44 Celebrities Who Make Getting Older Look So Chic
Choosing a fresh hairstyle for a new stage of life doesn't have to mean big change. As New York City-based stylist Mark Garrison says, "You can stick with your favorite style, but update it in little ways." The trick is to work with a stylist who focuses on three key factors: your bone structure, hair type and preferred maintenance level. To find the best haircut for your age, stylists recommend turning to a celeb with a similar face shape and hair texture to determine what might look best on you.
Just be sure to communicate your desires to your hairstylist. If you are interested in a pixie haircut, for example, then be sure to speak up! Don't be shy. Use this time to ask your stylist all of your hair questions. Also, don't fall into styling traps like thinking you can't rock long hair over a certain age (have you seen Naomi Campbell?!).
However, there's one myth we can put to rest right now: There is no one-size-fits-all hairstyle for older women. Anyone can look great with almost any haircut at almost any age — from your 20s through the 80s+! Long or short, curly or straight, there are no strict guidelines here. However, there are some tips and tricks to landing the style of your dreams. So, give your look a little refresh this season with head-turning style inspiration for a variety of textures, lengths and occasions. Check out our very favorite haircuts for older women, pictured on these gorgeous celebrities over 50.
Long and Lovely
Whoever asked, "Does long hair make an older woman look older?" has clearly never seen Naomi Campbell. And if you are still on the fence about growing out your hair, then opt for a weave or a wig to get the style sans commitment.
Voluminous Pixie
If there's one person who knows how to age gracefully, it's Jane Fonda. Take the plunge with a short style that features lots of layers and volume.
Beachy Bob
Alfre Woodard's bob somehow looks both coifed and windswept. To achieve this look, go for a short cut with tons of layers, and add in loose waves with a curling iron to create volume and dimension.
Pompadour Updo
Nobody does chic like Helen Mirren. Mirror her elegant style with a pompadour updo, which gives thinner hair tons of volume at the crown, making it appear thicker.
Voluminous Lob
A "lob" (long bob) like Padma Lakshmi's strikes the perfect versatile balance between short and long hair. To boost your hair's fullness, apply a volumizing mousse all over damp strands and, once dry, curl the bottom half of hair with a large-barrel curling iron.
Curly Mohawk
Update your updo with this fantastic hairstyle for older women. This mohawk style, as pictured on Viola Davis, won't make you look like you are chasing a trend. The way her curls cascade down gives just the right amount of edge.
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Spunky Crop
A pixie with choppy pieces looks fresh and youthful ‚ plus it's wash-and-go low-maintenance. Try out feathery micro bangs with your pixie like Judi Dench. These can help elongate your face and bring attention to your eyes. A dab of pomade worked through small sections of dry hair will enhance the shape.
Tantalizing Tendrils
If you have medium-length or even long hair, a quick way to update your look is simply to pull it back into a messy bun. If your hair is layered like Salma Hayek, then let a tendril down on each side of your face to help frame your face.
Bangs with Long Waves
Angela Bassett's cool, fringed style is the height of glam. Long waves help accentuate your cheekbones, while blunt bangs frame your face.
Modern Shag
For an ultra-versatile look, try a shaggier cut like Suzanne Somers. Ask for wispy bangs that melt into face-framing layers.
Side Swoop
Part the front of your hair off-center before blowdrying to easily add subtle drama, like Patti LaBelle. Spritz a light setting spray onto the part and front section to keep it in place.
Full Curly Texture
Embracing hair's volume and curly or wavy texture adds a flattering softness to the face, as Andie Macdowell proves. Distribute a curl-defining mousse through damp strands before air-drying or styling.
Asymmetrical Style
An asymmetrical cut gives your face and overall look some dimension. We love Jennifer Lopez's honey blonde take on this asymmetrical bob.
Lush Curls
No matter what your hair's length, bouncy, well-shaped spirals read as lively, youthful and glamorous. Curl small sections using a 3/4" curling iron for tighter coils or use a 1" one to make it looser like Meg Ryan.
Elegant Topknot
Give facial features a visual "lift" like Julianne Moore by pulling hair back into a soft chignon at the crown of your head. Lightly mist the front with hairspray to tame any flyaways.
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Auburn Curls
If you want to amp up your natural curls, try out a subtle auburn color like Debbie Allen. To make your face the star of the show, pull back some of your hair at the crown, but still allow your curls to cascade.
Effortless Updo
Next time you put your hair up, try leaving a few pieces out and styling them to one side, like Susan Sarandon.
Defined Ringlets
Let your natural texture shine through like Oprah Winfrey. The best way to make sure each coil is defined? Apply a gel for curly hair when strands are still wet.
Bob with Chunky Highlights
If you want your color to pack a punch, opt for chunkier highlights, like Christine Baranski. These streaks will light up your whole face.
A Close Cut with Volume
A pompadour hairstyle can often give an edgy look to older women. To soften it, add some loose curls and let it fall slightly to the side, a la Vivica Fox. You can achieve this look with a close cut by adding some clip-ins to the top of your hair. If your hair is longer then try pushing it all up to the front of your hair and pinning it where necessary to frame your face.
