25 Beautiful Side Bangs That Fashionable Older Women Swear By

Years of experience in this profession has made me understand the look that some women give when they come to the salon. To them I can see the look that says, “I want to change things up but not too much. I still want to keep some things the same. I want a more modern version of myself.’ Almost every time I have to break the news to them that the only way to achieve this look is with side bangs. I remember a specific instance that illustrates this perfectly. One of my clients was a retired professor, and was generally quite strict and precise about every aspect of her life. So when I asked her how long it had been since she changed her hair, I was surprised when her answer was, “11 years.” So we put in a side bang that she could sweep across her forehead, and there she was, talking to the eyes of someone she hadn’t interacted with for years. That is the power a side bang has. It may not completely change a person, but it can alter perceptions and that may be all they need a side bang for.

Depending on an overall hairstyle, side bangs behave differently. For instance, with a pixie cut, side bangs sharpen the look. With layered bobs, side bangs soften the look and with shoulder-length cuts, they may do one or the other based on how heavy the bangs are. Compared to full blunt bangs, side bangs are more forgiving because side bangs grow in an easier way and don’t become a curtain. This is unlike full blunt bangs, as they generally will grow too long and become awkward and annoying within about six weeks. I keep coming back to these twenty-five variations with my clients, and they each do something a little different.

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#1: Layered Shoulder Cut with a Side Sweep

This style relies heavily on the side bangs. Keeping the ends of the hair above the shoulders and added movement prevents finer hair from looking too flat. The bangs swept across the forehead really do finish this look! The hue of her hair is also very nice. The warmer, auburn tones are more beneficial to her skin compared to cooler shades. If your hair tends to get limp at the end of the day, you can apply lightweight volumizing mousse to the roots before blow drying and this shape will hold longer than you would expect.

#2 Chin-Length Textured Bob with a Side Bang

The chin-length hairstyle is great for long-haired women looking for a change who don’t want to go all the way to a pixie cut. The modern length is not too extreme and the layered edges help to avoid a blunt look or a feel. Side bangs at this length tend to cut the face and draw the eye horizontally across the face, softening a stronger jaw and highlighting the cheekbones. In this case, less fine hair would make the whole thing look a bit more like a helmet, so it’s a good thing.

#3 Shoulder Waves with a Soft Side Bang

I usually do this cut when someone wants to look polished but not too try-hard. The waves are bouncy and not too perfect and the side bangs fall gently with no harsh lines. It also works for fine to medium hair as the layered cut gives the illusion of more hair without actually thinning it. If you have a more angular face, this one is perfect as the softness in the bangs and the waves just soften the look without making you look round. It will take you about ten minutes with a hair dryer and round brush but it is just a matter of practice and it will become second nature to you.

#4 Copper Layers with a Sweeping Side Bang

Copper looks great on warm and neutral skin tones, especially on women over fifty. I wish more women over fifty would try this color! This haircut is quite simple: she has some shoulder-length layers, a soft wave, and a side bang blended into the longest layer, but the copper color really elevates it. The layers give a nice volume with medium-density hair without being too big. Of all the colors, copper fades the fastest, so if you don’t want to have to go to toning appointments every couple of weeks, this may not be the look for you.

#5 Chocolate Layers with Subtle Highlights and Side Bangs

Best possible case scenario, this is a safe suggestion. Most people will like the deep chocolate base, and the gentle highlights don’t feel streaky or overdone. The length is a little past the shoulder so there’s enough layering to get movement, and the side bang is gentle enough to blend with the face framing bits. If your features are angular, this kind of layering will look good on you. The only thing I would say is that with some product and a rapid blowout, fine to medium hair at this length can lose its shape by the middle of the day.

#6 Textured Pixie with a Soft Side Bang

Personally, I think this style of pixie cut can suit many more women than the general opinion. The side bangs are more feminine and the layers soften the severity of the cut. This style is really good for oval and heart-shaped faces. The chocolate color adds depth and makes the fine hair look thicker. You will have to come in for trims much more often than before, probably every four to five weeks, but the good news is your styling time in the morning will be almost non existent.

#7 Medium-Length Layers with Elegant Side Bangs

Getting a haircut is not that difficult. For example, we have a nice clear cut that is medium length. It has good texture with side bangs that sit nice and smooth on the forehead. To be frank, this is the type of style that looks amazing on the day of the haircut and looks great six weeks after as well. The hair in this example is healthy with a slight wave. This avoids a flat look. The hair density is perfect so that it provides a good volume without being too bulky. This hairstyle suits oval and heart shaped faces the best. Regular bang trims will keep it looking great!

