Stylish short hairstyles for women over 50

Hair is a defining factor that changes your whole appearance. But if you’ve always had the same haircut and hairstyles, it can be hard to find the perfect style to suit you. Then there's the task of finding the best hair tools to achieve that style. However, if you choose to go for it, changing your hairstyle when you're over 50 can be such a confidence booster.

We're not saying once you reach 'a certain age' you should get the scissors out and go short. But many of us who are looking for ways to combat thinning hair and wear grey hair without looking too old might want to try a shorter style to help our hair appear healthier and look more elegant.

In order to bring the best advice to you, we spoke to Jason Collier, an A-List stylist and Key Opinion Leader at Jerome Russell Bblonde, a premium brand that specialises in blonde hair care and styling products.

What to consider when choosing short hairstyles for women?

According to Jason Collier, it's essential to consider several factors to ensure that a hairstyle complements your features and fits your lifestyle. "First, consider your face shape, as different styles flatter different shapes,” he says.

Round - Your face will be a similar diameter all the way across with little definition of the jaw. If you want to go really short, something like Olivia Colman’s pixie cut here would look fabulous.

Heart - Your chin will be a lot slimmer than your forehead in a kind of upside-down triangle. Something similar to the style of Sherrie Hewson’s shoulder-length bob is sure to look great on you.

Square - The jaw line will be defined and the same width as the forehead. A long bob like Dawn French’s with a sweeping fringe would suit this shape.

Oval - the face will be more elongated than a round face with a more pointed chin and higher hairline. This face shape suits most styles including Judi Dench’s iconic crop cut.

Short hairstyles for over 50 according to types of hair

“Additionally, think about your hair texture—whether it's fine, thick, straight, or curly—as this will impact how the style looks and wears,” adds Jason.

Short hairstyles for over 50 with fine hair - If you want to go very short, try something like Judi Dench’s do which requires little maintenance and effort to appear thicker.

Short hairstyles for over 50 with thick hair - Fuller hair would look great in a style similar to Dawn French’s showing off its structure, volume and shine. Sherrie Hewson’s style is full of volume at the root making it an ideal style for those with a thicker head of hair.

Short hairstyles for over 50 with curly hair - If you prefer to keep your hair naturally curly, a Miriam Margolyes style would require little maintenance to look stylish.

Short hairstyles for over 50 with straight hair - Emma Thompson styles her straight hair perfectly with her crop and sweeping fringe, great for naturally straight hair.

“Lastly, select a hairstyle that aligns with your lifestyle and the amount of time you're willing to dedicate to styling, ensuring that it’s both practical and flattering,” Jason adds.

Short haircuts will also save you plenty of time on washing, drying and styling your hair, which can become harder as we age, with all the turning of styling tools and heavy hair dryers.

Expert approved short hairstyles for women over 50

“There are many flattering short and long hairstyles for women over fifty that I would recommend, but what it really comes down to is individual’s preference and what makes them feel confident. These are my top three recommendations," says Jason.

Short Pixie Cut

This is a chic, low-maintenance style that adds volume and texture to your hair. It works well with various hair types while also highlighting your facial features for a youthful look. As this is a relatively low-maintenance cut, it doesn’t require as much styling. However, you can use a styling cream to change up your look to slicked back, spiked up, or another fully defined style.

Bobs and Lobs

The bob cut is a classic hairstyle that can be tailored to different lengths and styles, from blunt to layered. You can add sophistication and versatility as it can be styled straight or wavy. For those who prefer a longer option, the lob (long bob) typically falls between the chin and shoulders, adding movement and allowing for a modern look, styled either with waves or straight. Even if you don’t have wavy hair, you can achieve this look at home by simply using a styling tool for gorgeous waves!

Textured Shag

Alternatively, you could opt for a short textured shag which is a layered cut with plenty of texture that can be styled messy or sleek, adding volume and giving you an edgy look. To add extra dimension and brightness to your overall look, you could also add highlights or low lights to your locks.

In addition to these suggestions, there are lots of famous faces looking fabulous with their short cuts, with many opting for edgy haircuts for over 60s. We love how these celebs have embraced their crop styles so why not copy them for yourself? Take one of these pictures to the hairdresser for your next appointment!

Crop hairstyle

Face shape: Oval or round | Hair type: Thinning hair

Short hair is a brilliant choice if you find your hair is thinning and want a real change in style. It’s also a great option if you’re looking for a low maintenance do. Judi Dench's famous pixie crop haircut is the perfect style for our favourite leading lady. Ask your hairdresser for short, textured layers. If you have long or mid-length hair, then it’s best to go short gradually.

Short bob hairstyle

Face shape: Square | Hair type: Straight hair

She’s had long hair, tumbling curls and even pink hair, but Helen Mirren’s latest look is our favourite. This slightly dishevelled update of her signature bob looks modern, fresh and is easy to copy. It suits most naturally straight hair types. Ask your hairdresser for a short layered bob to help create some texture.

