Your fifties and the decades beyond itare exciting style chapters. For one, you will have truly finessed your personal identity and aesthetic; you'll know what works and the trends that suit you,as well as the ones to pass on. And with any luck, age also brings confidence when it comes toyour hair, because you'll know itinside out, including exactly what looks and feels best for you. However, at this life stage, hair can also experience change—greys can become more prominent and menopause can bring about further, sometimes difficult shifts, includinghair loss or hair thinning, whilst sometimes our hair texture will simplychange as we get older. All of these factors can make us want to switch things up with our hairstyle.
Thankfully, there have also been some shifts in society's attitudes towards women getting older, meaning that many now embrace their grey hair, and gone is the notion that you have to cut your long hair short as you age. But if you are looking to cut your hair for whatever reason—crops andbobs are majorly "in" right now, after all—ashort hairstyle is a chic and timeless cut that many women over 50 have made iconic. Take Anna Wintour and her blunt bob, which has become synonymous with her image, or Halle Berry'sperfectpixie cut. So many celebrities over 50 have gone for the chop, which means there's plenty of short-hair inspiration out there to inspireus all.
So, I'm turning to the women over 50 who have perfected their personal style with chicand elegant short haircuts. Scroll ahead to find all the short haircut and hairstyle ideas to take to the salon.
26 Short Hairstyles for Women Over 50 (and Anyone Who Just Wants to Look Chic)
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Anna Wintour's chin-length, blunt bob with a fringe has become her signature haircut.
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Angela Basset shows us how that anItalian bob is both glamorous and timeless.
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A bob haircut is a chic choice to show off your hair texture, as Viola Davis has with her curly, middle-parted bob haircut.
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French first lady Brigitte Macron's rounded bob has so much volume.
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The former editor-in-chief of Vogue Francewears her hair in a shoulder-skimming bob with face-framing layers.
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A chic micro bob with a blunt cut can makefine hair look and feel fuller. Jennifer Lopezshows us how it's done.
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If you're blessed with thick, curly hair, embrace your natural volume with a long bob like Diane von Furstenberg.
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If you're wonderingwhich over-50sshort haircuts are best for type 3 or 4 hair, actor Gina Torres knows. Her face-framing layers allow her curls to sit perfectly around her face in this bob-length cut.
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Grece Ghanem's stunning silver hair looks totally chic in this cropped bob.
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Halle Berry never fails to deliver excellent haircut inspiration—case in point with her curly, swept-over pixie cut.
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Helen Mirren's tousled long bob feels chic yet modern.
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If you're looking for a statement-making short haircut, make like Iman and go for a blunt bob with a deep side parting.
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French actorIsabelle Huppert showcases how choppy layers can bring volume and shape to a short haircut.
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A cropped pixie cut is a timeless short haircut that can also add volume to fine hair. Jada Pinkett Smith wears it so well swept over in a side parting.
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Another great example of the pixie cut on Jaime Lee Curtis, this time with a chic wispy fringe.
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Jennifer Aniston's long bob cut is a great haircut choice if you still want to keep some length. The soft waves and middle parting keep this look feeling modern.
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Kate Blanchett wears he shoulder-length bob with beachy waves.
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We're used to seeing Naomi Campbell with long hair, but this short, blunt bob cut is particularly chic on the supermodel.
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Kris Jenner has made thispixie bob haircut her own with choppy layers that add texture and volume.
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Linda Fargo'sstacked bob haircut is ultra chic.
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Lisa Rinna's choppy cut gives her hair incredible volume and body.
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A jaw-length bob is an elegant hair length, as Lucy Liu demonstrates with a side-parted straight and sleek bob.
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Maye Musk's pixie cut has lots of length at the front which allows for this swept-up style—so chic.
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You can update any bob haircut by curling the ends inwards à la Penelope Cruz.
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ThandiweNewton'sshag haircut with a fringe is a great alternative to the standard short haircuts out there.
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If you're blessed with natural curls, a short haircut with plenty of length at the front allows them to stand out, as seen here on influencerRenia Jaz.
How to Style Your Short Hair:
Bellissima
8-in-1 Air Wonder
Wondering how to style your hair in your 50s and beyond? Celebrity hairstylist and Bellisima ambassador Alicia Dotsonhas some pointers.
"I would add in layers and movement to create vibrancy and life to the hair. The Bellissima8-in-1 Air Wonder(£100)is perfect for creating loose waves," she says. "The volumising brush has been designed to create volume and give shape from roots to ends in one step, helping to lift the face. I’d then opt for the round brushes to add in some waves throughout the hair, helping add movement and texture."
R+Co
Skyline Volume Powder
A really quick hack? Just flip over your parting. "Over-directed hair can give instant volume and make your hairstyle look more fun and vibrant," saysDotson. "I also recommend adding some shape to your hair, such as [with] a bouncy blowdry, as it gives movement and makes the hair appear thicker and fuller."This volumising hair powder helps to add root lift and texture to pixie cuts.
Temple Spa
Good Hair Day Shampoo
Any good hairstyle starts with a great shampoo, and Temple Spa's has become a staple amongst beauty editors for leaving hair shiny and healthy—a great starting point for any styling.
Color Wow
Raise the Root Thicken & Lift Spray
If you have fine hair or flat roots, this adds incredible lift and volume as you blowdry.
GHD
Chronos Hair Straightener in Black
No matter your age, hair texture or haircut, a good pair of straightenersis a styling essential.GHD's latest Chronos model is its best yet.
Pattern
Curl Gel
A great curl gel is a must for textured hair, and this one from Pattern (Tracee Ellis Ross' haircare brand) comes highly acclaimed for its hydrating and defining effects.
Next Up:Bob Hairstyles Suit Everyone—17 Women Who Make Me Want to Cut My Hair
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