Let’s address the issue of the stereotypical hairstyle of woman 60 and over, shoulder-length hair. Personally, my hair is shoulder length, and I have gotten this cut many times. Each time someone new assumes it is another typical case of being conservative and not wanting to take risks, which is far from the truth. In my experience of seeing so many different clients, I have come to realize that this length actually offers the most versatility. It provides enough hair for the client to not be limited and go extreme, but also not so much that the hair works against the client.
As an example, a few years ago I had a client who had the same style since her 40’s. Her words were, “I want something done that is not boring, but do not make it scary.” This is a perfect example of the type of hair and the type of cut we mean. In the end, we settled for a layered cut. The transformation was amazing. She sent me post party pictures and I was surprised to see her looking so different. The extreme factor was not the hairstyle chosen but the fact that the cut worked for her. This is what a good shoulder length hairstyle does, it does not demand attention, just pulls everything together. These styles are my favorites right now, all stunning, absolutely shoulder length and all achievable.
#1: Dark Chocolate Blowout with Flipped Ends
The flipped ends here bring me back to those amazing blowout styles from 90s department store salons (and I mean that in the best possible way). The hair has shine to it, and that intentional dark chocolate hue to her colour makes it look even more solid. Thankfully, the hair appears to be thick enough to hold this much volume so no backcombing or root lifting spray is necessary. For anyone with finer hair who desires a similar effect, you would definitely want to do a root lifting spray at the crown prior to blow drying.
#2 Sun-Kissed Brunette with Caramel Highlights
This note illustrates excellent highlighting on shoulder-length hair for this age group. The base color is a natural medium brown, and the caramel highlights have been painted in the face-framing layers and a few scattered in the mid-lengths. There also aren’t any highlights on the lower back or root areas. This means that intentional placement makes her able to go longer between appointments without looking grown out, which I really wish more clients understood is possible. You don’t have to foil the entire head every appointment. Sometimes, four or five well-placed highlights is what it takes to elevate “my hair looks fine” to “my hair looks incredible.”
#3 Light Auburn Bob with Full Bangs
Not every lady is fit for a bob and full bangs, but she makes it work. The color of her hair is a warm light auburn. It’s almost golden enough to be mistaken for a neutral shade. The childishly straight bangs face framing draws people’s attention to her eyes. The subtle bend at the very ends of the bangs adds touch to the overall shape without looking too stiff. She has one of those colors that look as though it was done with an artisan’s brush, golden and copper tones crafted, or she’s a natural redhead whose color has beautifully mellowed and just had a touch of brightening done. In both cases, it is perfect.
#4 Dark Chocolate Glamour Waves
This look is simply amazing. I love the glam here, along with the warmth of the dark chocolate color. The color does an excellent job of avoiding the look of monotony. I can tell those waves are on purpose and are in the style of classic vintage 1.25 inch brush S wave pattern curls. The center part is very accessory, as is the volume along with the cheekbones. While the poodle hair hate club may think this is too styled, they are simply incorrect.
#5 Warm Chestnut Lob with Tousled Texture
The chestnut color has a decent amount of red blended into the brown base, and the tussled texture is allowing warmth to shimmer through in a way that a smooth blowout wouldn’t show as well. This is a great no-effort style that looks like she just finger combed it and let it air dry before calling it done. This is certainly the type of stuff that is best for people who don’t want to blow dry for thirty minutes first thing in the morning.
#6 Warm Strawberry Blonde with Layered Body
Strawberry blonde is usually put with red hues, but it is really different. This is a beautiful example, because it is right in the sweet spot of blonde and light copper, and brightens the face without being overly harsh. This may even appear to be a natural color enhancement, which is always the goal when working in this family. The side-swept fringe and layered body prevent it from looking too one-dimensional.
