For mature women, achieving a perfect hairstyle can pose a challenge. This is particularly true when you’re aiming for a stylish yet low-maintenance look. To make your search easier this autumn, we consulted both celebrity and professional hair stylists to bring you eight stunning, voluminous, and effortlessly manageable short haircuts.
Perfect for ladies in their forties and fifties, especially those with finer or thinner hair, these timeless looks will help you channel your inner star or simply achieve an elegant and refined appearance. So why not let us take the guesswork out of your search and explore these fabulous short haircuts before you hit the salon?
Read on for tips, insight and suggestions from Gina Rivera, celebrity hair stylist at Phenix Salon Suites, Davis Feliz, owner and creative director at Davis Feliz Salon, Rod Galvao, professional hair stylist at Gem House, Lauren Udoh, professional hair stylist and Hair Creative Director of WigReports, Dr. Roshan Vara, hair transplant surgeon and co-founder at The Treatment Rooms and Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles.
1. Asymmetrical Bob
A textured asymmetrical bob (or longer bob as seen here on Rosamund Pike) is a "terrific choice" for "mature beauties," Rivera explains, since it’s a perfect blend of classic yet still modern and trendy. "This style is so hip that it’s perfect for making our ladies in their prime look super chic," she says. "Removing a bit of length from the hair, [adds] movement and creates a youthful appeal."
When it comes to styling, Rivera notes that "texturing the hair" creates an "opportunity to remove some of the damaged ends and weight which bring more life to the hair as well."
Additionally, Rivera advises that it’s best to always "consult with your stylist on a maintenance schedule but for those trying to regain hair health, make sure to trim every 4-6 weeks."
2. Edgy Bob with Deep Side Part
Halle Berry is a clear fan of a great voluminous pixie-inspired bob and Abdullah notes that it's a timeless, tried-and-true style for women over 40 for many reasons. "As we age, our hair tends to thin and dull so regular trims, a fun cut, [and] maybe some fresh color and glossing treatments, are great ways to maintain a youthful look," Abdullah explains.
She stresses that a bob like this with layers is one of the best ways to draw more attention to your beautiful face, while also maintaining locks that are easy to manage, and give off an effortless look. “Ask your stylist about the amount and placement of layers that will help create volume and body in your hair,” she says. “Tell them you would like to create more volume.
Feluz says that this hairstyle is one that has both boldness and beauty. “To keep the look unique and modern, shape and contour to your profile by going shorter in the back and keeping a longer fringe. This brings gazes upward for an instant eye lift,” he advises.
3. Sleek Bob With Flipped-Out Ends
A sleek bob like Lana Condor's, Rivera says, is extra eye-catching because of the way its ends are styled. "Blunt bob haircuts keep the fullness at the ends which is great for fine, thin hair," she says.
When dealing with thin hair, you wantto avoid hairstyles that have a lot of layers as this can make the haircollapse and appear thinner.
She adds that classic bobs like these are "also great because you can add volume by styling them appropriately." Blunt hairstyles can "make hair appear fuller," she stresses.
4. Chin-Length Bob With Wispy Fringe
According to Galvao, one of the most universally flattering and anti-aging haircuts is a layered bob with wispy bangs, as seen here on Helen Mirren. Referring to the base of the haircut, he explains, "The shape is usually more rectangular or square, with a very defined linear design, which brings a more modern and sophisticated look with a minimalist style."
Additionally, he notes, "In some versions of the cut there are more layers that add movement and give those ‘cool’ young vibes." Feliz agrees, and says that the ultimate "low-maintenance style that never loses its appeal is a classy bob." He adds that "longer faces may need more framing and layers, while round faces require less."
Davis chimes in, "For this style, a bit of undercutting in the back allows for easier manageability, creating a natural bend for easy wash and wear."
5. Curly, Dark Gray Pixie
Tia Mowry wowed her Instagram followers with a darker gray, curly pixie that helped show off both her natural hair color and texture in such an elegant and flattering way.
A hairstyle like this, Vara says, is "very low maintenance and doesn’t require much styling," which is great for "those who want to stay away from heat.”
6. Wavy, Layered 'Mob' Cut
You're probably already familiar with the classic 'bob' and its longer cousin the 'lob,' so the 'mob' refers to a 'medium bob,' Udoh explains. She deems it to be a "sleek and stylish choice for many occasions." It's a versatile cut, she adds, that looks "great on almost any face shape and hair type." (See here on Cate Blanchett).
While traditional bobs often end at the chin and lobs fall at the collarbone, the 'mob' ends in the middle of the neck. "The mob cut can be adjusted to complement your features and create an attractive silhouette," Udoh adds.
This not-too-long and also not-too-short cut provides "volume at the crown, with textured layers that frame the face nicely while still maintaining an easy-to-manage style," she points out!
7. Ultra-Voluminous Gray Pixie
If you want to show off your chic gray color in style, Nicole Richie's iconic 2013 Met Gala look might be one you want to recreate! This sky-high style can be created with strategic layering, Abdullah says.
When going for a pixie with volume, she points out that "the layers can be cut to swirl around the head to hide thinning in whichever areas it is most apparent," and that it’s a good idea to “take a few pictures into the salon to see what’s possible and will look best on you."
8. Shaggy Bob With Side-Swept Bangs
A shag is an "amazing cut that is well-recognized for being versatile," Rivera says. A quintessential shaggy cut, as seen here on Taylor Swift, offers "nice variations for both longer and shorter hair," Rivera points out. She notes that the choice to "add a bang," and especially a voluminous, side-swept fringe can "add a fresh surprise to this look," Rivera suggests.
For gals with longer hair, she says that "an added choice is to shorten the hair up a bit to the collarbone or above" to create some texture, and adding subtle layers to soften. Will recommends adding wispy fringe to this ‘do for not only a more youthful look overall, but also to hide any thinning or hair loss at the crown.
"This hairstyle is perfect for women over 40," she says, stressing that it will help "hide their forehead [and any signs of wrinkling or natural aging] to look younger." It is suitable for women who have "thick hair, as well as thin," she concludes.
Overall, while these are just eight classic and timeless hairstyles, there are plenty more that can work for you, Rivera says. What matters most is figuring out your face shape and asking your stylist what looks best and most flattering for it!
