A medium-length hairstyle for women over 50 is any hairstyle of shoulder to chest-length that complements older ladies with thinning strands by making the hair look fuller. With modern hair cutting and styling techniques, it’s now a breeze to own extra youthful looks!
Celebrity goddesses Julianne Moore, Catherine Keener, Ann Curry, and Michelle Obama are proof that literally any mid-length hairstyle can be pulled off at any age, serving us some major hair-spiration! Whether you fancy straight strands or wavy and textured locks, it’s a guarantee that you’ll be able to rock any of these medium length haircuts for women over 50.
Switching up your image with a fitting hairstyle should be a piece of cake once you consider your face shape, hair density, as well as your complexion. Veteran hairstylist Laura Eberts works with various techniques – layering, highlights, curls, bangs – and her clients always looked fresh and cute!
What’s super about a mid-length cut is that you can have all the styles you want possible – an updo for formal events or when you need to hit the gym, or let it all down on waves for a casual, flirty look! Longer hair, such as medium length cuts, will help you to look younger. I mean, outdated shouldn’t be in any mature lady’s vocabulary!
So before your next hair appointment, browse our photos of the most popular medium length hairstyles for women over 50!
#1: Shoulder-Length Cut for 50-Year-Old Women
Medium hairstyles for older women, like this long bob, just might be what you need to get a refreshing style. The simple yet sophisticated approach of this mid-length style can be explored, with soft curls, layers, and even varied hair colors for women over 50.
#2: Extra Long Bob for Blonde Hair
When finding a new and flattering hairstyle for women in their 50s with blonde hair, an extra-long bob for blonde hair is the perfect pick. This versatile haircut, easy to style and maintain, provides a youthful and sophisticated look. It’s a perfect choice for those aging gracefully. The long bob gives you many styling options. You can wear it sleek and straight or add loose waves for a relaxed feel. This cut is great for those with fine or thinning hair. It adds volume and texture without making the strands heavy.
#3: Mixed Textures
If you’re an older woman seeking a new haircut, consider a mid-length style with a mix of textures. This versatile style adds depth and movement to your hair. Using straight and curly strands gives a natural and effortless style that fits your persona. The mix of textures adds volume and dimension, bringing a youthful vibe to your hair. Style this haircut using a texturizing spray or mousse to enhance the different textures in your hair. Try curling or straightening methods to highlight your hair’s contrasting textures.
#4: Golden Balayage for Medium-Length Hair
For women aged 50 and up, the golden balayage is a versatile and beautiful option for medium-length hair. The golden balayage adds depth and dimension to medium-length hair with soft, sun-kissed highlights. It allows for a natural-looking blend of colors, with the golden tones enhancing an overall warm and youthful appearance. This look doesn’t only flatter various skin tones but also adds a touch of elegance. Visit your stylist every 6 weeks to maintain the soft elegance of this style. Also, get color touch-ups every 8 weeks. Medium-length hair with balayage offers the perfect balance between easy maintenance and styling options.
#5: Blonde Straight Hair with Choppy Bangs
Try adding choppy bangs to blonde straight hair. Bangs are a great way to change up a whole look! Adding bangs also provides more versatility when you wear your hair up. For women over 50, having choppy bangs is a youthful and modern everyday style.
#6: Bouncy Butterfly Cut with Curtain Bangs
A haircut in the butterfly style, with bangs styled like curtains, will make your hair look full of life and youthful. Layers that are light and airy will add texture and volume to your hair. To achieve the best results from this hairstyle, use a large round brush. Apply a mousse that adds volume to provide the most support and shape.
#7: Beautiful Gray Hairstyle at Mid-Length
You could continue dyeing your hair, or you could start showing off your natural hair! This beautiful gray mid-length hairstyle not only looks stunning, but it’s also a great style choice to help you transition from dyeing your hair.
#8: Loose and Wild Messy Curls
This look is so fun and bouncy! The loose and wild messy curls are a great look, especially if you’ve got a natural texture. You should try to use a curl cream to keep these curls coiled and hydrated. Curls love moisture!
#9: Wearable Soft Curls
Wearable soft curls can be a refreshing option for women in their 50s with mid-length hair. It’s recommended to keep the layers minimal to achieve a flattering look. However, a few subtle razored layers will give your locks added dimension and movement. They will also keep the overall style natural and effortless. Volumizing mousse can also be a nice ally in creating soft, touchable curls that last all day.
#10: Perfect Mid-Length Light Blonde Curls
Are you a woman over 50 who wants to rock perfect mid-length light blonde curls? Consider a layered cut with face-framing highlights to add depth to your locks. Opt for longer layers if you want the curls to expand without losing their shape. To style, start with damp hair and apply a curl-defining cream from your roots to your ends. Then, use a diffuser attachment on your blow dryer to dry your hair gently with a low heat setting. Shake out your curls with your fingers. Then finish with a light-hold hairspray to hold the shape all day.
