90 Classy and Simple Short Hairstyles for Women over 50

A woman doesn’t stop being a woman with age: changing looks and experimenting with styles is in her nature. It is not only boring to have the same hair ‘do for decades, we also strive for more comfort with years, opting for low-maintenance short haircuts. And it doesn’t mean having one of these old woman’s helmet-like ‘dos! Short hairstyles for women over 50 can be stylish and even edgy, and we have 90 great images to prove that.

Recommendations on Short Hairstyles for Women Over 50

Women over 50 strive for respectable yet modern hairstyles. There are several rules that will help you achieve such a look. First, comb your locks back to look open up your face and look elegant. Avoid shaggy hairstyles as they appear sloppy and awkward on older women.

Bangs are ok since they make you look younger, but try to keep them neat and thin or styled to one side so that your forehead is not completely covered.

Consider lighter hair hues as they will easily take years off your face. Silver hair may look extremely flattering on older women. If you are not ready to transition to gray hair yet, think of brown to blonde solutions or highlights.

In addition, make sure you stick to general recommendations on how to choose a hairstyle for your face shape and hair texture. For example, fine hair looks cuter when cut short and layered, while thick coarse tresses feel better in elongated cuts. They don’t have to be long; Lisa Rinna’s short-to-medium hairstyle is a very good option to go for.

Short Hairstyles for Older Women

Are you ready to try a new flattering short haircut? Below, there are the brightest examples of short hairstyles for older ladies you might want to try. Take the best ideas to your stylist and get ready to meet your new you!

1. Blonde Pixie Cut

Pixie cuts are a popular variant for older women thanks to their mix of ease and playful style. Choppy layers are a perfect way to add texture and dimension to the classic cut, which is key to keeping your look youthful and not staid.

2. Bouncy Bob for Women 50+

The only way to create shape within short haircuts for women is with an expert layered cut. If you have straight hair, you can give it extra body by flipping out the ends with a large barrel curling iron.

3. Mature Short Layered Cut

Short haircuts for women are a good choice when you’re looking for something low maintenance. You don’t have to worry about searching for lost hair ties anymore. What’s more, the short cut is sassy and shows that style always comes first, despite your age.

4. Youthful Pixie Haircut

Too often, women keep their hair long even though the length may be not flattering. If your stylist recommends going for a chop, don’t panic. A right pixie cut can not only give a younger appearance, but it will also save hours of styling time.

5. Voluminous Gray Pixie Cut

In your senior years, embrace the beauty of silvery strands. It’s a beautiful hue that Millennials often turn to themselves. To add even more drama, be sure to tease those cute feathered layers.

6. Angled Ash Blonde Cut

Older women sometimes experience softness in the face as they age. An angled cut adds sharpness to the curved edges and draws attention to the narrowness of a pointed chin.

7. Layered Platinum Bob

Hairstyles for older women can use graying hair to their advantage. If you go for a platinum hairstyle, the color perfectly masks any pesky gray, so that you don’t have to worry about constant touch ups. Pump up the volume with a few piecey layers. It creates movement, and you can fully enjoy rocking your beautiful feathered hair.

8. Rounded Bob with Stacked Nape

Looking for a flattering variant of bob for mature women? Rounded bobs are a classic choice, as they are full of elegance and sophistication. Build an enviable height around the crown of your head when you are blow drying with a round brush.

9. Pixie Undercut for Women Over 50

Pixies with an undercut show us how short hairstyles for women over 50 can come packed with a punch! Luscious waves soften the edgy cut, giving the hairstyle a sassy aesthetic.

10. Choppy Blonde Pixie with Long Side Bangs

The pixie is one of the most popular short haircuts for older women. This is because it adds texture and a tousled finish to thin hair. If you team the pixie with long side bangs and choppy layers, you can easily create a style that’s fun, youthful, and easy to manage.

11. Angled Undercut Hairstyle

Women can rock the traditionally masculine undercut just as well as any man can. Make it feminine with a long, straight top and a blonde hue with ample highlights. To dial up the volume (and avoid the pageboy look), have your stylist add in subtle layers.

