Many beautiful things come with aging: strong relationships with friends and family, wisdom, confidence, a deeper sense of self, career achievements, and the ability to truly do what you want. But what might not be as welcome are the hair changes that can occur. When women hit age 50, hair starts to lose pigment (if it hasn’t already), resulting in gray hair. Texture can completely change, from straight to curly or frizzy and moisturized to dry. On top of all of that, it can also start to thin and fall out. That’s where the best haircuts for women over 50 can make a big difference. Read on for six go-to haircuts to find the best styles that will help enhance your natural beauty and work with your hair changes.
If you’re experiencing thinning hair, consider a shoulder-grazing haircut. Shoulder-length hair can be chic and classy with minimal effort. Combat frizz with a styling foam that has a creamy, buttery texture, then blow out with a round brush, turning the ends under for optimal volume. This length is great for side bangs or longer curtain bangs to give your hair more body.
Another deceptively flattering cut for thinning hair is the pixie shag. Longer than a standard pixie, yet shorter than a bob, this style has lots of airy layers that add unexpected volume and texture. The structured shape makes for easy styling. If you want even more volume, try curling large sections and add in a texturizing spray to give your curls a more “lived-in” feeling. You may find you’ll need to visit the salon on a more regular basis for trims to keep up with the shape. While you’re there, throw in a deep conditioning session once a month or so to treat yourself.
If you’re a fan of shorter hair, then go for a cropped cut, which is great for those experiencing grays and thinning strands. A cropped style gives you lots of opportunities to play with texture, especially if your hair is more on the unruly side. To style this look, try matting strands down with a texturizing pomade, then run your fingers through it for the tousled texture you desire. This is also a great cut if you have thinner hair since adding more bangs in the front can disguise a thinning hairline.
For those in the market for this season’s trending bobs but may feel they are only for the younger set, guess what? A sleek chin-length bob frames the face for a sleek and classy look no matter your age. If gray hair is a concern, you can always add full color or highlights to this cut. If you are experiencing dry hair, be careful blowing out this look. Use a paddle brush, not a round brush, to help tame unruly strands and prevent frizz.
Another bob style to check out is the A-line bob, a timeless style to accentuate your facial features. This style is also very low maintenance, which women of every age can appreciate. Use a lightweight styling foam to thicken strands from root to tip to avoid breakage. To add volume to the crown area, direct the hair forward when blow-drying and move the brush, or your fingers for those with curly hair, again from root to tip.
Lastly, if you find that you’re ready to get off the color train and embrace your gray, consider a long-layer hairstyle. This will allow you to grow out naturally as your graying strands emerge. With a longer length, you can cut off any color you may have left while increasing the weeks between salon visits. This more lived-in style is low maintenance, but it’s not no-maintenance. Be kind to your longer hair with deep conditioning masks, scalp exfoliation, and texturizing styling foam.
If you’re a woman over 50, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this, but for everyone else, gray, thinning, and dry hair are all normal occurrences that can be attributed to things like hair follicles producing less melanin (causing grays), hormone changes, the slowing of cell reproduction, and nutritional deficiencies. There’s no shame in changing hair and aging as gracefully or as seemingly gracefully as you desire. That being said, if you are experiencing drastic hair changes that are causing embarrassment or depression, it may be a sign of something not normal, and you should consult not only a hairstylist but also your doctor.
In general, no matter the haircut you have, again, be good to your hair and yourself.
