30 Short Haircuts for Women Over 50
It’s hard to believe there was a time when we associated “over 50 haircuts” with dated perms and news anchor bobs. Fast forward to 2022 and we’re happy to see that there are plenty of examples of stylish cuts to consider regardless of age. Here are 30 to start with.
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1. Michelle Obama’s Flipped Out Lob
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The former First Lady is often seen wearing a variation of a shoulder-grazing lob—and for good reason. The cut is timeless and can easily transition from casual daytime looks to more formal evening affairs.
2. Viola Davis’ Bouncy Bob
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How to get away with really good hair: Keep it curly and close to the chin for a foolproof fix against deflated strands.
3. Julia Louis Dreyfus’ Curly Lob
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If you have hair like Julia Louis Dreyfus, a slightly longer style that hits your collarbones is a nice option because it won’t weigh down your natural curls.
4. Halle Berry’s Textured Bob
Berry's style works on nearly any texture but looks best on hair with a natural wave or curl. The low-maintenance style looks especially cool with longer fringe.
5. Youn Yuh Jung’s Side-Swooped Bob
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"For longer faces, it’s best to draw the eyes up," says Gregga Prothero, Master Stylist and Founder of Gregga LA, which is what Youn does to perfection here with her swooped over bangs on top of her springy curls.
6. Layered Lob
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Scared of scissors? A long, layered look will give your hair a bit of edge without the risk of an awkward growing-out period. Plus, it provides a lot of freedom to style, while still giving you the ability to put hair in a ponytail.
7. Jamie Curtis’s Pixie
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If you’re looking for a cut that doesn’t require much styling, the pixie is right up your alley. Erinn Courtney, StyleSeat hairstylist and natural hair expert told us recently: “This is a good hair cut for thin hair, because it lays flat on the head and doesn’t require much volume. It’s also great to cover thinning or balding areas that may be visible with longer hair.”
8. Mary Steenburgen's Full Fringe
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Fact: Full, rounded bangs can make you look younger. Keep them at or below your brow line to prevent '80s flashbacks.
9. Rose McGowan’s Buzz Cut
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It doesn’t get breezier (or easier to style) than a buzz cut. A buzzed cut is another great option ladies with thinning hair because balding spots won’t be as obvious as they may be with longer styles.
10. Helen Mirren’s French Bob
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Nothing says chic like a French bob. The stylish cut sits right above the jaw, while bangs add a nice touch to make thin hair appear fuller.
11. Salma Hayek’s Deep Side Part
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An extreme side part is a surefire way to make it look like you have more hair. As Philip B. previously shared with us, “Brushing your hair to one side creates the look of volume and will help add balance while drawing attention away from the top of the scalp.”
12. Jennifer Lopez’s Asymmetrical Bob
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Speaking of creating volume, this slightly uneven cut makes thin hair appear fuller at the ends. So, forget your usual middle part and opt for a deep side part instead for some instant dimension.
13. Kelly Ripa’s Relaxed Lob
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Another longtime member of the shoulder-length hair club? None other than Kelly Ripa. Keep it sleek and straight or add some loose waves when you want a bit more volume.
14. Lisa Rinna’s Pixie Shag
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What do you get when you mix a classic cut with the latest trend? The pixie shag, which is a take on the classic shag. To rock the look like Lisa Rinna here, invest in a paste that defines the layers and ends.
15. Meg Ryan’s Curly Shag
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Speaking of shags, this curlier iteration is another classic cut. Featuring plenty of choppy layers around the face and crown of the head, you maintain tons of texture and volume.
16. Regina King’s Center-Parted Bob
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No shade to Gen Z, but center parts were a thing well before TikTok ever existed. A center part looks especially polished with a shorter bob, as Regina King shows us here.
17. Michelle Yeoh’s Longer Lob
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All hail Michelle Yeoh, and her perfectly tousled lob. The 60-year-old actress proves that longer locks can work at any age.
18. Julia Robert’s Soft Lob
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Similar idea, but with softer, more relaxed waves. This medium-length style has all the bounce you’re looking for—and then some.
19. Robin Wright’s Bixie
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It’s not quite a bob, and it’s slightly longer than a pixie. The cut leaves the ends just long enough to tuck behind your ear if you want. Note: For shorter styles like this, you will need a bit more maintenance (aka monthly trims) to keep the sides and back from getting too long.
20. Tariji P. Henson’s Full Curls
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Volume and texture are a perfect match. To keep your curls from being weighed down (and thus, weighing down your features), ask your stylist to cut your hair in layers, without thinning things out too much.
21. Christine Baranski’s Sweeping Bob
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A little bit of length + a little bit of styling = a whole lot of timelessness.
22. Sandra Oh’s Curly Lob
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Sandra Oh’s longtime hair stylist Ted Gibson credits a Hot Tools curling iron (he alternates between 1- and 1.5-inch barrels) for adding definition to Oh’s naturally voluminous ringlets.
23. Halle Berry’s Side-Shave
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The 56-year-old actress wowed us with her side-shaved pixie earlier this year (and gave us some Storm flashbacks with this platinum ‘do).
24. Gillian Anderson’s Tucked Lob
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Here’s another famous Gen X’er showcasing a center part. By tucking your ends behind both ears, you can visually open up your features.
25. Sandra Bullock’s Side-Parted Lob
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Blunt ends and a side part give Sandra’s lob a bit more oomph.
26. Cate Blanchett’s Sweeping Bob
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For finer hair, keeping your strands single length and clearing the shoulders is a failsafe way to add bounce.
27. Laura Dern’s Layered Lob
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Bring on all of the layers. As celebrity hairstylist Sally Hershberger once explained to us, “The key to this style is the longer fringe, which highlights cheekbones and makes you look more youthful by softening features.”
28. Aunjanue Ellis’ Bob
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According to Cataanda James, who is a master colorist and a top artist for Clairol Professional, this is one of the top trending styles for natural hair in 2022. “It’s a 2022 spin on the iconic ‘fro of the 70s, which upholds big personality and amazing shape memory,” says James.
29. Robin Wright’s Beachy Bob
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Whether she’s rocking a pixie or a bob, bangs or no bangs, the 56-year-old actress usually keeps things on the shorter side. We’d recommend misting a texturizing spray and allowing your hair to airdry for best results.
30. Alfre Woodard’s Coiffed Bob
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And if a classic coif is more to your liking, it doesn’t get much better than Alfre Woodard’s buoyant bob.
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