Short Hair Styles for Older Women

Short Hair Styles for Older Women

Julie Andrews is always classy

A good short haircut allows you to look smart and sophisticated, but liberates you from excessive time spent in the bathroom styling your hair. Your time is valuable, and you should be able to spend it doing what you like. The right haircut can be youthful and lively and require little product or work on your part to look perfect every day.

A trendy short hair style for older women cuts the hair at two to three inches in total length. A bit of texturizing adds interest and gives you a fun, gently “messy” look that is very hip and can be styled in a variety of ways. Most days, all you need to do is rub in some gel or leave-in conditioner to towel-dried hair, then lightly blow-dry, using your fingers to guide the hair as you like.

Cloris Leachman

For a more classic look that is still easy to maintain, opt for contoured layers through the crown with sides that frame your face, creating softness. All you have to do to make this look great every day is apply gel to damp hair, blow dry for some volume and curl back the sides. You should add some hairspray so that the curls hold through the day.

The classic bob and its more modern variations are very popular short hair styles for older women. Bangs hide forehead wrinkles and gray roots while framing the face and giving you a youthful look. If you have a straight bob, you may not even have to blow dry – just comb through some leave-in conditioner and then mist with holding spray. A layered bob might need some gel and a light blow dry for volume.

If you like the idea of going very short, go a bit wild and add some spikiness around the crown. Your stylist should be able to create this look without making you look like a refugee from a punk band, and you will only need some gel worked through with your fingers every day to make it work.

Hair Styles to Avoid

Jane Fonda is a definite "do"

While many women wear their hair long into their 80s and beyond, hair that is in poor condition can be aging, so going short is a good alternative. However, it is important that you go to a reputable and trusted stylist when opting for a new, short haircut. You want someone who understands your hair and how to style it to the best advantage for both hair and face. One thing you must avoid is going too short and severe. This will add harshness and emphasize lines.

You also want to avoid anything that looks too styled or fussy. If you look at pictures of women from the 1950s, you'll notice that the short hairstyles are all very busy, and tend to age even young women. Older hair can be thinner and coarser than it used to be, and the more styling you have to do, the more stress you will place on it. If your hairdresser is suggesting a style that will require more than 10 minutes of effort on your part every day, you might want to look for a new stylist.

Your Best Options

Whatever style you choose, remember that a soft, fringy cut will create softness in your face and be easy to maintain. If your hair is thick, it should be texturized to avoid looking heavy. What you’re looking for is something that suits your personality – you’ve earned it!