#8 Textured Bob with a Warm Chestnut Finish

Bobs are always changing, but this style is here to stay. The layers provide movement while the ends stay full, and the side bangs feel soft and blended into the rest of the style. The warm chestnut color provides sweetness and richness without going too dark, and balances well with the style. This will work best for fine to medium hair, as they will have the movement layers to play with, and I imagine most clients want something they can wear every day, and that will look polished and elegant for an evening out, this style does just that.

#9 Silver Layered Bob with Face-Framing Bangs

I admire people who choose to accept their silver and pair it with a great hairstyle. This bob is just above the chin and has layers throughout so that it doesn’t become too heavy. The side bang is perfect for framing the face. The natural sheen of silver hair can be accentuated with a shine serum applied through the mid-lengths. The cut is low maintenance but you will need to go for frequent trims to maintain the shape. This is the style to choose if you have fine hair and an oval or heart face shape.

#10 Soft Layered Bob That Moves

I am able to enjoy how effortless this cut looks. This usually shows the cut is doing most of the work. The layers are blended so smooth that they sit above the shoulders and you can barely see them until the hair moves. The side bangs flow into the cut with no harsh transitions. Ideally the hair is fine and slightly wavy to keep it light and breezy. The only issue is that fine hair tends to get flat at this length without some help so you may find yourself using dry shampoo on day two. But, that is a small price to pay.

#11 Soft Layers with Delicate Bangs and Gray Highlights

The gray highlights woven into this cut feel fresh and intentional which is a great distinction to make. The layers start just below the shoulder and contain enough texture to support a natural wave. The side bangs are soft and wispy so they don’t overpower. This style particularly suits square and oval faces because the layers create a softer frame to balance stronger features. If you have fine hair, a light texturizing spray will hold the shape nicely without any stiffness or crunch.

#12 Shoulder-Length Waves with a Balayage Glow

The balayage is very nice and subtle and looks like sunlight hitting the hair which is how I think balayage should look for women our age. The waves are nice and loose, side bangs, and face framing layers blend perfectly. This style looks great round and oval faces as the wave pattern adds volume and narrows the face where it’s needed. The style is simple enough to do day to day although getting the waves to fall into place every morning will take a little time with a large barrel curling iron or good diffuser.

#13 Curled Bob with Side Bangs

This style is more polished than the others, featuring soft curls that provide the bob with real body and nice bounce. For fine to medium hair that tends to fall flat, this type of curl pattern is a game changer for how full the cut looks. The side bangs are left smooth and the rest of the hair has an effortless vibe and is left more tousled which provides a nice juxtaposition. The warm chocolate brown adds depth to the style, making the look gorgeous in person and beautifully translate in photos. I wouldn’t consider this a wash-and-go. You’ll definitely be spending time using hot tools to get the finished look. There is richness to this style that more simple cuts don’t often achieve.

#14 Short Pixie with Soft Side Bangs

This pixie cut really shows off one’s bone structure and if they want to shy away from it. The cut goes above the jawline so your full cheeks and jaw will be on display and the side bangs offer enough softness to keep things from looking too harsh. This works well for heart shaped faces because the width at the temples and the narrowing at the chin is balanced out by the bang placement. The warm color makes fine hair look like it has more body. With a pixie this short, regular trims are a must but basically zero styling is required.

#15 Silver Layers with Gentle Side Bangs

Shoulder length silver hair with soft layering is one of those combinations that works without explanation. Gentle side bangs that frame the face without being overly heavy. The layering provides just the right amount of texture needed to prevent the hair from looking flat. This is a good style choice for all hair types. The best part is that it’s very low maintenance which is perfect for people who don’t have the time to style their hair. The only thing that needs to be done to keep the hair looking fresh is regular toning. Softer silver and white hair can pick up a yellow brassy color quicker than you might expect, especially if you’re using hard water a lot or are outside a lot. A purple shampoo works great and can be used once a week.

#16 Clean Bob with Side-Swept Bangs

This bob is simple but good and I mean this in a good way. It is an above the shoulder length bob with medium hair density and this means that the hair will keep its shape without getting too bulky and the side bangs are nicely swept across with very little layering. There are ends with some subtle movement due to some light layering underneath that has dimension and prevents it from looking like a block of hair. Ovular and heart shape faces are the obvious match for this hairstyle. It doesn’t take much from you on a day to day basis and that’s exactly the point.

