These Short Haircuts for Older Women Are Timeless and Chic
Thinking about cutting your hair short? Go for it! There's a lot to love about short 'dos—and especially short haircuts for older women! They're chic, fun, and so easy to care for and style. We're here to help with plenty of inspiration for a whole new you, including photos, tips, and celebrity-inspired suggestions to bring with you to the salon. There's something here for every hair type and texture, whether you have straight or curly hair, or thick, fine, or even thinning hair. But remember, haircuts aren't one-size-fits-all: You can (and should!) expect to tweak these styles to make them work for you.
Click through our collection of the best short hairstyles for women over 50 to find variations on shoulder-length cuts, bobs, and pixies that are perfect for women of any age. Here's a quick rundown on the three most popular options: Shoulder-length styles fall above the shoulder (as the name suggests) and strike the perfect balance between not-too-long and not-too-short; these medium-length hairstyles for older women are great for those who aren't necessarily committed to a big chop. Bobs come in a range of looks, but traditionally this cut sits right around the jaw line. The pixie is the shortest of the three and can also be styled many ways. For the ultimate crop, channel Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. (She's credited with popularizing the style!)
Once you've chosen the perfect short 'do for you, be sure to take good care of your hair with the best DIY hair masks. We've also got inspiration for spring hair color ideas and even some fabulous gray hair color ideas!
Voluminous Soft Waves Lob
If you have naturally wavy hair, this long bob is a great option update your look. You can keep on the edge of medium and short, so you can put it up if you want. Or let all the volume speak for itself when it's down.
Soft Waves Bob
Soft curls look great on a classic chin length bob like Michelle Williams'. Her cut is blunt, so she can wear it straight or use heat to create the waves for a completely different look.
Blunt Bangs
Whether you have a pixie or a bob, blunt bangs make a bold statement. Depending on your hair type, you may need product and regular maintenance to keep them in place. But they are worth the effort!
Curly Gray Tousle
Rita Moreno is embracing her natural curls and her natural color. Both of those hair trends are here to stay, so why not do both at the same time? Go for a tousled crop like Rita or go for a bob. Either way, it will naturally look great.
Natural Comb Twist
If you like the idea of setting it and forgetting it, this natural comb twist like Lashana Lynch's will last over a week. If you already have a short pixie, it's an easy option to try and if you don't like it, just let it grow out!
Tousled Bob
Charlize Theron's look is both chic and easy to achieve! Simply style your hair with gel and let it air dry for an effortlessly cool, slightly wet look. A deep part offers added style.
Wavy Pixie
Toni Braxton has often rocked a pixie in her decades-long music career but this wavy version suits her especially well! This is the perfect low-maintenance style for women with naturally curly hair.
Voluminous Pixie
Bette Midler's short waves are brushed back for a voluminous style that is both elegant and timeless.
Piecey Pixie
Sharon Stone's pixie is perfectly imperfect! The piecey look in the front gives extra texture and style.
Grown-Out Pixie
Nia Long has always been known for her iconic pixie cut but we love this longer version on her just as much! This is a good in-between length for anyone who wants to go shorter gradually.
Bob with Deep Part
Ellen Barkin is the picture of style with this bob featuring a deep part and one slicked-back side. Her look offers all the edge of an asymmetrical haircut without doing anything drastic!
Beach Wavy Bob
Kelly Ripa's look here proves that beach waves aren't just for long locks! This go-to style for a bob is easy to achieve with a 0.5- to one-inch curling wand. Just be sure to tousle your hair when your done for this soft look!
Bob with Pompadour
If you're looking to rock a pompadour with a little more length, Janet Jackson has all the inspiration you need!
Flippy Lob
Jodie Foster's lob is made all the more playful with the ends flipped out. We love this look with a side part like Jodie's or a middle part!
Undercut Pompadour
Here's another pompadour with less hair and a lot more edge. Tilda Swinton's undercut style is too darn cool!
Boss Pixie
Kris Jenner's signature haircut is so iconic that it even has its own name: the "boss pixie." You'll feel totally in charge of your style with this chic new 'do featuring long, side-swept bangs.
Asymmetrical Bob
Portia de Rossi's posh hairstyle is longer on one side, with waves cascading over her face. By adding a deep side part, you'll draw even more attention to the longer side of your hair.
