Best Hairstyles for Women Over 50 in 2025

Are you wondering if your hairstyle is as good as it gets? You’re not alone. Women over 50 are always on the fence trying to decide whether to go shorter or longer, to add layers or cut bangs. How do I know? I’m a beauty editor and consultant with more than 40 years of experience doing makeovers on photo shoots and advising mature women on their looks. Expectations are super high — boosted by social media photos of celebs and friends with enviable hair. The photos don’t reveal the real challenge, which is finding a flattering style that also deals with aging hair that’s thinner, drier and often damaged from heat styling or chemical processing. In the end, it all comes down to that one special haircut for you. Here are the best hairstyles for “shear” happiness now:

(Clockwise from top left) Kristen Wiig, Marcia Gay Harden, Cate Blanchett, Halle Berry, Michelle Yeoh and Viola Davis sport modern bobs.

AARP (Getty Images, 6)

1. Consider a bob ... again.

It’s all about the bob, and many long-haired women over 50 are intrigued. That’s because at some point in the past, most mature women have tried this chic cut. Let’s call this one “the new bob” because despite the classic label, it’s got a very modern attitude. Still cropped at the chin, just above it or just below the jawline, bobs are now worn sleek, tousled, waved or blown up to voluminous proportions with products and heat styling. They may be blunt or layered, parted at the side or right down the center, and they can be minimalist sharp or embellished with bangs. And they do solve thin hair concerns. A basic blunt bob gives thin hair a thicker look, while a blunt but angled A-line bob creates a more balanced look for hair that’s thick at the nape but thinner at the sides. Styling offers opportunities for even more hair options. You can flip the part for extra lift at the crown, add a texturizing spray to encourage waves or set it on hot rollers to bring on the curls and curves. Your call.

Catherine O’Hara (top left), Melanie Griffith (bottom left), Sheryl Crow and Hannah Waddingham opt for a longer bob — aka the lob.

AARP (Getty Images, 4)

2. Let a “lob” be plan B.

You may be reluctant to make the jump from long hair to a bob. Many women still have flashbacks from past short cuts gone awry and the painful grow-out period that followed. Let the next best thing to a bob — a longer bob known as a “lob” — solve your dilemma. The length for a lob can be anywhere from mid-neck to grazing the collarbones, which makes it a perfect choice for those with long hair wanting to go shorter … but not too short. There’s an immediate bonus. The long hair “feel” is still there, but any frayed, straggly inches are gone, leaving you with healthier-looking locks. As with a bob, you can style any lob sleek with a round brush blow-dry for a refined look or let your natural texture prompt a wavier finish.