#7 Dark Brunette Shag with Feathered Bangs
Get ready for the return of shag hairstyles! This dark brunette version with choppy bangs and noticeable layers gives the hair a lot of movement. Simple hair colors are boring, but sometimes all you need is a great cut, and here the color plays a supporting role. Brown is a neutral to slightly cool tone, and when paired with the fringe and blue eyes, the wispy undone style is great.
#8 Vibrant Copper Red Layered Lob
I love this look! Copper red is amazing. It suits women with fair skin and warm undertones perfectly. It’s a shame so many women over sixty don’t wear this color. There is enough energy in this color to avoid it looking too fake and with the right lighting it could even look like a natural redhead. This is an amazing option for red because going fake is unpredictable and the roots can get really brassy in just a few weeks. This layered cut is just so great. It allows the copper to show off its tonal variations from dark roots to bright, sunny tips. This look does take some work but is definitely worth it. It requires color deposit conditioner and maintenance in between appointments, but it all pays off!
#9 Cinnamon Brown with Piecey Curtain Bangs
That warm brunette shade with the cinnamon undertone is everything! It’s that specific reddish-brown that gives skin a more even appearance. It’s more rarely seen on women in this age group because of the fear of “going too warm”. Done warm well is gorgeous and this is warm done well! The curtain bangs are broken up and piecey which contributes to the more relaxed, not fussy vibe.
#10 Warm Mahogany Textured Lob
The mahogany color is subtle, more of a whisper than a shout, and shifts in color as light changes. From certain angles, it can look a little reddish in color but from others, it can look a dark brown. If you want something a little more interesting without being an obvious color, this is great for you. The texture is easy and laidback while the length finishes just past the collarbone which is flattering on most people as it draws the eye along the jaw rather than cutting it off.
#11 Platinum Blonde Bob with Full Fringe
Getting platinum hair over the age of 60 requires a lot of commitment, but with the right colorist it can be done beautifully. . When it comes to platinum color, the danger zone of looking damaged versus looking expensive is a very, very fine line to walk. In this case, we landed on the right side of the line. The tone here is soft and warm, avoiding the super harsh and ice white looks, and paired with a full fringe, this gives a modern editorial look, which is something many people wouldn’t think to go for at that age, but honestly, they should go for it! Keeping this look will require some effort, for example, the bangs and blunt ends will need to be straightened to maintain that look with a flat iron, and some purple shampoo will be necessary to control the yellow, but it will definitely be worth it!
#12 Toffee Brunette with Bouncy Farrah Layers
This style is amazing! The multi-tonal toffee color is gorgeous. The difference in tones between the roots and the mid-lengths resembles hair that’s been kissed by the sun rather than hair that has been in the salon for three hours. The Farrah-style feathered layers flipping away from the face are in trend again, and they truly never stopped working for those who know how to round brush. The warmth of this color reflects the light beautifully and makes every wave look intentional. This hair is even better on the second day.
#13 Warm Honey Blonde with Soft Face Framing
I would show this client “I want to go blonde but I don’t want it to look like I’m trying to cover gray.”. This is a warm honey that has obviously been built over time (most likely from a natural medium blonde or light brown base) and the fringe has been kept a touch lighter to brighten the face. The overall result is sunny without being too harsh and the warm tones complement her blue eyes beautifully. The haircut is clean and classic with long layers that have been turned under at the ends.
#14 Rich Espresso Blowout with Vintage Volume
Colorists tend to avoid rich, cool-leaning brunette colors for women over 60, which is a shame since this is exactly the type of richness that works with the model’s density and skin tone. There is a persistent myth that aging women should have lighter hair at the front. With this dense hair and her skin tone, a rich dark brown is very luxurious. The blowout also does a lot of work here, with the vintage Hollywood end curls from a big round brush at the blow dry. The no- root look tells me this is a demi ;gloss over her natural base, and not a full permanent lift-and-deposit, which is a good call because it gives that glassy look that permanent color can never achieve.