Spiky Pixie
Angela Bassett's spiky 'do feels fun and modern, especially with the subtle red highlights peeking through. This cute cut will give you enough length to switch up your styles day to day.
Combed Forward Pixie Cut
Talk about fierce! Tyra Banks' forward-brushed crop draws attention to her eyes in the most striking way. This edgy look pairs well with statement earrings.
Shaggy Bob
Lisa Rinna has favored her signature shaggy bob for decades, and it still feels just as fresh and funky as ever. Add even more dimension to this style with balayage highlights.
Classic Bob
You can never go wrong with a classic bob like Alina Cho's. It's chic, timeless, and oh so elegant. This style looks great on any hair color.
Wavy Bob
Meg Ryan has tried on a lot of hair styles through the years, but this wavy, layered bob has become her signature look. Use a moisture-sealing frizzy hair product to help achieve this style.
Flippy Bob
Cate Blachett's flippy 'do is so much fun! This is a great way to add texture and volume to a classic straight bob hairstyle.
Silver Wave
Give a nod to actress Sarah Moyle's cheerful style! There's something so special about a sky-high pompadour.
Shoulder-Length Bob
Alfre Woodard's long bob just grazes her shoulders, creating a sophisticated look. A side part, long bangs, and barrel curls add to the regal vibe.
Sideswept Pixie
If you're into the idea of pixie cuts, but still want to keep some length, take a page from Viola Davis. She combs her cut into a natural-looking side-swept bang with subtle highlights.
Long Bob
Sandra Bullock's long bob—also known as a "lob"—expertly frames her face with a very precise middle part. Striking, no?
Swept-Back Pixie
Tilda Swinton has one of the most recognizable haircuts around! Here, notice how she adds glamour to her look by brushing her hair back—it helps her add extra volume at the crown.
Relaxed Shoulder-Length Cut
As Marcia Brady on The Brady Bunch, Maureen McCormick was known for her long, flowing locks. Nowadays, she rocks a shoulder-length cut with a side part that looks just as stunning.
Rounded Bob
Lucy Liu traded her long tresses for this playful bob. It's a refreshing change that looks amazing!
Edgy Pixie
Model and dietitian Maye Musk's fashion-forward pixie cut makes us want to pick up a pair of scissors and re-create it ASAP.
Pixie with Bangs
There's no need to style your hair perfectly when you've got a pixie cut. Robin Wright's casual bangs are a great example of that: They look effortless!
Wavy Shoulder-Length Cut
It's true: Julia Roberts looks great in any hair color and style. But we love this wavy, shoulder-length cut with a middle part, which draws even more attention to her eyes.
Tousled Pixie
Get a load of that volume! Rita Moreno opts for a more playful take on the pixie with her tousled hair and slightly sideswept bangs.
Super Pixie
Robin Roberts's slightly spiky pixie gives her evening look some edge. It's adventurous and exciting without feeling too bold.
Shoulder-Length Waves
Loose curls for the win. Here, they add dimension and visual interest to Gillian Anderson's shorter cut.
Wavy Pixie
Glenn Close's natural waves—coupled with an exaggerated side part—add fun movement to her look. Plus, what better way to show off an awesome pair of earrings than with a shorter cut?
Curly Shoulder-Length Cut
If you think you can't have bangs with curly hair, you're going to want to think again. Sandra Oh's fringe is definitely the coolest part of her youthful, shoulder-length cut.
Super Pixie
Style icon Iris Apfel is known for her maximalist looks, so it's interesting to note that she keeps her hair fairly simple. A well-styled short pixie offers just the right amount of pizzazz without distracting from her legendary outfits.
Punk-Inspired Pixie
Halle Berry is known for her short pixie cut, and it's only gotten more gorgeous over the years. Here, she's styled it into an edgy faux-hawk.
Layered Bob
Follow Diane Keaton's lead! Adding soft layers to your bob gives the illusion of length and volume without all the extra hair.
Golden-Hued Pixie
The late Florence Henderson became a style icon on The Brady Bunch, thanks to her picture-perfect retro crop. As she got older, she tweaked the famous cut into a more modern pixie—but it's still just as fabulous.
Pinned-Up Bob
You don't have to do much to change up your entire hairstyle—just look at Dame Helen Mirren. Tuck a few pieces of hair behind your ears, add a side part, and it's a whole new look.
