using no more than a small amount of styling cream at the mid lengths.
#21 Tousled Short Cut with Warmth and Ease
This look definitely has an ease about it! The color, soft texture, and tousled look, plus, how she, frames her face, are lovely. The layers fall softly and naturally, and are not messy. The volume is perfect. I wouldn’t think too much about how it is styled. Let it air dry, separate the roots with your fingers, and that’s it. Most times, the best thing you can do for a great haircut is absolutely nothing.
#22 Polished Bob with Balayage Dimension
It is so subtle that it appears to be how light reflects off the hair rather than something painted on, which is the sign of a great colorist. The clean and classy bob is medium length, hitting just above the shoulders and has a little swing to it. At this length, straight fine hair can look a little dead without any dimension. The color work here is the solution to that. A volumizing dry shampoo on day two would keep things looking fresh without a full restyle.
#23 Silver Blunt Bob with Quiet Sophistication
There’s something about this haircut the more you look at it, the better it gets! The chin-length sharp cut is unapologetic, and the clean, blunt cut line is also very definitive. The subtle layers also contribute to the added dimension so it doesn’t appear one-dimensional. The length of the silver hair has a stunning quality that is almost architectural. The movement in the layers helps to really mitigate some of the severity of the haircut. It’s also really great that this haircut is able to convey something about the person, without being too obvious.
#24 Playful Short Cut with Wispy Lift
I would say this has buoyancy. Those layers give weightlessness to the whole cut so it feels like it’s moving even when you’re not. The cut is practical as it hits just above the shoulders. Thanks to the layering, it doesn’t feel purely functional, there’s real style here. This sort of layering is one of the best methods I know to counter self-consciousness about hair thinning because it diverts the attention from the thickness to the movement and shape instead.
#25 Cropped Textured Cut with Youthful Energy
The face has plenty of room to stand out, and this only works when the cuts surrounding it are smooth and shaped, which this one is. The layers are gentle enough to help the style feel softer and not choppy. The overall texture creates an effortless vibe, keeping it from feeling overly done. It’ll look great when you’re taking pictures and even when you happen to catch your reflection in a shop window, which is what really matters!
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