#11: Side-Swept Mid-Length Cut
A side-swept cut is a stylish and versatile hairstyle that can be worn to look youthful and chic in your fifties. This haircut features a mid-length cut that falls just below the shoulders. It has layers added to create movement and texture. The side-swept bangs add a touch of elegance to the overall look while also framing the face in a flattering way. One of the great things about a side-swept mid-length cut is that it’s easy to maintain and style. You can wear it straight and sleek for a polished and professional look or add loose waves or curls for a casual vibe.
#12: Vanilla Blonde Hair with Front Bangs
Update your medium locks in vanilla blonde hair with front bangs. Bangs are trendy and would be a great option to hide those forehead creases that we all have after 50. Be sure not to cut your bangs too short to keep the look soft. Have your stylist add complimenting layers to your length for soft movement. If you don’t have any wave of your own, add some with a 1-inch iron to dry hair.
#13: Classic Soft Shag
Are you a woman over 50 with mid-length blonde hair looking for a haircut that’s easy to style? The mid-length classic soft shag may be perfect for you. This cut offers voluminous and effortless-looking hair with subtle layers and face-framing bangs. It compliments a variety of face shapes. My advice for styling is it’s best to start with towel-dry hair. Apply a volumizing mousse to your hands. And aim to let the hair air dry for a bit, then go in with a round brush for a more soft, natural texture.
#14: Rezo Cut Makeover for Older Women
If you are in your fifties, try this Rezo cut makeover for older women! Be sure to ask about the proper maintenance and styling products to support this look.
#15: Mid-Length Pink Balayage
Ask for a mid-length pink balayage. When you want to do a color that is edgier, yet sophisticated, try light pink. If you have a lot of greys, you will not have to pre-lighten you can do a vivid right over the top. If you want more pieces to pop, doing some pre-lightened around the face would be beautiful. Pinks typically wash out fast, so make regular visits every 4-6 weeks to maintain.
#16: Messy Shag for Women with Thin Fine Hair
Cut layers on layers and style in a wild way to achieve an adventurous 50+ hairstyle. You should go for a shaggy medium hairstyle for women over 50. It’s a sexy shattered lob. The slight angle gives a slimming look by drawing your eye down and framing your face. However, the shattered layers give volume to the crown drawing your eye up. Medium-length hairstyles for thin hair can be quite versatile.
#17: Natural-Looking Mid-Length Thick Curls
In order to get the most out of your curls, you must seek out a stylist that can help you navigate a great haircut. Thick curls exude a shape and the best way to show off the style is to get a haircut to show off your features.
#18: Sweeping Long Bob Style
A sweeping long bob is a great option for women looking for a fresh, youthful hairstyle. It frames the face without being dramatic and is best on straight-to-wavy hair types. An added bonus: this style will bring out your features even more if you have an oval-shaped face! To style it at home, just blow dry with a round brush and finish off with some flexible hold hairspray. When visiting your hairstylist for trims, request subtle layers around your cheekbones. The layers keep the shape full yet modern looking.
#19: Mid-Length Cut with an Off-Center Part
You may be feeling the draw to switch things up in your fifties as your aging hair presents its challenges. A style like a mid-length cut gives you the ability to have movement. To add to it, my pro tip is working with an off-center part to create fullness. Your part can be used to hide or highlight facial features. And it can hide or show your graying new growth if you decide to add professional color.
#20: Gorgeously Curled Ends
Try a curled style for a youthful look. Aging hair tends to be dry, coarse, and frizzy. Doing a deep conditioner once a week will add moisture, and shine and make your hair soft. When you want to add curls to your hair, I recommend curling your hair back and away from your face. Doing this will help to lift and brighten your face.
#21: Softly Layered Silver Long Bob
If you want to wear your aging hair without wearing your age, try an angled cut with long layers. The added layers will keep the cut from looking heavy and weighing down your facial features. Have your length cut just below the shoulder to give the illusion of length. If you are mostly pepper, ask your stylist to give you a bold money piece. It will give you a softer, brighter appearance.
#22: Blonde to Silver Medium-Length Makeover
One of the best trends to come lately is embracing natural grey hair! I suggest starting with elongated regrowth before lifting ends as light as possible. Then, toning silver and depositing a lowlight close to natural. From this point, extend your appointments to allow the grey to grow out. Then, tone when yellow starts to appear. For products, use a silver toning shampoo to help maintain tone and soften natural grey hair.
#23: Big Hair with a Sweeping Part
Big hair with a sweeping part is making a comeback. Just like the 90’s blowout, big hair was before flat irons. To achieve the most volume when drying, use a round brush with a dryer or a blow dry brush. Keeping sections the same size as your brush and elevated above the section. Don’t be afraid to utilize hot rollers or pin your hair in curls as you dry that section. It will give you more volume and bounce.