Soft Bob
Actress Kara Wai Ying-hung's bob is on the longer end of the haircut spectrum, to be sure. But it's another great option, and when coupled with a subtle side part, it adds a nice bounce to her red carpet look.
Sleek Bob
Angela Bassett's rounded bob has a dramatic look that helps draw attention down to her sculpted shoulders.
Choppy Pixie
Super-short hair can be both cool and classy. Take a look at Judi Dench's choppy pixie cut, for instance.
Trim Pixie
There are so many different ways to style a pixie. With the rest of her hair slicked back, Kathy Bates gives hers a voluminous, wave-like side part.
Glossy Pixie
Margaret Cho's take on the sideswept pixie is classic and age-appropriate, but still offers some edge. Paired with dark lipstick and a metallic neck scarf, it's even cooler.
1920s-Inspired Bob
Now, this is glamour. Iman's sleek bob channels the flapper girls of the 1920s, and it's downright iconic.
Neat Pixie
Julie Andrews's pixie with a deep side part is a stylish way of keeping hair away from her face. A look fit for a queen!
Short, Layered Bob
Long parted bangs create a soft look here, perfectly framing Monica Bellucci's face.
Glam Bob
Old Hollywood glamour, here you come! Sigourney Weaver's side part and styled waves are an easy way to transport back in time and give yourself a polished makeover.
Swept-Back Bob
Talk about an effortless cut! It almost looks like Sharon Stone simply ran her fingers through her bob to get this look.
High-Volume Pixie
Emma Thompson's pixie is all about the volume. While it's swept back it's not stiff—the strands still maintain some movement.
Tousled Pixie
Phylicia Rashad's pixie is a great example of a short style that has all the volume of a longer cut. It's also perfect for those who aren't fans of parted hair.
Blunt Bob
The deep side part in Patricia Arquette's blunt side bob frames her face in all the right ways.
Shimmery Pixie
Jamie Lee Curtis shows us that simple is the way to go with her short, choppy super pixie!
Side-Part Pixie
Cynthia Nixon's teased pixie cut with its side part is a fun, less polished take on the iconic style.
Tousled Pixie
Annette Bening's messy styling of her pixie cut makes her look young, wild, and free.
Voluminous Bob
Patti LaBelle's carefully shaped bob emphasizes volume at the crown while tapering off at the ends for a unique look.
Curly Shoulder-Length Cut
Susan Sarandon's shoulder-length style is as carefree as it gets with its big, loose curls and unstructured bangs.
Rounded Bob
What gives Cate Blanchett's rounded bob its appeal is the unshaped part that allows her hair to naturally frame her face.
Grown-Out Pixie
Isabella Rossellini's long pixie cut has an effortless look.
Curled Bob
Jessica Lange's neatly curled bob and subtle side part show off her simple, graceful style.
Bowl-Cut Pixie
The esteemed Cicely Tyson's choppy pixie was a fun, stylish take on the bowl cut.
Flipped Bob
A slight curl at the end of Laurie Metcalf's bob gives a fresh, modern take.
Extreme Side-Part Pixie
Neatly tucked behind her ear, Jane Lynch's pixie is the perfect mix of classy and cool.
Auburn Should Length Waves
Isabella Huppert is the epitome of effortless cool with her loose waves and a classic side part. A striped shirt and pea coat make it even more chic.
Choppy Bob
Margaret Colin puts a relaxed twist on the bob by going for layered ends.
Textured Bob
Jane Fonda's curls are ready to party! The side part draws attention to her blue eyes and highlights her hair's ashy blonde hue.
Bob with Long Bangs
Gemma Jones adds a slight twist to the classic bob with soft bangs and flipped-out ends instead of the traditional rounded in look.
Long Brunette Bob
Gloria Estefan's long bob with subtle side part is a great low-maintenance haircut for those who don't want to go too short.
Wavy Long Bob
Christine Baranski's wavy locks have us thinking about the beach!
1960s-Inspired Shoulder-Length Cut
In the 1960s, Twiggy was known for her iconic pixie, but we're definitely fans of her shoulder-length cut with soft bangs.
Fashion-Forward Pixie
Fashion designer Carolina Herrera's brushed-back pixie cut shows off her face. Paired with big earrings and a dramatic collar, she's giving off a completely regal look.
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