When it comes to age, there’s no such thing as hairstyle rules (Embrace the gray. Go super-long. You do you.). But short hairstyles are a go-to for many as they get older for a reason: Our hair changes drastically over time, and the goal is no longer just about personal preference, but about functionality as well.
“[Hair] gets finer, loses density, and dries out because the scalp produces less oil. Gray and white hair is coarser and more porous, which changes how it takes color and responds to products. Curl patterns can shift, too,” says celebrity hairstylist David von Cannon. “All of this is why the cut that worked for years might evolve as one gets older.”
“The goal becomes less about fighting these changes and more about working with them strategically,” adds Joseph Maine, global artistic director of ColorWow and cofounder of Trademark Beauty.
So, other than being chic and effortless, short hairstyles come with loads of benefits. It creates the illusion of fullness and lift, says Maine, and can help give you some softness and shape.
If you’re looking for some inspo, below are the eight short hairstyles for women over 50 that are asking for right now (and how to style them), straight from the pros.