12. Long Curly Salt and Pepper Pixie

Textured fine hair can benefit from a pixie cut. Worn in a natural salt and pepper coloring, curls appear bouncy and fluffy. Enhance this youthful essence by leaving a longer face-framing strand on your forehead and styling with mousse or water-based wax products.

13. Short Voluminous Feathered Hairstyle

Feathered hairstyles generate soft, fluent looks for short and lackluster locks. They also add dimension to your hair while still allowing easy maintenance. Simply apply a smoothing cream to your bed head and you’re good to go for the rest of the day!

14. Layered Pixie with Textured Bangs

Who said senior ladies can’t rock punk-inspired ‘dos? Simple but statement-making, the layered pixie with textured bangs suits straight hair perfectly. Top off with streaks of your favorite fun colors.

15. Airy Gray Pixie with Lots of Layers

For ladies who are struggling to keep their hair luscious and rich in color as they age gracefully, the airy gray pixie might be a good haircut to try. It entails lots of layers to keep your locks looking funky and stylish. It also exposes your ears enough to make room for some dazzling statement earrings for smarter occasions.

16. Wispy Silver Bob

While bob is a staple haircut, there are countless ways to make it unique to express your personal style. Have your hair cut at an angle for some drama. Then, opt for loose, tousled curls to enhance the volume. Accentuate your beautiful gray locks with a balayage that brings more depth to the cut.

17. Pixie Bob with Nape Undercut

Out of all haircuts for older women, pixie bobs are arguably the most popular. Give your pixie cut some edge with a nape undercut that brings individuality and spice — formal in the front, modern party in the back!

18. Gray Bob with Delicate Layers

Delicate layers soften any bob and appear extra feminine when worn in a clear, shiny gray. If you have thin hair, consider this hairstyle, as the white highlighted pieces give enough dimension and sophisticated appeal to your hair, making it fuller and visually more interesting.

19. Feminine Shorter Hairstyle for Curly Hair

One of the prettiest hairstyles for older women, this cut is perfect for those with authentically curly or wavy tresses. Feminine and chic, it looks fabulous with any color, complements the natural grain of your hair, and allows you to style with ease.

20. Tapered Gray Pixie with Textured Crown

Short hair doesn’t limit styling options that much — adding a textured crown to your pixie is a simple but effective way to smarten up your cut. Perfect for professional environments, tapered cuts look particularly vivacious in salt and pepper.

21. Pure Blonde Ambition

From Audrey Hepburn’s to Anne Hathaway’s, the pixie cut has become a by-word for chic hair; it’s endlessly elegant with just the right level of nonchalance. A slight update of the old style goes a long way. Experiment with texture to add a modern twist to this classic crop. With trendy highlights, shorter hairstyles for older women instantly become contemporary, without being faddish.

22. Choppy Gray Pixie

Short haircuts for women over 50 should look contemporary to take years off your looks. This style has side bangs, a mildly defined taper, and textured layers around the crown proving that customizations can completely alter the look of your tried and true pixie!

23. Short Messy Lilac Hairstyle

Don’t just throw out the rulebook, burn it. Fun, fashionable hair is no longer just for the young. Whatever your age, it’s time to experiment and go as wild as you like with your short haircut. Leave your self-doubt at the door and step your style up a notch with pastel highlights.

24. Short Layered Blonde Hairstyle

Very short hair doesn’t flatter everyone. If you prefer longer hair to short styles, keep your cut on the lengthier side with a chic pixie bob. A trendy light color like platinum, gray or ash blonde will illuminate your face and prove to be a low-maintenance hairstyle if you want to cover natural gray hair or make it look purposeful.

25. Edgy Pixie Bob

There’s something timeless about a good bob hairstyle. This shorter take blends the classy look of a bob with an edgy pixie cut. The end result is incredibly chic. Invest in a good flat iron as the styling will take a some time if you want to get all of those layers smooth.

26. One-Length Balayage Bob with Bangs

One can never go wrong with a one-length bob. Minimal layers create a cute shape to your cut. It’s short hair that still can be styled in different ways – straight, curly or wavy. A modern balayage color will make the style completely current.

27. Short Bob with Long V-Cut Layers

To create a fashionably elegant and sophisticated look, you can opt for a simple layered bob. Ask your hair stylist for long V-cut layers: this adds texture and body while simultaneously taking the weight out of thick hair.

