6 Low Maintenance Haircuts Perfect For Older Women

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Although society likes to frown upon women getting older, it definitely has its perks. When you have decades of life experience under your belt, you have a better grasp on what matters, what doesn't, and how you want to live your life on your own terms. In other words, you're done wasting your time and want to simplify things. Because of this, when women reach a certain age, finding low-maintenance haircuts that are easy to style becomes a goal. After all, you've exhausted yourself during the first half of your life, so you definitely need a breather for the latter half.

For many older women, going shorter is the easiest option that doesn't require too much time and money. "Traditionally, long hair has been associated with young women of childbearing age, while older women are considered to have shorter hair or more austere updos," Dr. Becky Spelman told Stylist. "With age comes experience and self-assuredness, which is probably why women with shorter hair can appear more confident."

While shorter hair is definitely quite common, especially for those who want to stay chic into their 60s, it doesn't mean you have to follow the crowd. To find out what low-maintenance haircuts are perfect for older women, Women spoke with celebrity hairstylist and Creative Education Director for Scruples, William Whatley. Whether you're looking for a new wash-and-go look, or a style that won't require you to miss out on any sleep, the right cut makes getting ready easier than ever.

While a short style is an easy go-to for those who want a simple cut, bob haircuts are particularly flattering on older women. You think Anna Wintour, who's 75, would still be rocking her bob if this wasn't a fact? Probably not.

"There are so many versatile looks you can achieve with a great bob depending on the length, whether it be a chin length or a shoulder length," William Whatley exclusively tells Women.com. "A textured bob just below the chin line gives amazing amount of volume. This is a great look for women over 50 [who] want to create that beachy soft wave look that is so youthful, carefree, and a great look for any occasion."

What's also fantastic about a textured bob is that it's a "wash-and-go" style, meaning you don't have to do much to make it look good beyond air drying after the shower. "[Wash and go] will allow you to not have to use as much heat on your hair, as again the hair is more fragile when you reach a certain age," says Whatley, adding that the fragility of your hair starts to really increase over 50. So, if you're able to skip the hairdryer and/or hair straightener, you're doing your tresses a favor and with a textured bob, you have no need for either of those things. Just a little product and you're good to go.

The classic bob with bangs is one of the most iconic hair styles around, dating all the way back to the 1920s when actresses like Louise Brooks and Colleen Moore popularized the look with straight-across fringe. And it makes sense. Typically ending right at the chin, the look is polished and chic no matter the time of year. "A short bob with fringe [or] bang is a great haircut, especially for any kind of a square face shape for women over 50," says William Whatley. "It softens the chin line to create more of an oval shaped face, and the fringe allows you to sweep from side to side, creating a lot of movement." Styling couldn't be easier — simply take a straightener to the bottom ends and curve it inward to add that slight bit of volume.

But if blunt bangs aren't your thing, then going for a fob, also known as a fringe bob, is another option. When your bangs are more of a fringe than severe and straight-across your brow, it not only adds some whimsy to the entire cut, but leaves more possibility in the way of bangs. It's here that wearing wispy bangs or pairing curtain bangs with your bob adds a new dimension to the overall look, while still keeping the look classic. Besides possibly needing to add a bit of product to your bangs to keep them under control, especially if you do go for the blunt version, this is another get up and go haircut.

Are you noticing a pattern yet? If not, then let's make something abundantly clear: bob cuts truly are one of the best and low-maintenance cuts out there. And because there are so many bobs to choose from, like the chic flippy bob, Leslie Bibb's bob, and the dad bob, a perfect beginner to short hair, that was making the rounds in 2024, you're at no shortage of ways to rock a bob. However, because hair changes so much as you age, going for something that complements those changes and works with your hair, instead of against it, is the way to go.

