44 Best Hairstyle Ideas for Older Women Who Want a New Look
Whether you want to look younger or embrace your age, give your look a little refresh this season.
Choosing a fresh hairstyle for a new stage of life doesn't have to mean big change. As New York City-based stylist Mark Garrison says, "You can stick with your favorite style, but update it in little ways." The trick is to work with a stylist who focuses on three key factors: your bone structure, hair type and preferred maintenance level. To find the best haircut for your age, stylists recommend turning to a celeb with a similar face shape and hair texture to determine what might look best on you.
Just be sure to communicate your desires to your hairstylist. If you are interested in a pixie haircut, for example, then be sure to speak up! Don't be shy. Use this time to ask your stylist all of your hair questions. Also, don't fall into styling traps like thinking you can't rock long hair over a certain age (have you seen Naomi Campbell?!).
However, there's one myth we can put to rest right now: There is no one-size-fits-all hairstyle for older women. Anyone can look great with almost any haircut at almost any age — from your 20s through the 80s+! Long or short, curly or straight, there are no strict guidelines here. However, there are some tips and tricks to landing the style of your dreams. So, give your look a little refresh this season with head-turning style inspiration for a variety of textures, lengths and occasions. Check out our very favorite haircuts for older women, pictured on these gorgeous celebrities over 50.
Long and Lovely
Whoever asked, "Does long hair make an older woman look older?" has clearly never seen Naomi Campbell. And if you are still on the fence about growing out your hair, then opt for a weave or a wig to get the style sans commitment.
Voluminous Pixie
If there's one person who knows how to age gracefully, it's Jane Fonda. Take the plunge with a short style that features lots of layers and volume.
Beachy Bob
Alfre Woodard's bob somehow looks both coifed and windswept. To achieve this look, go for a short cut with tons of layers, and add in loose waves with a curling iron to create volume and dimension.
Pompadour Updo
Nobody does chic like Helen Mirren. Mirror her elegant style with a pompadour updo, which gives thinner hair tons of volume at the crown, making it appear thicker.
Voluminous Lob
A "lob" (long bob) like Padma Lakshmi's strikes the perfect versatile balance between short and long hair. To boost your hair's fullness, apply a volumizing mousse all over damp strands and, once dry, curl the bottom half of hair with a large-barrel curling iron.
Curly Mohawk
Update your updo with this fantastic hairstyle for older women. This mohawk style, as pictured on Viola Davis, won't make you look like you are chasing a trend. The way her curls cascade down gives just the right amount of edge.
Spunky Crop
A pixie with choppy pieces looks fresh and youthful ‚ plus it's wash-and-go low-maintenance. Try out feathery micro bangs with your pixie like Judi Dench. These can help elongate your face and bring attention to your eyes. A dab of pomade worked through small sections of dry hair will enhance the shape.
Tantalizing Tendrils
If you have medium-length or even long hair, a quick way to update your look is simply to pull it back into a messy bun. If your hair is layered like Salma Hayek, then let a tendril down on each side of your face to help frame your face.
Bangs with Long Waves
Angela Bassett's cool, fringed style is the height of glam. Long waves help accentuate your cheekbones, while blunt bangs frame your face.
Modern Shag
For an ultra-versatile look, try a shaggier cut like Suzanne Somers. Ask for wispy bangs that melt into face-framing layers.
Side Swoop
Part the front of your hair off-center before blowdrying to easily add subtle drama, like Patti LaBelle. Spritz a light setting spray onto the part and front section to keep it in place.
Full Curly Texture
Embracing hair's volume and curly or wavy texture adds a flattering softness to the face, as Andie Macdowell proves. Distribute a curl-defining mousse through damp strands before air-drying or styling.
Asymmetrical Style
An asymmetrical cut gives your face and overall look some dimension. We love Jennifer Lopez's honey blonde take on this asymmetrical bob.
Lush Curls
No matter what your hair's length, bouncy, well-shaped spirals read as lively, youthful and glamorous. Curl small sections using a 3/4" curling iron for tighter coils or use a 1" one to make it looser like Meg Ryan.
Elegant Topknot
Give facial features a visual "lift" like Julianne Moore by pulling hair back into a soft chignon at the crown of your head. Lightly mist the front with hairspray to tame any flyaways.
Auburn Curls
If you want to amp up your natural curls, try out a subtle auburn color like Debbie Allen. To make your face the star of the show, pull back some of your hair at the crown, but still allow your curls to cascade.
Effortless Updo
Next time you put your hair up, try leaving a few pieces out and styling them to one side, like Susan Sarandon.
Defined Ringlets
Let your natural texture shine through like Oprah Winfrey. The best way to make sure each coil is defined? Apply a gel for curly hair when strands are still wet.
Bob with Chunky Highlights
If you want your color to pack a punch, opt for chunkier highlights, like Christine Baranski. These streaks will light up your whole face.
A Close Cut with Volume
A pompadour hairstyle can often give an edgy look to older women. To soften it, add some loose curls and let it fall slightly to the side, a la Vivica Fox. You can achieve this look with a close cut by adding some clip-ins to the top of your hair. If your hair is longer then try pushing it all up to the front of your hair and pinning it where necessary to frame your face.
Katie Berohn is the Beauty Assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her Master’s Degree at NYU’s Graduate Program of Magazine Journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life Magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan, a digital editorial internship at New York Magazine’s The Cut, a social good fellowship at Mashable, and has freelanced for HelloGiggles. When she’s not obsessing over the latest skincare launch or continuing her endless search for the perfect shade of red nail polish, Katie can be found in a hot yoga class, trying everything on the menu at New York’s newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends.
Danielle James is the Digital Beauty Director of ELLE.com. Previously, she was the Fashion and Beauty Director of HelloBeautiful.com and MadameNoire.com. She’s written for The Cut, InStyle, Allure, The Business of Fashion, Nylon, Essence, Good Housekeeping, and more. She enjoys sailing, thrifting, Japanese whiskey, Naomi Campbell’s runway walk, and Rihanna in the comment section.
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