#24: Razor Cut Shag with Fringe
Consider a razor cut shag with fringe. Using a razor will give your fine hair a boost of texture. You will get more body at your crown with all the shaggy layers and fringe. You’ll typically need to get your hair cut every couple of months to keep your cut look fresh. Don’t forget to add volumizing spray at your root before blow drying to get more lift and volume.
#25: Thick Blonde Curls
Thick blonde curls are the epitome of effortlessly chic. If you have naturally curly hair, the best way to get a good haircut is to find a stylist that specializes in curly hair. You’ll want the layers cut to support the shape of the curls. In case you need to get a perm to achieve curly locks, be sure you have natural hair and not color-treated, as perms can be harsh on colored hair. Don’t forget to bring photos of the styles you want to your stylist.
#26: Gorgeous Blonde Blowout
Gorgeous blonde blowouts are one of the best decisions you can make after lightening your hair. No matter who your stylist is, or what enhancers they claim to use in their lightener, let me tell you, lightening can be damaging. With that being said, you want to do as much babying to your hair at home as you possibly can. The best step to add to your at-home routine (besides deep conditioning) is avoiding as much heat as you can. With that being said, your best styling option would be a regular weekly blowout. Blowouts will help to avoid unnecessary washing of your hair, longer days between washes (because your hair is already styled), help you to avoid frizz in your hair, gives volume, and also allows for longer wear.
#27: Medium Fluffy Balayaged Hair
If you want to have lived-in color, ask for balayaged hair during your next visit. By opting for dyeing your hair at the ends you give the illusion of an expensive yet low-maintenance style. Medium length and nicely cut, fluffy layers have become a highly requested service in the salon because of their flexible style.
#28: Beachy Blonde Waves
You can have super sexy hair with beachy blonde waves. Blonde hair looks trendy and stylish when curled to perfection. Try to figure your way around a curling iron to get the perfect beachy wave. If you can, use a deep conditioning treatment once a week to keep heat damage to a minimum.
#29: Grey Feathered Ends
Grey feathered ends are a gorgeously mature way to wear your hair if you’ve grown out your natural sparkly mane. Ask your stylist for defined layering around your face to achieve this effortlessly swept hairdo. Style with a blowout to get luscious volume.
#30: Shoulder-Length Loose Blonde Curls
Shoulder-length loose curls are a great style for women over 50. The shoulder length provides an easier amount of hair to work with. Try using a flat iron to quickly add curls to the hair, and finish with a working hairspray.
#31: Medium-Length Blonde Balayage
For an instant facelift, go for a medium-length blonde balayage. Cutting off dead ends and giving hair brightness around the face will make you look ten years younger. Making your hair healthy as you age is very important for beautiful and youthful-looking locks.
#32: Blonde Balayage Mid-Length Hair
Blonde medium-length hair is a natural style that can work well on ladies in their 50s. The color palette usually will range between two or three tonal changes. Traditionally, darker roots to brighter ends. Placement can be customized to highlight or contour facial features or to compliment the haircut.
#33: Short Shag with Choppy Fringe Bangs
A shag with bangs is a retro do’ that has made its way back into the scene. This feathered feel is great for wavy to straight textures. To best achieve this style naturally, use styling aids like Kristin Ess Hair Sea salt air dry Mousse while working it into towel-dried hair with a Denman brush, and styling it in a wet to dry set for optimal movement.
#34: Beautiful Layered Shag
When a beautifully layered shag is done right, it can take years off your look. A stylist that is skilled at the shag haircut will know how to shape the layering to contour your face shape. Nice, flowy layers create movement to liven up flat, boring hair. Styling will be moderate with the use of a round brush and dryer or hot rollers. Always finish with a volumizing texture spray.
#35: Medium-Length Hair with Face-Framing Bangs
This long bob may be the key to achieving a different hairstyle. The fringed bangs on women in their 50s can take years off their face.
Transition your medium length hair into a shorter style that’s fresh, flattering, and fun! You can give it so many personalities through adding layers, doing all one length, or stacking it in the back!
The longest part of your hair in the front can act as an arrow towards your facial features. So make sure you talk to your stylist about what would be most flattering with your features and style!
When looking for medium haircuts for older women, odds are you won’t be able to put your hair up in a high ponytail. So take that into consideration!
#36: Mid-Length Hair with a Middle Part
Mid-length hair with a middle part creates an elongated facial shape that can help a round face appear oval. A middle part can draw more attention to facial symmetry by creating a mirror line effect.
#37: Textured Cut for Thin Hair
A textured cut for thin hair will add width and volume to your style. Women over 50 tend to find their hair becoming a little thinner. While layering too much can remove the weight, adding texture is a softer way of layering to maximize fullness. The textured layers widen the volume of hair, especially when blow-dried with a round brush.