#17 Short Bob with Waves and Side Bangs

This short bob style has soft waves, adds the volume fine hair usually lacks. Side bangs are blended and feel like a natural part of the style instead of sticking out, which always looks more polished. This style looks good on round and oval face shapes. With some of the cuts, I think styling products are more important here. A lightweight styling cream will define the waves and control frizz without being too heavy. It’s a youthful style without trying to be young, which is a tricky line and this one walks it really well.

#18 Warm Auburn Layers That Frame the Face

I always visit Auburn for women’s hair styles for round faces because the warmth of the color draws focus to the centre of the face and the layers have a visual slimming effect on the sides. This shoulder length style has just enough layering to give fine hair the illusion of density and the side bangs soften the forehead without covering it completely. It’s a bit of an upkeep commitment. Both the color and the shape of the layers require maintenance, but the end results are worth it. It’s a look that feels polished, but is still really natural.

#19 Classic Soft Layers with Side Bangs

I would consider this a positive, dependable cut. Shoulder-length layers with soft waves are suitable for round and oval faces, and the side bangs help ease forehead prominence and transition nicely into the rest of the style. This style also holds up throughout the day on medium density hair, which is not something every layered cut can claim. Bangs will need to be trimmed more frequently than the rest of the cut, so expect to book a quick appointment every 3-4 weeks for a bang trim. It’s a good base that can be dressed up, or kept casual depending on the occasion.

#20 Silver Bob with Gentle Movement

A silver bob with layers may come off as boring or impressive. Most of the time the difference lies with how the layers are placed. With this cut, the layers are placed at the midshaft and ends to create movement while still leaving some fullness at the crown. That is the area that fine hair tends to thin first. The side bangs are soft and frame the cheekbones beautifully, and the cheekbone grazing length keeps it modern. When you have silver hair, you may find your bangs need to be blow dried into position every morning, because silver hair can be a bit wiry and tends to be uncooperative.

#21 Textured Lob with Warm-Toned Side Bangs

The lob is a length that suits most people, and this example makes a good case for that. The waves add volume to medium density hair, and helps avoid an overdone look. The side bangs soften the jaw in a way that is particularly great for oval and heart shapes. The warm undertones in the color pull the look together and add a healthy glow to the hair. It is reasonably low-maintenance for a longer cut, although you’ll want a wave spray to define the texture on days you skip blow-drying.

#22 Modern Pixie with Soft Side Bangs

Compared to a classic pixie cut, the top of this pixie has longer and more textured hair. This offers more versatility when it comes to styling, and it makes the transition from a longer cut a bit softer. Side bangs create a framing effect without the curtain look, and extra layers on top add volume which is essential for fine and medium hair. This cut works well on oval and heart-shaped faces though depending on where the stylist places the weight, it could work on other faces. For more dimension, soft highlights would be a good option.

#23 Sleek Bob with Warm Undertones

The warm tone of the color is really nice and does a great job of brightening her skin tone. The bob is nice and clean, medium length, well proportioned, and has just the right amount of layering to keep fine hair from looking thin at the ends. The side bangs are soft and fall just right to compliment the whole haircut and add a touch of refinement. This is a great look for oval and heart-shaped faces. The style is low maintenance, but the bangs will need to be trimmed frequently to keep from becoming too heavy and losing their shape.

#24 Textured Pixie with Volume at the Crown

What makes this pixie haircut great for flat fine hair is the added volume at the crown. The layers are flip designed to create lift and fullness up top while keeping the sides neat and clean, also the soft side bangs add a nice feminine touch that balances the overall shorter length. This version suits square face shapes particularly well as the added height at the crown elongates the face while the bangs soften the strong angles. While the styling is fairly low maintenance, you will need to keep up with cuts every five weeks to maintain these proportions along with the length.

#25 Soft Silver Layers with a Natural Flow

This demonstrates beautifully working with the natural tendencies of the hair, rather than fighting against them. The silver is left to do its own thing, and the light layering is just enough to add some movement to the cut and give it that styled look without it appearing over styled. The side bangs are light and blend into the face-framing layers, and this gives the whole look an effortless and natural feel. Fine hair at this length can sometimes look a little sparse, but the layering here is placed really well to avoid that. If you are already growing into your silver and would like to have a cut that makes it look intentional and beautiful, this is a great option.