As I was cutting a 54-year-old woman’s hair, she commented, “I feel like if I get bangs, I’ll look like I’m trying too hard.” I had to pause because, oh my goodness, that is the opposite of what she should be worried about! I do side bangs on women over 50 because they are excellent at updating someone’s look without going too far. Full bangs are more of a commitment because they will grow out, but side bangs are such a relief and look great no matter the length and type of hair.
I’ve cut bangs on numerous women over 50 and developed a good understanding of side bangs being a bit of an acquired taste. The clients who were most hesitant will often be the ones who love them the most. Side bangs are different, but they posses a unique quality that is hard to describe. It can be very the polished side bang look where it’s positioned behind the ear. I’m eager to show you some of the looks I’ve developed, so let’s get started!
#1: Soft Textured Bob That Just WORKS
Walking out of the salon gives you a feeling of a fresh start with a new haircut. Side bangs and layering look really good at framing the face and the cut hits right above the shoulders so you have the versatility to pull it back. When blow drying, a round brush gives the most movement to fine to medium hair. The layers do most of the work.
#2: Bright Blonde Bob with That Easy Side Sweep
I love a blonde bob that looks this effortless. Nine times out of ten, this could go either way: amazing, or you’re fighting with your hair. This one is clearly the amazing category. The color really highlights the texture, and the side bangs are so well blended, they look as if they just fell there. Right? If you’re going this light, a purple shampoo is a must to avoid the brassy tones. But this cut is as low-fuss as it gets.
#3: That Pixie Energy with Side Bangs
The most awesome haircut for women over 50 is definitely a pixie cut with side bangs. This haircut is definitely winning in the longer top shorter bangs confidence and fun category The hair says I absolutely refuse to spend 45 minutes on daily upkeep for this. The contrast with the light hair is bright and warm and the texture gets the cut moving and fun instead of flat which is always the concern with shorter hairstyles when you have fine hair. A little styling product like texturizing paste every few days is all you really need.
#4: Below-the-Chin Blonde Bob with Dimension
I love the “I summer in places” vibes. The highlights aren’t super stripey or super obvious which makes them look really good and makes the whole thing look sun-kissed and dimensional. The length below the chin is flattering and draws the eyes to the neck and jaw. The side bangs look soft and almost feathery which helps to not make the whole look feel to structured. This is the kind of haircut where people will say your hair looks great but they won’t know exactly what changed, which is honestly the best compliment.
#5: Gentle Waves and a Side Bang Situation I’m Obsessed With
I love the waves in this look because they are imperfect in a perfect way. It’s as though the hair just decided to look good today. The side bangs and layers create softness which is lovely on more angular faces. The highlights are subtle but very strategically placed to add dimension to fine hair and reflect light in a flattering way. A lightweight volumizing spray will come in handy for the days when the hair is falling a little flat. Although, the cut is designed to look great even on second day hair.
#6: The “I Woke Up Like This” Bob
I would show this haircut to a client who wants something trendy but isn’t going to spend a ton of time on it each morning. I feel the same way. Shoulder length is super simple to style, and the side bangs are a nice addition to make it softer and cuter. The highlights are barely there, and I think that was a good call because it means fewer trips to the salon for color touch ups. Just get your bangs trimmed every few weeks because once they start poking you in the eye, it’s super annoying.
#7: Airy Layered Bob with the Softest Bangs
The first thing that stood out to me was the balayage. It’s definitely achieving its goal. It looks sunkissed and lived-in, and gives off that just-left-the-salon vibe. The layers are also cut well. They’re giving movement without making the ends look thin, which can be tricky when working with lighter density hair. And can I just say, these side bangs with this face shape? Totally the right decision. I can tell the whole look flows really well and looks effortless, and I can absolutely guarantee that there is a lot of good technique behind it.
#8: Shoulder-Grazing Layers That Move
I like how this cut has layers around the crown. The volume at the top is done nicely, I like how there is no teasing and the length just past the shoulders gives you options. You can curl it, you can straighten it, throw it in a low pony, do whatever you want, and the side bangs are long enough to tuck behind your ear on the days you don’t want to deal with them, and that is a detail I always think about when I cut bangs for people. I cut a lot of bangs, and versatility is key. This is one of those styles that looks good on a lot of different people and that is not something I say lightly.
