Spring is the perfect time for a fresh new look, especially when it comes to your hairstyle. To help you switch things up, we reached out to top hairstylists who shared their expertise on five glamorous and timeless haircuts that are popular among celebrities over 50.
Not only do these styles offer plenty of volume and framing around the face, but they also embrace the beauty of gray hair and are versatile enough to suit a range of textures. Read on for tips, suggestions and insight from Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles, Lauren Udoh, hair stylist and hair creative director of WigReports and Krysta Guerrero, owner and stylist at Base Salon Chicago.
5 Chic Volumizing Haircuts To Try This Spring For Women Over 50
1. 'Mob' Cut with Deep Side Part
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!
2. Layered Lob with Curtain Bangs
With age, many of us start to notice hair thinning or loss at the crown area. Abdullah notes that curtain bangs can make a sleek and stylish remedy while also boosting volume. She recommends cutting your bangs at your eyebrow level "to emphasize your eyes."
This, paired with face-framing layering in your collarbone-length lob can provide a much more flattering look overall, she notes. Chic curtain bangs "flatter just about any face at any age and neatly frame the face while drawing attention away from serious aging signs," she continues.
Curtain bangs, Abdullah notes, are a type of fringe cut that creates a soft, natural looking wave at the top of the head, as seen here on Kerry Washington.
"They are often used to frame the face and specifically, to give it a youthful appearance," she adds, which "look great on mature women" as they make your face appear "smaller and slimmer when they come down to cheek level."
3. 'Bixie'
If you can't decide between a bob or pixie, we have good news. You don't have to! A 'bixie' (or bob-meets-pixie) like Jane Fonda's is very in for spring, and can be a very flattering and chic choice, Guerrero explains.
There are elements of both styles to play with here in this social media-fave cut, and the start of the year is a great time to find what works for you. "The bixie is a traditional bob haircut that’s combined with a pixie," she says.
"The nice thing about a bixie is its versatility — not only can you adjust the length and opt to have it a little longer, but there is no one way to do it when it comes to the style. The cut is totally customizable based on your preference."
4. Pixie with Sideswept Bangs
One specific short 'do that can highlight your eyes, cheekbones, and face shape over 50 is a pixie cut with sideswept bangs. "Ever seen a pixie cut where the bangs steal all the attention? This is what you're after: long, side-swept bangs," Abdullah explains.
Robin Wright's look above is a great example. "The rest of your hair should be piece-y and angled.
She adds that "the cut should swirl around your head to hide hair loss." Abdullah stresses that a pixie cut with layers still maintains volume that is both gorgeous and easy to manage.
5. Voluminous Italian Bob
If you're looking for a haircut that can make your best features pop while giving your mane an extra boost of volume and bounce, look no further than the Italian bob cut.
This style is inspired by Old Hollywood and is a 'do that stylish stars like Salma Hayek opt for. The Italian bob takes the traditional bob cut to new heights with chunky blunt ends that create an airy, voluminous look that's never heavy or bulky. It also has just the right amount of length to allow for easy styling options as it's long enough to tie up, but short enough to be worn as is. Udoh says that a medium bob like this is "a sleek and stylish choice for many occasions."
She adds that "it's a versatile cut that looks great on almost any face shape and hair type." The length can be "adjusted to complement your features and create an attractive silhouette," she notes.
"This ever-popular bob provides volume at the crown, with textured layers that frame the face nicely while still maintaining an easy-to-manage style," Udoh explains.
The Bottom Line
In the quest for voluminous locks, there are numerous styling options to explore. However, the aforementioned five have garnered considerable buzz and are expected to maintain their popularity for some time. When considering a hairstyle makeover for the summer, it is vital to factor in your facial contours, hair texture, and desired level of volume before selecting a particular cut.
By collaborating with your hairstylist and providing visual aids such as photographs of your preferred style, you can significantly enhance your chances of achieving the desired outcome, as advised by our specialists.