Curly Bangs
Think you can't have bangs with curly hair if you don't dedicate time to blow dry them every morning? Think again. Curly bangs are flattering and no-fuss — just take it from Bernadette Peters.
Caramel Highlights
Add some warmth to your look with caramel-colored highlights. Gayle King brings this look to life with a side part and loose curls.
Warm Highlights
Highlights concentrated around the face, known as money piece highlights, add dimension and give your skin a radiant glow, so copy Iman and head to the salon with this photo.
Half-Up Hairstyle
Does your hair color mimic your skin tone? If so, you may look washed out. Copy Meryl Streep and choose a base color that's at least two shades darker than your skin tone, even if your hair is blond. If you hair is on the thinner side, you can help bring volume to the roots by pulling half of it up.
Go Gray
Searching for a hairstyle that looks great on women over 70? How about for women in their 90s?! Look no further than Rita Moreno. How do you take gray hair but make it fashion? Ms. Moreno proves gray hair in a blunt bob is an ageless look.
Box Braid Beauty
Box braids are a great way to protect your natural hair while giving you the option for a versatile style. Cynthia Bailey is sporting blonde and brown box braids, pulling them into a half ponytail, showing off her beautiful bone structure.
Lob With Long Bangs
The ends of your hair can look ragged and are more likely to see splitting and breakage, especially if they've been through years of chemical treatments. Cut off those offending inches — shorter, healthy-looking hair always looks more youthful than long and damaged hair. Adding long, piecey fringe like Diane Keaton is the perfect way to revitalize any existing cut without making a major change.
Voluminous Waves
Shape full hair to frame your face in such a way that it hugs your bone structure, emphasizing the curvature of your cheekbones, like Madonna.
Low Bun with a Deep Side Part
Michelle Obama is the epitome of elegance and you can be First Lady adjacent with this low bun. The deep side part is chic and the look is an easy hairstyle for older women to achieve.
Pixie Cut
Jamie Lee Curtis' no-fuss, ultra-chic pixie is both low maintenance and the perfect hairstyle for older women. With a little voluminizer and gel, you're minutes away from a red carpet-ready look.
Ring(let) Master
Tina Lawson proves that ringlet curls are not solely for the young. Her medium-length, ombré curls is a hairstyle that is age-defiant. This style looks great on older women and if you have fine hair, add layers for an illusion of more volume.
Side Bangs
Textured wispy, coifed side bangs can pull attention away from your neck, even if the cut is as short as Maggie Smith's.
Blunt Bangs
If you want to, you can use your hair to cover up any problem areas (not that Tina Turner and her iconic hair have any flaws). If you're aiming to hide forehead wrinkles, try eyebrow-skimming bangs. They'll cover lines and play up your eyes.
Layered Waves
Turning a year older doesn't mean your hair needs to get shorter. If you love your long hair, opt for Jane Seymour's style and ask your stylist for feathery layers and a subtle balayage highlighting treatment.
Classic Lob
Sally Field's shoulder-length cut is a classic, and there are so many flattering components: face-framing layers, and those subtle highlights.
The Flip Bob
Take a quintessential bob and flip it, literally! Diahann Carroll shows that a classic look can be updated for older women simply by adding layers and a flip at the end. This short hairstyle is peak chic for older women and looks great for gals with glasses.
Sleek Bob
Somewhere between a pixie and shoulder-length cut is Jessica Lange's jawline-skimming bob. The blunt style and deep side part is super flattering and all the inspo we need to take the plunge with a short style.
Center Part
Then and now, no one has been able to rock the center part quite like Cher. With voluminous curls and her classic black hair color, you can't go wrong with this hairstyle for older women.
Layers and Volume
Though she is essentially ageless, Christie Brinkley has taught us one major thing: volume is key. With plenty of layers and lift, she shows how to create a perfect, timeless style.
Smooth and Glossy
Super straight, sleek bangs always feel modern. A style like this makes it easy to pull your hair back into a chic ponytail, like Allison Janney demonstrates here, or a low bun.
Beach Wave
Robin Givens illustrates that you don't have to be on vacation to achieve the beach wave vibes. This hairstyle is great for older women with short hair, medium hair or long hair, because of its effortless look.
Sleek Bob
You want at least nape-length layers that are shorter in back for a style similar to Katie Couric's. Adding some swing this way helps minimize flaws in general, and longer pieces in front will give the illusion of sharper angles where they're needed.
Symmetrical Waves
Highlight your favorite features with layers that essentially "point" toward the area — like how Michelle Pfeiffer has pieces that hit at her amazing cheekbones. If you have a great smile, for example, ask for chin-length pieces in front that will hit at lip level.
Blown-out Bob
Remember that a flat-against-the-head style rarely looks pretty, unless you're 16. Sigourney Weaver's stylist created volume at the crown by adding more layers on top. When styling your own hair, take a few strokes with a teasing comb. The volume will help perk up your face for the ultimate hair style for older women.
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