#9: Classic Medium Layers with a Fresh Feel
Some hairstyles look great for all the above reasons. Some haircuts just give off a put together vibe. That’s this haircut. The side bangs flow seamlessly into the rest of this haircut and the medium length makes it easy to manage. If you want to take this haircut one step further, having face framing highlights would bring out the bangs and add a nice brightness to the overall look. Even without highlights this haircut is solid and flattering. Sometimes you just need a haircut that is stress free in the mornings and this is it.
#10: Textured Bob with Bangs That Frame Everything Right
I LOVE the piecy, textured finish on this bob as it gives it a little more thickness and visual interest than a blunt finish. The side bangs do a lot of the work here as they attract attention to the cheekbones, and naturally soften the forehead. The layering is great because it adds volume to hair that feels thinner, without looking
wiggly or over done. A dry texture spray would be amazing to maintain that lived in look and movement in between washes.
#11: Light and Airy Bob with the Prettiest Bangs
Shoulder length bobs with gentle side bangs are always in style and this is the perfect example! Such lovely highlights! They are fresh, bright and not too heavy, so you won’t feel committed to the salon every 6 weeks.
For this hair length, I recommend your finer hair invest in a good root lifting spray. It makes the difference in the most shocking way! Just a little bit at the roots before blow drying and you instantly have some life in the hair!
#12: Layered and Highlighted with a Gorgeous Side Sweep
I love the warmth of the highlights! They are so smartly done so that when the side bangs go over, they just light up! The shoulder-skimming layers create movement that stops the longer hair looking heavy or old, a factor I’m always postulating with all my clients who want to keep their length. This is a fantastic compromise between “I’m not ready to go short” and “I want something current”, and the bangs are the finishing touch.
#13: Silver Textured Bob That Makes Me Want to Go Silver
Every time I see silver bob hairstyles done this well, I contemplate allowing my greys to come through too. Styled this way, silver hair shows off so much texture, and I love how the layers and the bangs work together. The bangs hit right at the chin, so they do a great job at framing the face, and aren’t dated. The way silver hair has been layered here also helps to avoid it looking flat, and helps the colour look nice and bright. You can definitely embrace your natural silvers, just be sure to use a good shampoo so the silver doesn’t go all yellowy!
#14: Silver Pixie That’s Giving Me LIFE
Amazing look! The layers in front with the pixie cut in the back make a wonderful combo! The bangs along with the length on top create versatility which I love! And that silver color? Stunning! Last year I had a client go silver from a medium brown and I remember her crying happy tears in my chair because she felt like more like herself than she had in years. That’s what this cut reminds me of. It’s not about looking younger, it’s about looking like the most amazing version of yourself at this moment. Just stay on top of your toner appointments and you’ll be all set. Silver and gold. You know what I mean!
#15: Pink Highlights on a Layered Bob? YES PLEASE
I didn’t expect to love this, but those pink accents are so pretty and so unexpected color. Honestly, more women over 50 should do this. It’s not crazy, it’s not punk, it’s just playful to have a wash of pink through a layered bob. The cut is a classic style with soft layers to the collarbone, and side bangs. The color really makes it special Pastel colors, like this one, fade a lot faster than regular dyes, so you might expect to go back to the salon more than you think. It may be more of a “fun for a season” type of deal, but what a fun season it would be!
#16: Long Layers with Side Bangs and a Whole Lot of Polish
Do you know what I mean? It looks pricey. It looks like it would be done by a stylist that would charge a lot. The long blended bangs framing the face looks nice. The layering done around the face is also good, and adds a nice softness, just what you want to keep that hair over the shoulders. That said, longer hair at this stage of the game does need some extra love, so make sure you’re keeping it in tip top condition with a deep conditioning mask at least once a week.