28. Layered Tousled Salt and Pepper Bob

When the color of your hair looks like a blend of your natural hue and gray, it’s known as “salt and pepper” hair. It’s undeniably striking in layered and tousled bobs. Designed to appear messy and effortless, they suit almost every face shape and skin tone.

29. Textured Pixie with Highlights

A tailored pixie has been #1 on the “short haircuts for older women list” for a while. What sets this one apart is the detailing. Notice the deep side part that leads to a fun bang and the two tone coloring. The highlights are rich in the front to not draw too much attention to the face and then get sparser in the back to add some dimension.

30. Short Haircut with Neat Side Fringe

Short haircuts are usually completed with short, medium or long bangs. Next time you’re at the salon, make sure you ask your hairstylist for a side-swept fringe. With a layered short cut, this will instantly slim and flatter your face.

31. Long Ash Blonde Pixie for Fine Hair

Go to the ashier range of blonde for a more subdued vibe that still carries just as much impact as bolder images. Fine hair benefits from a longer-cut pixie with short structured layers in the back. Don’t be afraid of the grown in roots look — it makes your hair appear thicker and adds to visual impact!

32. Brown and Blonde Graduated Bob

Graduated haircuts are marvelous for mature ladies, as they ooze elegance and class. With age, our hair may become finer, so graduated locks give the desired appearance of fullness and volume.

33. Feathered Back-Swept Crop

Luckily, gray hair is more popular today than ever before, and that means you can embrace your real hair color and flaunt it proudly. If your hair is fairly thick, pick a feathered cut and style it with a root lift that gives the desired volume and air. Short hairstyles for women over 50 have never been more elegant and modern!

34. Silver Pixie for Fine Hair

Silver has become a trendy color option recently for women of all ages. We can definitely credit our lovely mature ladies with being the founding mothers of this fad. The cool tone accentuates blue eyes and pairs well with all short haircut styles.

35. Blonde Balayage Bob with Angled Layers

Angled layers in short hairstyles for older women bring edge and definition, which in turn create a youthful and fresh essence! It’s important to let a professional hairdresser guide you as to how to style your cut, so you can show off your chic balayage bob at its best.

36. Short Choppy Hairstyle for Thick Hair

Thick hair can be extremely difficult to deal with and style on an everyday basis. The short haircuts for women over 50 that tend to work best when it comes to thick, coarse hair are those of the choppy nature. These cuts might be slightly less contemporary than others, but they’re so much easier to manage and care for.

37. Jaw-Length Bob with Layers for Fine Hair

More versatile than an average bob, a jaw-length cut allows different styling options. This hairstyle produces the best visual results when left natural; however, it’s nice to have the option to curl the front pieces for dressier occasions. Pair with glasses to create a smart, classy everyday look.

38. Asymmetrical Silver Pixie

How do you transform a simple pixie cut into a head-turning style? Make it asymmetrical. This unexpected shape instantly adds drama and an elegant twist. It’s a great option for showing off your cheekbones. Pair with a rich metallic color and embrace that sassy silver fox you see in the mirror.

39. Playful Blonde Curls

Tight curls, loose waves – whatever the mix, don’t let your natural style droop. Have your hair cropped into layers to encourage your natural root lift to find its own direction. All curly short haircuts for women require a little help in the definition department, so purchase a smoothing serum for that added extra attitude.

40. Short Layered Hairstyle for Thick Hair

If you’re blessed with a thick mane, textured layers will be your best friend! Not only do they make your life easier (in terms of regular washing/styling time), they also provide beautiful texture and fundamental structure to cuts.

41. Lovely in Lavender

Use white hair to your advantage. It makes a great backdrop for the softest pastel colors without the tedious effort of bleaching and toning. Create fullness with short feathered layers and wispy fringe for a funky and fun style.

42. Choppy Pixie with Tapered Nape

For a quirky yet modern ‘do for short hair, ask your hairdresser for a choppy tapered pixie cut. The taper gradually shortens the length of your tresses from the top of your head down to the nape of your neck. It might be one of the shortest haircuts, but it sure is fashion-forward.