#15 Cool Ash Brown with Curtain Fringe and Waves
I commend the team for what they did here as keeping cool ash tones on grisaille hair is a challenging task. Ash formulas can be too aggressive with the white strands and look muddy in the pigmented strands, but this is nice and balanced. I notice some silver peeking out at the temples, and the overall infusion of cool tones is good, as it is more of a blend than a fight. I see that the curtain fringe is grown out and left a little more relaxed, and the waves seem a little more diffused, as if they were scrunched with a light mousse and allowed to dry.
#16 Polished Copper Brunette with Layered Ends
The warm brunette is beautiful. The mid-lengths are warm with copper reflects which create a glowing effect, and coupled with the smooth, blow dried finish, the warmth of the color really shines. Sometimes colors compete with the attention of waves and other textures, but on such a precise shade, smoothness is the way to go. With the layers concentrated in the lower third of the hair, this allows the ends to move while the top stays sleek. This is a simple style that easily could look polished whether you blow dry it or air dry it – and that is a true mark of a great haircut.
#17 Cool Chestnut Flip with Side Part
Most of the work here is in the deep side part, which adds height and asymmetry giving the whole look more purpose. The shade is a cool-leaning chestnut, and I can see it’s been well maintained, as there is no brassiness on the ends, and no visible root demarcation. That type of seamless grow-out tends to suggest someone is using a demi and refreshing it every 6-8 weeks, which is a great way to keep brunette hair looking rich without the damage of repeated permanent color overlaps. The flipped ends give it a fun quality without being overdone.
#18 Voluminous Espresso Waves with Body
While it’s technically one color, this hue dances along the strands in five different tones. That’s the charm of dark espresso color on this type of hair with wave pattern. The curl of this style creates the illusion of highlights and lowlights (no foils required!!). The volume at the crown is reminiscent of a velcro roller set style, created whilst the hair was still warm from the blowdry. Beautiful hair.
#19 Jet Black Shoulder Cut with Soft Bangs
I’ll be honest, very dark colors on women over 60 can go wrong very quickly if the formula is too opaque or too cool. However, this works because there is just enough transparency in the color to allow you to see that surface of the hair, if that makes sense. It’s reading as a very deep, near-black brown as opposed to a flat shoe-polish black, and that distinction matters enormously. The bangs are thin and piecey enough to soften the overall look, and the length is hitting right at the collarbone where it falls naturally.
#20 Chin-Grazing Brunette Bob with Caramel Glints
Here, the colorist’s artistry is paying off. The base color is a rich chocolate brown, with the finest warm caramel strands woven in that only pop when the hair moves. In flat lighting, you’d miss those, which is a sign of highlighting done well. They are not sitting on the hair flaunting for attention, they are blended into the wave’s texture. Bad highlights would look big and outdated in a bob like this, so the restraint here is everything. After a wash, a texturizing spray would help those waves keep their shape.
#21 Warm Cocoa Tousled Lob
This warm color is just shy of being a true red, which is harder to get than one might think. There is just enough gold in the base color to not appear ashy, but not enough to look like a warm formula. The color looks like a naturally warm brown. The relaxed and imperfect tousled texture looks great as the hair is losing some of its youthful density. The slight wave creates fullness where it’s most needed, around the mid-lengths and the jawline, and all of this is without tease or backcomb.
#22 Natural Brunette with Grown-Out Softness
Real hair is beautiful and deserves appreciation, as I believe this to be. I can see a few lighter strands along with some natural gray mixing. The overall color is a cool-neutral brown that has yet to be processed. The layers are long and loose with some texture at the ends. Not every head of hair needs to be a color project and this is a good reminder of that.
#23 Deep Mocha Curtain Blowout
This blowout is stunning and makes me want to gaze at it for an extended period. Mocha brown is a gorgeous color, and in large-barrel curls, it looks alive! I really love how the detail in the color looks; especially since it may appear to be one solid color at first, but I can definitely see the depth, natural-looking variation, and dimension in the root and mid-shaft color. The detail that takes a blowout from good to great is definitely the face-framing pieces that are curled away from the face and broken up.