Tip:

Rather than blow-drying your hair, leave your hair to dry naturally or rough-dry it on the low heat setting, before finishing with a little wax to define the ends.

Sleek bob hairstyle

Face shape: Square | Hair type: Thick hair

Her trademark sleek bob and fringe have always left us envious and we also love Dawn French's latest locks! Gone is the short angular fringe and instead a softer, longer, side-swept fringe flatters her face, making her look years younger. Suits thick hair types and those who want to grow out a fringe or short layers. Ask your hairdresser for a longer bob, with a slight side parting and a sweeping fringe. If you're looking for ways to get your hair feeling thicker, try avoiding heated hair styling tools, invest in a scalp massager for hair thickness for when you're washing your hair, try some supplements for hair growth and avoid tying your hair up.

Fringes

Face shape: Oval | Hair type: Curly hair

Elegant and polished, we love Darcey Bussell with a fringe. Copy her style and avoid anything heavy, short or structured and instead go for a longer fringe that’s softly feathered. Fringe's are notoriously hard to maintain, so you might want to learn how to cut your hair at home for simple maintenance.

This short hairstyle for women over 50 suits those of us with fine hair or thin hair types. Ask your hairdresser for a shoulder-length cut, with some long layers and a soft, longer fringe. When styling, it's a good idea to use a brush for thinning hair to keep it voluminous.

Long crop with a fringe

Face shape: Oval | Hair type: Straight hair

With her softly layered cut and long sweeping fringe, Dame Emma Thompson steals the show with this polished and flattering look. It’s perfect for straight and fuller hair, but avoid this look completely if you have thin or curly hair. Ask your hairdresser for a long crop with a side-sweeping fringe.

Layered bob

Face shape: Long or heart-shaped | Hair type: Fine, thick, curly or straight hair

With bouncy curls and lots of volume, we love this look on Benidorm star Sherrie Hewson. This style suits most hair types including fine, thick, curly or straight. It works best on those with long or heart-shaped faces though, so if you have a round face shape a slightly longer version will suit you better.

Ask your hairdresser for a shoulder-length bob with layers for extra movement. Highlights will also help add some dimension to your hair to make it appear thicker too. If you're keen to add different colour, but you want to avoid harsh dye, read our guide to natural hair dyes. If you need slightly more length to achieve this look, there are also several natural ways to make your hair grow faster.

Short hairstyles for women over 50 with glasses

Glasses are actually a great accessory to enhance your hairstyle and even your clothes, so it's worth considering your glasses when choosing your style of hair for the day.

Here are a few of our favourite hairstyles we would recommend with your specs:

•Long pixie cut

•Super short cut

•Short bob

•Short layered hair

More short hairstyles for women over 50

FAQs

Do women over 50 look better with shorter hair?

As our expert Stylist Jason Collier mentioned, what hairstyle looks amazing on a woman is often what she feels amazing with. So while it depends on personal preference whether you want to keep your hair short or long, there are definitely certain perks that come with keeping your hair short.

As you age, your hair tends to get finer and more sparse. Shorter hairstyles give a fuller and healthier appearance regardless of your hair type. It it also much more easier to wash, style and maintain as you don’t have to be straining yourself with shampooing for or using heavy styling tools for long.

Short hairstyles also bring a touch of elegance and sharpness which can an elevate your overall appearance and enhance your features too.

What hair length is most flattering for fine hair over 50?

If you have fine hair and want to go short, you may want to try something like a short crop, pixie bob cut or a longer feathery cut which can all add more volume and give your hair a fuller appearance. You can take inspiration from celebrities like Judi Dench and Meryl Streep who have fine hair but style it with flattering haircuts that offer more definition and volume.

What are the best low maintenance short haircuts for women over 50?

If you are looking for a low maintenance look, it is best to stay away from fringes or sharp bobs as it takes effort to maintain them to look fresh. You can opt for short crops, soft bobs and layered cuts that will look fresh and flattering for longer without much maintenance.

Meet the expert:

Jason Collier is an A-List stylist and Key Opinion Leader at Jerome Russell Bblonde, a premium brand that specialises in blonde hair care and styling products.  He works with high-profile celebrity and press clients as well as brands like Selective Professional, Panasonic, Shea Moisture and O&M. He was also named London's Best Colourist in the London Beauty Awards, and awarded as Best Stylist in the Marie Claire Hair Awards 2018.

Lorna White is a Senior Digital Writer at Yours.co.uk. She was previously a writer at Yours Magazine writing features and news stories before joining the digital team. Lorna loves the great British countryside and likes to spend her spare time out and about in her home of Nottinghamshire walking her dog, Pippin.