43. Chic Chocolate Layers

Many believe that the babylights technique — where very fine, delicate highlights are woven throughout—is only for blonde hair. But, it can actually work for any color as long as you make the highlights a few shades lighter than the base. The result is the natural-looking shimmer like in the photo.

44. Voluminous Classic Cut

Voluminous classic short cut is a beautiful way to wear some older women hairstyles that will never seem too boring or stuffy. With a bit of product and a hair-dryer you can create a fresh and flirtatious short hairdo at any age.

45. Cropped Gray Pixie with Swoopy Bangs

A pixie is a classic hairstyle and a timeless cut that always looks good. Tailor yours to suit your facial features and your personality. See how the long side-swept bangs bring out the funky frames and amazing cheekbones.

46. Pixie for Women Over 50

Pixies are among the most popular short hairstyles for women, but they best suit women with slim faces because they show off high cheekbones. Cropped cuts are perfect for older females because they provide texture for limp thinning strands.

47. Short Ruffled Hairstyle with Blonde Highlights

Curly and wavy hair styles offer movement while softening facial features, which is crucial to women concerned about fine lines or wrinkles. Staying away from rigid cuts and styles makes you look younger.

48. Honey Blonde Layered Bob with Short Back

Hairstyles for older women look extra sweet in honey blonde and are usually full of layers, as varying lengths builds volume and boosts texture. Add grain with texturizing sprays and maintain luster of locks by using products for hair shine.

49. Silver and Sophisticated

Silver hair makes a striking statement in super short styles because it looks cool and chic at the same time. To create depth, mix in a dark charcoal hue at the roots.

50. Over 50 Pixie with Lots of Piece-y Layers

A more traditional cut for women over 50 may be the right fit if lean more towards the classic style. Don’t forget to show off all the piece-y layers by accentuating them with highlights!

51. Ruffled Pixie

Short edgy pixie with highlighted ends is effortless in styling and fabulous-looking in day-to-day wear. Besides, it’s a great coloristic pattern for gray hair in brunettes. You are going to look much younger, fresher and brighter.

52. Volume and Shagginess

Raquel Welch is simply irresistible. Her edgy voluminous shag screams with beautiful texture and wonderful choice of hair hues. A nice lift at the roots and layers of flicks for fairly thick hair are exactly what it takes to achieve this fabulous effect.

53. Gorgeous Feathered Look

Fun texture and fabulous volume around the crown with tapered sides and the back create this incredible short hairstyle with a cute feathered finish. It bears just the right amount of sassiness to make an impression of a modern and active lady. Is that you?

54. Burnt Orange Bob with Highlights

A bob cut is above time, it’s elegant and classy. It’s a good solution for transition from long locks to shorter hairstyles which are, however, not extremely short. Pair it with thin bangs and consider illusive highlights for a modern quirk.

55. Soft Auburn Look

Here is a layered chin-length haircut combed back to open the facial contours. Backcombing close to the roots and nonchalant bangs caressing the forehead bring this sweet look to perfection.

56. Short Wispy Style for Fine Locks

Fine tresses seem thicker when cut short. With brown blonde coloristic solution like this and subtle backcombing, you’ll add some more body to your short tresses. Style them backwards for a gorgeous elegant look with a tint of carelessness.

57. Sassy Pixie

Sharon Stone demonstrates one of the most inspiring examples of short hairstyles which are sassy, stylish and quite acceptable over 50. This texturized pixie is enhanced with a few bold nonchalant spikes on top. We would recommend this to women with oval faces and regular facial features.

58. Two-Tone Spiky Short Haircut

Maybe you don’t want to embrace your grays. There is no shame in that! Go bold with a two-tone pixie: a blonde top and brunette bottom. Mix some darker lowlights through the crown to add dimension and tie the look together.

59. Short and Simple Cut for Women Over 50

When you are retired, you want a hairstyle that requires minimal effort and won’t need frequent trips to the salon. Short layers will retain the shape of the cut as it grows out. Plus, it doesn’t require much prep work in the morning — just brush and go.