#24 Auburn-Kissed Waves with a Side Sweep
I like the color. The base looks like it could be a medium brown with a reddish-auburn cast, but it might be more like a glaze or toner than a full color application. There appears to be a warmth tonal shift in the mid-lengths where hair is more porous because that region tends to pick up red tones more quickly, which is one of those happy accidents you can engineer if you understand porosity. The side-swept bang frames the face without closing it off, and the waves have a perfect amount of bend.
#25 Feathered Chocolate Shag with Wispy Bangs
The layers are the main focus here and the color is not going to get in the way. It’s a warm medium chocolate color. There is nothing complicated about it, but the warmth is perfect next to the skin tone. What I love here is the wispy fringe that feels current without being try-hard. The feathered layers in the back and sides go soft and lived in from blowdrying and just leaving it with a medium round brush and some hairspray. This is easy hair and it looks just that in the best way possible.
#26: Smoky Silver Feathered Shag
The feathered shag is such a whole moment! The smoky silver looks extra nice with it! The layers do a lot of the work for you because this shag doesn’t need much styling at all. These bangs are the sort that grow out nicely which is a win if you don’t want to come sit in my chair every 3 weeks. Texturizing spray on damp hair and you’re good to go!
#27 Textured Shoulder-Length Cut with Face-Framing Bangs
And I love those bangs! I think it’s so neat that they aren’t too blunt or heavy. I like how wispy they are, it gives movement to the hair. Also, the way the bangs draw attention to the eyes is great! The cut is really light and airy, and even though it looks full, the body looks nice and balanced! The warm tones in the color really help to pull the whole look together. I can see how the warm shades of color transform the skin to look like it’s glowing from within. I know bangs can be a bit of a scary commitment, but I think in this case, I would say just do it!
#28 Soft Layers with Face-Framing Pieces
This kind of style looks easy to achieve, showing how well the work was done. The layers are just the right amount, and aren’t cut too choppy or chunky, and just barely blend into each other. The pieces that frame the face soften it and make the whole hairstyle less heavy and one-dimensional. This is the sort of hair that you could easily wash, put a bit of blow dry spray, and be ready to leave in under five minutes. It’s the kind of cut that makes an outfit better and people won’t even know why.
#29 Softly Curled Shoulder-Length Cut with Gentle Volume
These curls look so natural & almost like they’ve been styled. If you have natural waves, it will enhance what you already have, with a nice cut and some curl-defining cream. For finer hair, achieving this look will take a little more work. I love that the volume is just right. It looks great around the face and through the mid-lengths and then it doesn’t just puff out at the bottom.
#30 Warm Copper Shoulder-Length Curls
Let’s talk about this color for a minute. Warm copper is one of those colors that I think more women should try since it has a really nice effect on the skin that cooler tones just don’t. The curls give it a lot of life while the length is great – long enough to feel like you have hair, but short enough that it doesn’t drag everything down. If your hair is on the finer side, this is a great option because the curl pattern creates the illusion of a lot more density than you actually have.
#31 Classic Layered Shoulder-Length Cut with Natural Body
I mean this in the kindest way possible; I see it as a butter and bread cut. It is timeless and works for pretty much everyone. The added layers stop it from being too basic. The subtle bottom waves are nice and help everything feel effortless and not overly done. If you want it to go to the next level, I would recommend putting some soft highlights on the front pieces to add a bright touch. But honestly, it is so beautiful the way it is.
#32 Sleek Shoulder-Length Cut with Soft Bangs
Chic is easy with a clean, sleek cut, and soft bangs. This particular style has that ‘looks expensive’ vibe. The bangs are soft enough not to create a hard line across the forehead, which is key. One thing to consider is that if your hair has any natural texture or wave, you have to be realistic about the styling commitment. That smooth look takes a lot of work. A good flat iron and some patience go a long way.
