Flattering Shoulder-Length Hairstyles for Women Over 50

Hair is about self confidence, and your signature cut should make you feel like your best self. Sometimes as we age, the styles and looks we’ve relied on to look flattering and make us feel comfortable can start to shift. While change can be a bit scary, we have expert tips to help make your next shoulder-length haircut feel gorgeous, no matter your age.

Featured Experts

• John Moroney is Beautynova’s senior vice president of global education
• Giles Robinson is a celebrity stylist and Color Wow ambassador
• Michelle Cleveland is a professional hairstylist

How Our Hair Ages

We know that we go gray as we age, but our strands go through more than just pigment changes. “Aging also affects texture—hair becomes finer, drier and more prone to breakage due to reduced oil production and structural changes in the follicle,” adds Beautynova’s senior vice president of global education, John Moroney. “That’s why mature hair needs extra care: more moisture, nourishing treatments and protective ingredients to maintain strength and shine.”

That also means that your go-to haircut may need to change in order to better flatter fine strands, and shoulder-length hairstyles are a great choice. “Mid-length styles are incredibly flattering and versatile,” notes celebrity stylist and Color Wow ambassador, Giles Robinson. “They offer shape without commitment, are easier to maintain than longer styles, and bring softness around the face, which can be especially flattering as we age. It feels modern but not try-hard.”

Shoulder-Length Hairstyles Perfect for Women Over 50

According to hairstylist Michelle Cleveland, creating movement and dimension flatters women over 50. “A textured bob or a face frame with strategically placed layers will help create movement that directs the hair up and away from the jawline,” she says. “These pieces redirect the eye up and away from the parts of the face that tend to show the effects of aging the most.”

For a shoulder-length haircut, you can easily draw the eye up by embracing texture, choosing a face-framing bang or styling with a round brush. “I love a soft, shoulder-skimming bob with a bit of movement, either styled under with a round brush or tousled with some bend,” says Robinson. “It’s timeless, fresh and easy to update depending on mood or occasion.”

When styling, keep in mind that your hair’s needs may start to change as you age. Robinson recommends choosing thickening treatments and swapping out heavier products with more lightweight options as hair starts to become finer. “A light touch of Color Wow Style on Steroids ($30) adds body to dry hair without weighing it down,” he adds. “Mature hair will often also need moisture, density and control.”