60. Short Curly Hairstyle

Show off your curls with a short cut. If you opt for a warm hue, use highlights to break up the color and accentuate the texture. Want to know how to style this look on your own? It’s as simple as wash and go, just tousle your ringlets with a little bit of product to enhance the curl pattern.

61. Spiky Gray Pixie Cut

Some short hairstyles for women over 50 can require some serious styling time. A spiky pixie is an ideal way to keep your hair very short and manageable with minimum styling. Just make sure you have a styling wax on hand to separate and define the shortest layers. The sweeping bang softens the look without adding too much maintenance.

62. Classy Slanted Blonde Bob

Consider simple and classy short hairstyles for women over 50, such as the slanted bob, also called the angled bob. This haircut is just as sleek as it is chic. The cut tends to work best for ladies with naturally straight hair as the angle is further enhanced when your locks are styled smooth. However, the slanted bob can also be styled wavy, curly, or textured for a change.

63. Short Wavy Inverted Bob

Women’s bobs can come in all shapes and sizes, the inverted bob being a popular hairstyle for younger, middle-aged and older ladies. This cut is different from the classic bob: it’s all about stacking layers at the back and gradually elongating lines towards the front to create a unique, low-maintenance shape. The hairstyle works great for both streight and naturally wavy tresses.

64. Voluminous Two-Tone Cut

Short layers around the crown of the head are key for adding volume to your cut. This is especially useful for ladies with a round face as the height will lengthen the overall shape. Adding some bold contrasting colors on the sides visually balances the volume on top.

65. Salt and Pepper Voluminous Cut

Intertwined shades of black and silver give women a very natural-looking yet gorgeous hairstyle. Compliment this palette with an elegant short bob that features long feathered layers. Apply some root lifting mousse to damp hair and blow dry it backwards with a round brush for added volume and polish.

66. Gray Hair with High Layers

When looking through hairstyles for older women, focus on those that don’t make the face look too severe. As we age, our features become sharper, which is especially true for slim women. Feathered layers styled away from the face will help add movement and soften facial features. Iconic Jane Fonda is often seen with such a classy style.

67. Chic Blonde Pixie Bob for Over 50

The mom-that-has-it-all-‘do is the best way to describe this haircut. There’s nothing simple about this chic cut, as it has so many bright details: long, sweeping strands near the face, short pixie layers at the crown, and the stacked bob at the back.

68. Short Bob with Feathered Layers

Feathering is another way to update women’s short haircuts. Reduce the stiffness of a more structured cut by using razor-cutting tools and choosing subdued, not harsh shades like the forgiving salt and pepper.

69. Short Asymmetrical Bob

Guess it would be nice to refresh your traditional bob? Try a trendy asymmetrical style. This option works great with fine straight hair and can be used to draw attention to your beautiful jawline.

70. Messy Salt and Pepper Pixie

Hollywood celebrities are often seen with a messy pixie. However, you don’t have to be a pop or a movie star to pull off this edgy style. The laid-back color palette allows for a funkier finish without seeming over the top.

71. Layered Bob for Fine Hair

Often, our hair texture changes as we age becomming thinner. This is why layers are a recurring feature of short haircuts for women over 50. The stacked lengths instantly add volume to the style, which is a blessing for women with fine hair.

72. Messy Pixie Bob

The pixie bob is one of the best short haircuts if you still want some length to play with. Stacked layers in the back are easy to manage, and the elongated pieces in the front frame your face nicely. Style straight for a crisp finish or with waves for a bed head look.

73. Platinum Pixie Cut

Mature women have a unique benefit of rocking platinum hair and still looking completely natural. Such a striking color can really stand on its own with no variation of shade. The cool tones will spotlight the workmanship put into the cut.

74. Pixie Bob with Blonde Babylights

Babylights are highlights that are very subtle and add a sun-kissed look to your hair. Shown here, they lift the top layers to keep the style from looking flat. It’s a technique that can be used in all short hairstyles for older women and it’s especially useful if you have fine hair.

75. Silver Bob with Hint of Purple

A side-parted bob that sweeps across the forehead frames the face and works very well for women with glasses. Such a tailored cut turns out to be the perfect base for an unexpected pop of color. Thin streaks of purple are a gorgeous addition to a head of silver hair.