#17 Soft Blonde Layered Bob That’s Pure Elegance
What I’ve noticed with this style is its beauty in the simplicity of providing a strong layered bob with soft side bangs. It is also lovely because the fine hair plays to its advantage in creating a soft, airy look. The highlights are so naturally blended that they look like your hair color just decided to be prettier one day. If your hair is a similar density, own it! Not everything needs to be an illusion of thickness, sometimes hair that is fine is just gasping for a clean cut to display all that it can do.
#18 Wavy Lob with Bangs and a Little Balayage Magic
I really like the waves on this lob! The soft side bangs really tie it all together! I also really like this subtle balayage. It looks like your hair has natural highlights and it adds so much dimension. The medium density is spot on. You have enough hair to create body but not too much that the waves get weighted down. If you want to achieve these waves at home, use a 1.25 inch curling iron, and wrap the hair around the barrel loosely. Don’t clamp to the iron. Just wrap and let it fall.
#19 Rich Chocolate Bob with the Most Flattering Bangs
Can I state that the shade of chocolate brown is the most underrated hair color for women over fifty? People are raving about going blonde and going silver. But this beautiful rich brunette shade is sooooo much better. The side bangs on the bob are soft and not wispy and she frames the face in the most its so naturally flattering way. The layers give movement to what could have been a solid heavyweight color, and the overall length keeps it looking modern. This is the type of color and cut that makes your skin look stunning, and that’s what great hair color should really do.
#20 Layered Waves with Side Bangs for Days
I inform my clients with wavy hair that they are sitting on a GOLDMINE because hair with the right cut looks styled, and this is a perfect demonstration. The layers emphasize what the hair wants to do and the side bangs give an amazing extra touch that finishes the whole thing off. A wave enhancing cream will be worth it for definition without crunch because nobody wants crunchy waves and that is a hill I will die on. This look is really timeless, it moves, it photographs, and it looks like you put in more effort than you actually did.
#21 Modern Bob with Soft Bangs and Great Texture
This bob gives me all the contemporary vibes without being too trendy in a way that’s going to look odd in a couple years – something I honestly think about a lot. The side bangs are perfect for highlighting your cheekbones and the textured finish makes it look less “done”. I keep going back to how GOOD the length is here just above the shoulders, because it really hits that spot where your hair can swing and move instead of just sitting there. If you want to add some depth without color, a few lowlights would be gorgeous here just a shade or two darker strategically placed underneath.
#22 Long Silver Layers with Elegant Side Bangs
I have a great appreciation for women with stunning layered hairstyles and gorgeous long silver hair. This look with layers and bangs is amazing and serves a lovely face-framing purpose so the length doesn’t seem like an afterthought, which is super important. Any length of hair can look like a big blob of nothing, but clearly this look is the opposite. The layered silver hair looks natural and the silver tones enhances the movement. If you have long silver hair, you have to maintain it with trims because split ends show faster on lighter hair and it can make the hair look scraggly.
#23 Voluminous Curls with Side Bangs, Oh My
Please try this look! If your hair has a natural curl or wave, the volume and movement, and the way the side bangs blend in the curls, it’s all working. This look is all about embracing what your hair does naturally. If you have naturally curly hair, this look is for you! This is fantastic for medium to thick hair, especially with a bit of curl cream and a diffuser. Let your curls do their thing!
#24 Softly Curled Bob That’s All Elegance
If a client comes to me & says “I want to look polished but not stiff”, this is the cut I would send them to because THAT’S WHAT THIS DELIVERS. A medium-length bob WITH soft curls looks polished and not stiff. The way the side bangs come together is really pretty and perfect for face framing. I especially love this style for round and oval face shapes. The curls create width in the right places, and the bangs draw the eye down to where they should. It is totally doable to create these types of soft curls at home. You just need a medium barrel iron and the willpower to leave them alone once they’re curled. The more you play with them, the more they will fall. Trust the process!
#25 Textured Bob with Side Bangs and Easy Style
As we finish up, let’s take a look at this lovely creation. Bob with side bangs is one of those haircuts that suits almost everyone. It’s very easy to wear as no styling is required, the side bangs really soften the look. Practical length, fun texture, and the best part is this hairstyle looks like you spent more time on it than you really did. This is a more favorite bob to do as it works well with natural waves if you have any.
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