Women are no longer getting their hair cut simply because they've reached a ‘certain age’. Experimentation is in and Google search around bobs for women over 50 is currently booming, largely because celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Penélope Cruz and Halle Berry have proved that this trending haircut is chic at any age.
With so many bob iterations to choose from, you can dip your toe into the trend with a grown-out bob; add softness around the face with a pageboy bob or go for a blunt ‘bubble bob’ if your hair is on the thin side. Either way, it's worth remembering that the ends are the oldest part of the hair strand so they understandably get weaker over time. A cut will freshen up the tips but also add more movement and volume.
“If it looks great and makes you feel confident, then age becomes a less important factor," says Samuel Broadbent, a hairstylist at Hershesons London salon. "Wearing a bob at any age is a statement and when done right is really flattering. The only thing to consider is that if you currently have long hair, make sure you feel ready to make the change and step into your new you.”
Keep scrolling for everything you need to know – from a mood board of inspirational bobs designed specifically for women over 50, advice on what cut to ask your hairdresser for and pro tips on how to style a bob at home.
Before deciding on the cut, a hairstylist will take into account your hair texture and the density of your strands. This is especially important if your hair has started to thin – something that's not uncommon for women over the age of 50 due to hormonal changes during menopause.
“Fine hair can collapse easily, so the cut needs to work with your natural texture,” says Izzy Warren, who also works at Hershesons and says she'd opt for a bob that sits either at the middle of the neck or skims the jawline on thinning strands. “Keeping the length shorter helps to maintain this blunt baseline. I tend to avoid longer lob lengths on very fine hair, as they can sometimes fall flat and feel a little limp. If you do go slightly longer, maintaining a strong outline is essential.”
According to Samuel, the best bob styles for women over 50 tend to lean more towards choppy and chunky textures to keep the look modern.
“It’s often good to avoid over-layered and graduated bobs as these styles can be considered a touch dated,” he says. “If we are going to mix it up, let’s keep it fresh. Many people opt to add some sort of bang with a bob, be it full or grown out. A little framing goes a long way around the face for women over 50, helping to soften features.”
As mentioned, hair texture plays a part, too, in determining your style of bob:
If you have thin hair: “For those with finer hair, chunky shapes with solid baselines are the way to go; some choppy texture can add width and give the impression of added fullness and movement,” says Samuel.
If you have straight hair: “A blunt or slightly textured bob will work beautifully as it shows off the clean lines of the cut,” he notes. “Straight hair tends to reflect precision, so keeping the baseline strong and sharp will give the style a polished, modern feel.”
If you have curly or textured hair: “For those curly girls out there, you can go for rounded or squared shapes, it’s a matter of preference,” says Samuel. “Personally, I like the look of soft edges and a natural finish to aid easy styling and effortless wear.”
Styling a bob depends on your lifestyle, hair type and personal preferences, but ultimately, you want to keep things simple with these five pro-approved steps.
Step 1: Prep the hair
Work a small amount of styling cream through the mid-lengths and ends of towel-dried hair. “This helps smooth the hair, add light hold and create an effortless, lived-in finish,” says Samuel.
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Step 2: Create volume at the roots
To add volume, without crispiness, work a golf-ball-sized amount of mousse into the roots before blow-drying.
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Step 3: Blow-dry for shape
“Use a medium-sized round brush to gently bend the ends under or create a slight curve through the lengths,” says Samuel. “You don’t need a perfect salon blow-dry; a relaxed finish often feels more modern.”
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Step 4: Add texture and polish
“Once dry, use a tiny amount of styling cream to define the ends and add softness,” he notes.
Step 5: Finish with effortless texture
“For that undone, modern finish, lightly mist a styling spray such as Hershesons Air Dry Spray to break up the shape and give the bob a bit of movement,” Samuel recommends.
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The strategic placement of these layers adds volume and a distinct edginess to the cut.
The clean lines of this cut perfectly frame the face.
What's not to love about this look? The waves are simultaneously red-carpet glam and ever so slightly imperfect to keep the cut cool.
Mussed-up texture and haphazard waves keep this shoulder-length bob modern.
This is pure hair architecture! Think a blunt, largely one-length cut that is slightly longer towards the face to frame it.
Soft honey-blonde highlights, combined with a side-swept style, look just as good with a little black dress as they do with a white T-shirt and jeans.
A lob (long bob) is a great entry-level cut for anyone going shorter for the first time.
The feathered flicks add a lived-in vibe to this bob.
Micro bobs can sometimes look stark and minimalist, but not when cut into a head of lush, playful curls.
Curtain bangs are one of the most flattering fringe styles for framing your facial features, especially with a bob.
The lovechild of a French bob and the cowgirl cut, a cowgirl bob is characterised by piece-y bangs and blunt, textured layers.
As the name implies, this bob hits at the nape of your neck. Its blunt edges and nonchalant flip to the side only ups this cut's sex appeal.
The modern pageboy bob has a distinctly rounded shape and adds subtle layers to introduce movement and texture.
Hairstylists agree that a side part gives the illusion of fuller hair by lifting the roots and creating volume and height at the crown.
Embracing your hair's natural texture is the secret to a bob with soft edges and a gorgeous halo of cloud curls.
Characterised by its distinct mushroom cap shape, this bob's curved lines look incredibly chic.
There are at least four reasons that the French bob is a perennial favourite: its low maintenance, earlobe-grazing length; its volumising blunt ends; its distinctive centre parting and its slightly lived-in feel.
A smooth bob that's flipped out at the ends is super versatile: channel a noughties vibe or '60s nostalgia.
Subtle layers and sumptuous waves make this bob look polished, full-bodied and expensive.