50 Gorgeous Hairstyles for Women Over 50
These youthful hairstyles can be styled in a million beautiful ways.
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Every woman has the freedom to dress, look, and act as young as she feels, but it's possible that your go-to hairstyle from your 20s and 30s just doesn't feel like you anymore once you enter your 40s or 50s. Of course, stylish haircuts don't have an age limit, and despite what you may have been told, the best hairstyles for women over 50 aren't all super-short and low-maintenance (though there certainly are some great haircuts that are!). Whether you have short hair, medium-length hair, or long hair, we've rounded up plenty of youthful hairstyles inspired by celebrities over 50, and they're sure to have you feeling like your best, most confident self.
Just like your body, your hair changes as you age, so what worked for you even a few years ago might not work now. Don't be surprised if — by the time you reach 50 — you start to experience changes in your hair's texture, color, or how quickly it grows, as these changes are natural. Additionally, you can find haircuts for women over 50 that not only work with your new hair but emphasize all of its ever-evolving beauty. From curly styles to straight styles and from low-maintenance cuts to those that can be styled a million different ways, here are all the best celebrity-inspired hairstyles that'll let you stun well into your 50s, 60s, and beyond.
Patricia Arquette
Arquette stays looking youthful thanks to her playful pageboy bob, which brings all of the focus to her face and is a great choice for anyone with fine, straight hair.
Diane Lane
How fun is this short, flipped 'do? To give a half-up, half-down hairstyle some volume, style your hair with a deep side part and flip your ends with a few spritzes of hairspray and a large-barrel curling iron.
Taraji P. Henson
You'll radiate youth with a sleek, chin-length bob, complete with a dramatic side part and a few face-framing layered pieces.
Lisa Kudrow
Kudrow's mid-length cut always looks voluminous thanks to her long, flipped-out layers (and the fun, chunky highlights definitely add to the youthful look, too).
Octavia Spencer
Spencer's collarbone-grazing cut, undulating waves, and no-nonsense center part are a great choice for any woman, regardless of age.
Ming-Na Wen
Long, side-swept bangs like Wen's are a great way to draw extra attention to your face and so much easier to maintain than traditional bangs, which require frequent trims.
Phylicia Rashad
Whoever said curly-haired ladies couldn't rock a pixie cut? Rashad's short, tousled pixie is seriously chic, and daily maintenance for the style couldn't be easier.
Cate Blanchett
Curls don't have to be long to make a statement. If you have chin-length hair, try parting your hair on one side and giving yourself a few barrel curls, keeping the side closer to your part tucked behind your ear for an unexpected, asymmetrical look.
Sharon Stone
Yes, you can embrace your gray and still look youthful, and Stone is proof. To keep your grays looking fresh, you can cut your hair into a choppy, fashionable pixie and add a few blonde highlights throughout.
Jennifer Aniston
The "Rachel" haircut of the '90s may no longer be in style, but women of all ages can definitely rock Aniston's current look, which involves lots of long layers and chunky blonde highlights.
Jennifer Lopez
Keep a youthful, hair-up hairstyle from looking flat by adding some soft curls to your ends and using a volumizing mousse to keep your style from falling flat.
Jodie Foster
Foster channeled Jackie O. with this flipped-end lob, adding her own twist with extra volume at the roots and subtle gray streaks.
Alfre Woodard
Don't be afraid of playing with volume, like Woodard does here. When you're blow drying your hair, be sure to pull it away from the roots to instantly get more volume.
Lucy Liu
A blunt bob is a style that's easy to maintain and always looks chic. Use some anti-frizz spray to make sure there are no flyaway hairs, and prepare to feel fierce.
Angela Bassett
Bangs can be a fun, youthful way to switch up your hairstyle. They instantly frame your face and can give your look more personality.
Laura Linney
Beachy waves are the perfect I-woke-up-like-this hairstyle. They work best with a shorter haircut that's not too heavy to hold a soft wave, and can easily be made with a saltwater hairspray.
Mariska Hargitay
Frame your face with some soft highlights and gentle curls like Hargitay. These no-fuss curls can quickly be made with a curling iron or wand, then softened by running your fingers through.
Mary Steenburgen
This haircut is 100 percent adorable. To keep the bob-with-bangs style from getting childish, incorporate some highlights for a touch of sophistication and personality.
Kate Beckinsale
Beckinsale's mid-length haircut is perfect for creating no-fuss hairdos. For an easy glamorous look, simply curl and spray with strong-hold spray for a style that will last all day.
Robin Roberts
A short hairstyle can be the perfect way to show off your beautiful face. Allowing for a little extra length on top means you can play with volume.
Corinne Sullivan is an Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers a variety of beats, including lifestyle, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and more. She can tell you everything you need to know about the love lives of A-listers, the coziest bedsheets, and the sex toys actually worth your $$$. She is also the author of the 2018 novel Indecent. Follow her on Instagram for cute pics of her pup and bébé.
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