"A layered bob look is great for women over 50 because it releases the interior of the hair to create more volume and give the illusion of a lot more hair," William Whatley exclusively tells Women, explaining that women over 50 are more prone to thinning and shedding hair, so a layered bob haircut if you're older can help create a look of thickness. "The chin length bob is a great style for face framing," says Whatley. "It brings out the features and gives you a fresh, up-to-date, and modern look for any woman over 50, giving you more of a youthful look." Pair your layered bob with the best eye makeup tips for enhancing the beauty of mature skin and everyone around you will think you took a swim in the fountain of youth.

When it comes to haircuts that are the very definition of low-maintenance, the pixie is at the very top of the list. Except for a buzzcut, which is a beauty reset everyone should try at least once, the pixie requires little to no upkeep. It also speaks volumes about your confidence and where you are in your life that you've boldly gone and chopped off all your hair.

"Pixie cuts are always fabulous for 50+ women hairstyle looks," says William Whatley, adding that pixies accentuate the features of your face. "This trendy cut gives you textured, soft wisps towards the face and soft piecey bangs." According to Whatley, the pixie is especially great for those over 50 that have a rounder pear-shaped face. "It creates softness around the fringe and cheekbone and chin line lots of layers can also create nice volume on a shorter look," says Whatley, who explains that if you want a lot of texture in your cut, ask your stylist to use a razor instead of sheers. "This is a style that you can go from day to night with just adding a soft pomade to define out your wisps and fringe for a great evening look," says Whatley.

But when it comes to pixie cuts that inspire you to go short, a question remains: how short? "For women over 50, hair that leans to be finer and thinner hair, I always go toward creating a longer layer to create more volume and body to the hair," says Whatley. In other words, you want to keep at least a few inches for this very reason.

In the 1970s, a hairstylist by the name of Paul McGregor invented the shag haircut. It wasn't just something he came up with while hacking away at some random person's hair at his shop on St. Mark's Street in the East Village, but a look he specifically created for Jane Fonda, who she kept the haircut throughout the making of her film "Klute." Not only did "Klute" put the shag cut on the map, but when Fonda won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film, the shag quickly became one of the trendiest haircuts of the 1970s, garnering fans among everyone from rockstars like Mick Jagger, Joan Jett, and Stevie Nicks to your average fashionista on the street. Although it's recently been renamed the trendy wolf cut, the shag remains a low-maintenance staple because it grows out perfectly, making it ideal for older women who want something that won't require regular trims.

"The shag is timeless," says William Whatley. "This is a perfect hairstyle for women over 50 who want to be a little bit more edgy and modern... it's the perfect place between short and medium [because] you have shorter layers, but medium length creates tons of movement and volume." But, again, because we are dealing with older hair that may be on the thinner side, when it comes to cutting a shag, layers are key. "You want to create the layers at least three to four inches from the top of the head so the first layer collapses just below the ear and blends down to shoulders and beyond," explains Whatley. "This will create movement and fullness, even on thinner, finer hair." 

While short styles can be a great option, they're not for everyone. For instance, round face shapes are generally better suited to longer styles regardless of age.
The good news is those looking for a low-maintenance style they can still pull back into a ponytail have plenty of options.

"A perfect long hair style for women over 50 would be a variation of a shag where you have shorter layers that are no shorter than three inches from the top of their head [and] layering it evenly down to the end of the length," William Whatley exclusively tells Women. "Creating some feeling of a fringe but still allowing it to have enough length to do a tuck behind the ear leaves the versatility of being able to pull it back." Whatley also suggests one of the trendiest haircuts of the 1990s, The Rachel as a reference cut. That's what you should be aiming for, with layers throughout the length of the hair. "This style again gives you versatility for [parting] the hair down the middle or off to the side to create movement and versatility for longer hair," says Whatley.

No matter what low-maintenance haircut you choose, Whatley stresses the importance of following a regular care routine to maintain shine, flexibility, and overall health. "The best way to remedy [fragile hair] is to make sure that you're doing a great home care regime by adding back all the proteins and nutrients that mature hair needs," says Whatley. This means investing in moisturizing products specifically designed for older hair, such as PURA D'OR Anti-thinning Biotin Shampoo & Moisturizing Conditioner.