#38: Blunt Cut with Layering
Pairing a blunt cut with layering is sure to give locks extra volume and movement. Greece-based stylist Soubecas Ioannis did the point cutting to soften the hair ends.
“This cut gives a feminine but dynamic and professional style,” says Ioannis.
For styling, he suggests volume mousse for the root volume. The argan oil would also be helpful to moisturize and gloss the mid-lengths.
#39: Long Bob (Lob) Hairstyle for Women Over 50
Easy does it with long tresses maintained in a graceful manner for women in their 50s. Hair falls slightly past the shoulder which achieves a mature yet modern look.
#40: Medium-Length Feathered Layers
You can never go wrong which so much texture as this flyaway ends give! Shorter layers and feathered hair create more body and makes for one of the better hairstyles for women over 50 with thin hair.
#41: Natural Bob for Curly Hair for Older Women
Consider a natural bob for curly hair for older women. Aside from the curls, this style has a lot of texture that makes the tresses seem full of life! To maximize its beauty, use a texturizing product as a finishing touch.
#42: Layers For Women Over 50 with Glasses
Opt for a gorgeous way to show off some layers and to give volume and texture to your medium hair. Full bangs and frames accentuate this cute hairstyle for women over 50 with glasses and eye color.
#43: Collarbone-Length Side Part
Be the best you can be in your 50s with some neatly parted hair that flicks backward for a softer effect. The brunette hues add natural touches to the medium hairstyle that will help tame your appearance. This is one of the best medium-length hairstyles for older women.
#44: Medium-Length Wavy Lob Hairstyle
A medium-length wavy lob hairstyle can lift your facial structure and make the hair appear thicker. A medium-length hairstyle for a woman over 50 brings some balance to the face and length. This also prevents the hair from dragging the face down. To elevate this length, add some soft waves and run your fingers through to break them up. It’ll create a stacked effect and will fill the hair out, especially on finer hair.
#45: Mid-Length Layered Bob
This mid-length layered bob was created by master stylist Linda P of Warrington, PA. “This cut is a medium length lob (long bob) with light layers at the bottom. The layers give it movement to enable you to wear it in multiple ways. It can be worn casual or dressy, curly, messy or straight,” she states.
When asked about whether or not older women should opt for this cut, she says, “go for it! It’s so easy to style, and almost all hair types work well.”
For styling a messy finish, let it air dry on a hot day with some light gel. With thicker hair, blow-dry with smoothing creme and a round brush for a straighter finish.
Linda goes on to explain, “volumizer can be used on finer hair over 50. Also, you can really dress this style up by curling it. Another fabulous thing about medium-length hair is that you can still pull it up! You cannot go wrong with this style. To keep this hairdo looking its best, get it cut every 5-6 weeks.”
#46: Medium-Length Beach Waves
Get medium-length beach waves to ensure your hair looks and feels fuller. Medium-length hairstyles for 50-year-old women are a great option by lifting the length to below the shoulder. This can make the tresses look thicker, and it’s versatile enough to wear up or down. To maximize this length, add some beach waves to widen the appearance of the hair and add a youthful softness.
👉 Here are more quick and easy wash and go hairstyles for mature women in their fifties
#47: Textured Lob for Women Over 50 With Thick Hair
This mid-length haircut for thick hair is textured, shaggy and versatile.
If you want low maintenance, try these piece-y layers. If you’re carefree and love wild hair, go for it!
Add texture into your hairstyle for women over 50 with thick hair with a dry texture spray like Beach Club IGK or Texturiza by Unite.
Rough dry or air-dry, and if you need the extra body, try using a medium curling iron. Shake out and add texture with your favorite spray.
#48: Medium-Length Angled Bob
Medium hairstyles for women over 50 are about finding a versatile cut that works with your hair density, facial features, and lifestyle. The shoulder-length cut is very low-maintenance but modern. The style will work great if you love wearing messy hair, naturally wavy or curled loosely. To style medium haircuts for women over 50 like this one, I suggest you use a leave-in conditioner, blow-dry balm, and 1-inch curling iron.
#49: Lightly Layered Cut for Older Women
Opt for a layered cut for older women. This collarbone-length haircut is a soft and natural-looking blonde. The cut and color framed around the face offer youthfulness and glow.
This hairstyle is great for women in their mid 50s who want low maintenance hair, or is more high maintenance. The medium-length caters to both. It can be tied back into quick style or blown out.
For styling products, try Aveda Cherry Almond Leave in Conditioner. This is one styling product that can take the place of many.
If you want a fun and easy medium hairstyle in your 50s, this is perfect and so versatile! It fits the on-the-go older woman as well as the professional office-type!