76. Messy Pixie with Chunky Highlights

A pixie with a messy finish is a great way for women with straight hair to achieve some movement. It’s also a low-maintenance option in comparison to other short styles. A quick dry, a bit of styling wax, and you’re set. Chunky highlights will add drama and accentuate the varying directions of your locks.

77. Gray Pixie for Thick Hair

Shorter haircuts for older women with thick hair naturally feature lots of volume and texture. This means that you can sport shorter cuts without looking flat.

78. Blonde Bob with Bangs

Pop culture is obsessed with taking things like “dad hats” and making them cool. Next up: the mom bob. Short hair cuts that typically have been styles of busy moms on-the-go are now desirable with many different age brackets. A nice mix of ash blonde and brown tones makes them modern.

79. Asymmetrical Pixie Bob

Meryl Streep redefined the asymmetrical bob in The Devil Wears Prada. The short length paired with a sweeping exaggerated bang screamed chic and was not off-limits for the mainstream. There are many great pictures of this exact style floating around, so take a few to your stylist and tailor it to make it your own.

80. Sassy and Stacked

Stacked hair styles are beneficial for women over 50 for a couple of reasons. First, placing multiple short layers on top of each other allows achieving a voluminous bump. Second, they provide a modern and youthful edge to basic bob cuts.

81. Straight Bob with Bangs

Modern short women’s haircuts never fail to deliver the perfect style for ladies of all ages, so make sure you have them on your radar. Take this bob, for instance: it is sleek, sophisticated, age-defying and simply timeless.

82. Stacked Bob with Bangs

The stacked bob delivers beautiful height to your hair. Bangs balance the tapered back, while caramel highlights bring warmth to the brunette color. The chocolatey hue exudes youthful style that is simply irresistible.

83. Dark Brown Cut with Textured Tresses

Next time you hit the hairdresser, make sure to ask for added texture. Why? Not just is it ‘cool’, but it’s wearable. It’s daring and youthful without being outrageous. And, it’s modern and interesting without requiring much maintenance. Professionals suggest mussing a pixie cut with your fingers after a shower to lift roots and to get the right texture.

84. Pixie Bob with Soft Blonde Highlights

As a face ages, it is important to let hair compliment its changing complexion. A short hairstyle for a woman that softens the silhouette and the shade can be an excellent way to distract from the small effects of advancing age. For a fresh new spin on the pixie, diffuse harsh, solid-color blocks of your short hairstyle with layers of warm and delicate, dimensional hues.

85. Purple Haze Update

Hair inevitably goes gray after a certain age, and it’s best to surf the silver wave rather than fight it. That said, there’s no need to totally embrace gray and live with it forever. With natural gray hair, your locks no longer need to be bleached to show color. So, you may try a light pastel shade and experiment with technicolor highlights.

86. Blonde Bob with Smoky Violet Highlights

We vote for no more boring short hairstyles for women. Step up your classy blonde bob with the flick of an unexpected color. Reign supreme with a double-take purple streak or pep your pixie up with a slick lick of pink.

87. Gray Pixie for Over 50

Here is a wash-and-go hairstyle that everyone will love. It even doesn’t need any styling products! A great idea for straight hair of decent thickness and an oval or triangular face shape.

88. Black Choppy Pixie with Red Bangs

Long live rock & roll! You don’t have to commit to a whole head of a bright color; mere adding some colorful peek-a-boo highlights to your bangs injects a dose of edge into your classic short hair style.

89. Carol Brady Inspired Hairdo

Here’s a wonderful example of a short women’s haircut inspired by TV icon, Carol Brady, and her signature mock mullet. Although that may not sound too stylish, it works well for older ladies. There are layers and volume on top tapered towards the cute feathers covering the nape.

90. Sleek Gray Bob with Balayage

Embrace the gray with a subtle balayage that brings dimension to your strands. The popular coloring will accentuate your hair’s high and low notes. Pair that with a sleek bob, and you’re a bonafide silver fox.

Dear ladies, we know how important it is for you to find a hairstyle that would look great on you throughout your fifties. Choose from the examples above or check hairstyles of older celebrities to find the way to define your new self. Remember, hair of older women can look gorgeous while remaining lively and natural.