3 Short, Flirty Haircuts Stylists Say Highlight Your Best Features & Make You Look Younger Instantly

This post has been updated since its initial 06/06/22 publish date to include more expert tips and insight. 

What better way to celebrate the transitioning of the seasons than with a fresh haircut? As the weather changes, you may be dreaming of a shorter, breezier style to stay cool in the last days of summer and start the autumn season off in style. Luckily, there are plenty of close-cropped options that will not only make you look more on trend than ever, but will also take years off of your face.

To discover the best short, flirty haircuts for mature women to rock this summer, we checked in with professional hair stylist Gina Rivera, owner of Phenix Salon Suites and Ghanimah Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles. They pointed out three in particular that are perfect for looking and feeling younger than ever: an asymmetrical bob, a timeless, tousled pixie cut and an elegant, wavy bob with curtain bangs.

If you really want to spice things up with a fresh, flirty look, why not be adventurous and ask your hairdresser to give you an asymmetrical cut? A bob is a timeless look that looks great on just about anyone, and throwing some asymmetry into the mix will give you an edge that will help you maintain a youthful demeanor—and take years off of your face by softening your features.

What’s more, this style works with just about any hair type under the sun. “Asymmetrical cuts are extremely trendy and can be worn with every texture of hair including straight and fine or full and curly,” Rivera says. You may even want to go with some bangs for an added bonus: “Nowadays, we’re even seeing asymmetrical bangs that are shorter on one side and angled to be long as they go across the face,” she notes.

Another plus is that this haircut is extremely on-trend. As Rivera points out, “It’s much easier to appear youthful when you’re stylish and this principle applies here.” Perfect!

This one may seem like a no-brainer, but hey: if it works, it works! A pixie cut is one of the most classic styles around, and for good reason. This close-cropped style is extremely flattering and can instantly make you look younger by emphasizing all the right features in order to detract from signs of aging. “The pixie is perfect for bringing out the eyes and emphasizing cheekbones which can draw away from items like fine lines,” Rivera explains.

In order to create more volume and movement in your hair for a more vivacious appearance, you may want to add some layers to the mix and keep things looking tousled. Rivera offers some advice: “The key with this style as we mature is to leave the top at the crown slightly longer and then add product to create a fun, tousled look,” she says. Noted!

A wavy, textured bob cut is iconic and elegant all on its own, but Abdullah explains that adding face-framing, middle-parted curtain bangs can make this look even more youthful-esque and radiant. Whether they’re part of an effortless French look like Brigitte Bardot or in a punky shag like Alexa Chung, curtain bangs truly never go out of style.

The celeb-fave cut—no matter what decade it’s worn in— is easily customizable. “Curtain bangs are always flirtatious, if you’re looking to rejuvenate your look over 40,” Adullah says. She adds that curtain bangs have another benefit— they can volumize hair when worn down or its pieces can adorn the face when worn up. “You can wear the rest of your hair pulled up and a few wispy long bangs in the front to change up your style,” says Abdullah. The options are endless!

In conclusion, there’s really no right or wrong way to wear your hair. What matters is choosing a style that you feel great and confident in—but of course, looking great can’t hurt either. To determine the best haircut for your face shape, features, and personal style preferences, it’s always a good idea to talk to your hairdresser. But when in doubt, these flirty, anti-aging styles will likely never do you wrong!