#33 Full Curls at Shoulder Length
It is great to see so much volume and bounce! Healthy hair is always the most important aspect! For people with thick hair, this cut is ideal as it works with the hair instead of cutting against it. The curls create a rounded shape that is not only flattering, but also gives great movement. I will say that this style may take a little more time in the morning than some of the other looks here, but if big, beautiful curls is your thing, I’m sure you know and won’t mind!
#34 Warm Caramel Waves with Face-Framing Layers
This color is gorgeous! It looks warm and blends and catches the light perfectly. The caramel color has nice dimension that helps visually separate the contrast in the waves. The face framing layers add softness and draw the eye in. If you have a natural wave to your hair this will show the fantastic cut and color. It will need minimal maintenance and make a big impact!
#35 Layered Shoulder-Length Cut with Bangs in Warm Red
I get excited about good reds and this is a good red. It’s warm enough to brighten but not too much that it looks unnatural, and the layers give it all this nice movement that keeps the color from looking flat or one-dimensional. The bangs are soft and blended, not sitting there like a separate piece which is always what you want. This is one of those cuts that transitions very easily from running errands to going out to dinner without changing anything about it which I think is worth more than people realize.
#36 Warm Brown Shoulder-Length Cut with Face-Framing Layers
This haircut is remarkable in its simplicity! I love how her layers are face-framing and how a bit of purpose has been applied to their placement – they really do fall beautifully in accordance with her bome structure. Additionally, I appreciate how the warm and rich brown coloration of her hair provides depth even without highlights. Overall, I would recommend this haircut to individuals who desire to appear neat and polished without having a look that is overly “done”. This is most certainly that!
#37 Ash Blonde Shoulder-Length Cut with Soft Framing
Ash blonde looks pretty here. It’s a cool tone rather than an icy one, and it works with the hair’s fine texture rather than against it. The layers are light enough that they don’t make thin hair look any thinner, which is always my concern when someone with finer hair asks for layers. These are done right. They add shape and a little swing without sacrificing any of the fullness. If you’re going for ash or any cool blonde, I recommend using a purple shampoo once a week to keep it from pulling warm.
#38 Elegant Layered Shoulder-Length Cut
This hairstyle is a true example of the motto ‘less is more’ in action. The layers are quite subtle, enough to create some movement at the ends and a little extra lift at the crown. It has an overall classy appearance that is quite intentional; almost as if the owner has good taste and didn’t need to put in too much effort. For those with thin hair, applying a volumizing mousse at the roots before blow drying will create a great amount of bounce that will last all day, and this cut will not require too much upkeep.
#39 Curled Shoulder-Length Cut with Face-Framing Layers
I like how curls and layers make everything softer around the face. The texture and movement are playful, and that’s something we don’t often consider with hairstyles for women over sixty. Not every cut has to be sophisticated, and sometimes you want a cut that feels like fun. This is exactly that. The front pieces of the hair help to soften the whole look and make it feel very natural.
#40 Smooth Shoulder-Length Bob with Beautiful Shine
The shine is stunning; The look shows off the high quality condition of the hair. The shoulder length bob also looks simple but requires a lot of precision and talent to execute in order to get the look you want. Too blunt on the ends and it looks too heavy, but this one is done correctly. If you like a clean and polished appearance, and don’t mind spending about ten minutes in the morning with a round brush, then this will likely be your cut for a long time.
#41 Layered Shoulder-Length Cut with Wispy Bangs
While the bangs are understated, they serve the purpose of softening and creating focus on the cheekbones, which is the goal we want to achieve. The rest of the cut has some great layers which prevents the overall cut from being styled too much to create a full look instead of a flat one. For those wanting bangs but are apprehensive about the commitment, this is a very easy to wear option. Plus, if you decide bangs aren’t for you, they grow out really nicely!
#42 Layered Shoulder-Length Cut with Subtle Highlights
The first thing that stands out to me is the highlights. They look so naturally done that I thought it was a reflection of the sun on her hair. To achieve that level of highlighting takes real skill and the kind of restraint that makes it a lot different from obvious foils. The haircut is soft and easy, with layers that move and a really flattering length. Overall the look is effortless and to look that good without trying is the dream.
#43 Soft Layers with Feathered Dimension
Feathered ends are one of my all-time favorite looks, and this is a great example of why. Rather than simply being another layered cut, this style has softness at the ends that really changes the feel. The cut is so light and airy, and beautifully movable. The highlights are just the right amount to create interest without changing your overall color. This is ideal. If you want to tell your colorist you want a little something, but not too much, this is it.
#44 Layered Shoulder-Length Curls with Natural Texture
This curl style shows that she got a good cut. The layers create lift and let the waves do their thing instead of being weighed down and bunched together. Wavy hair, the right cut makes all the difference between a fight and a flow. A great curl cream mid and ends will keep everything soft and defined.
#45 Silver Layered Lob with Soft Waves
A silver lob with gentle waves is such a stunning way to wear gray hair. This specific style embraces the silver hair rather than fights against it, and the outcome is very beautiful! The soft layers help to keep the hair from feeling too thick, and the waves contribute to that effortless polished appearance that is often so hard to attain. For anyone that has been considering growing out gray hair, this is my ideal reference photo as it captures how beautiful this transition can be!
#46 Mid-Length Layers with Soft Face-Framing Strands
I love how subtle this is! The pieces that frame your face are working to bring out your cheekbones and the layers are just enough to give some shape so it doesn’t read as one length, and nothing is competing for attention. It’s the sort of cut that will have your friends saying “you look great!” without them being able to put their finger on what’s different. It also gives you versatility so that you can wear it straight one day and then bend it with a curling wand the next and either way it will look fantastic!
#47 Silver Shoulder-Length Cut with Subtle Layers
The feel of this hair may cause fingers to slide through it, and its texture might seem irresistibly touchable. The lack of layering offers little shaping and is designed to minimize bulk around the ends. For this hair type, that’s a smart choice. Considering the natural flow, it seems that less layering is a good choice. The silvery color is lovely and the hair length is perfect, softly grazing the shoulders in an intentional and sophisticated manner.
#48 Silver Shoulder-Length Cut with Gentle Layers
I love how the subtle wave in this cut lifts the hair and creates some volume without requiring product or heat tools. This type of hair is the type that looks good straight out of the shower when it air dries – that is such a great compliment to a haircut. The silver is so pretty and the color looks so natural, also the softened layers are blended so that everything looks seamless and there’s no visible lines or chop. If you are considering silver, and want something contemporary without being overly trendy, this is a fantastic option.
#49 Softly Layered Silver Cut at Shoulder Length
The layers are clearly intended to create an illusion of added thickness, and they’re doing the job. Added volume at the crown and a slight taper towards the ends of the hair create flattering shapes to the style. Even with fine density hair, it looks thick and healthy and that is some smart cutting. If your hair has been looking flat or lifeless, a cut like this will completely transform the way your hair moves because of the purposefully placed layers on top. It’s not about adding more hair, it’s about using hair strategically.
#50 Textured Shoulder-Length Cut with Soft Waves
The relaxing beach vibe of sunkissed skin evokes holiday waves. Adding hair highlights enhances the illusion of depth and dimension of the waves. The flattering length of this style is below the shoulder. It is enough to pull the hair back into a ponytail, while looking great with the hair down. A large barrel curling iron to create the waves, and a little shake out, will take about 15 minutes.
#51 Layered Copper Shoulder-Length Cut with Soft Waves
This will be the last one since the copper color is just so beautiful and I want it to be the last thing you remember. The warmth in this shade is doing amazing things for the skin tone and the wave’s light catching makes it look almost glowing. The layers are building volume right where you want it through the crown and in the upper lengths and then it all tapers softly toward the ends. If you’ve been thinking about going warm or a copper tone this is the version I would show you in my chair and say just trust me on this one.
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