Hair Cuts: Older Women Hair Styles

Older Women Hair Styles Biography

The key to a great haircut at any age is 2-fold. First, you must find a hairstyle that flatters your face shape, then you must consider your hair texture. Coarse hair needs to be worn longer and fine hair should be worn shorter and layered if you want any sort of body.

Just because you're 65, you don't have to get a helmet hairstyle with your Social Security check. In fact, a younger look and lighter color can take years off your face (see the picture, right). And just because you're 21, you don't have to have long hair. You can do just about anything, lucky you.

Find out what you can really get away with at age 20, 30, 40, 50 and older.

Your 20s

This is the best time of your life to try out all types of haircuts and styles. Short hairstyles, done right, can make you look more mature (or like a kid) while long looks (like these gorgeous styles here) can be pretty and romantic.

Tip #1: Consider your career goals. In your 20s, you're looking to establish yourself in a career. If you're in a more artsy profession, you can get away with a funky look but if you are in a more conservative profession you might opt for a more professional look. You might consider chopping off that long hair for a shorter cut. Check out this photo gallery of bob hairstyles.

Tip #2: Experiment with length and color. Now is the time to see how you look with super long hair, then cut it off and see if you take to short hair. At your age, your hair will grow faster and thicker than at any time in your life. So enjoy it while you have it. Hair color is the key to reinvention. If you had blonde hair as a kid, you'll look great blonde now. Blessed with black hair? Try a lighter brown or red.

Tip #3: Beware the wrong short cut. What you don't want to look like is a stock "mom" character. Choose a short look that fits your age and the latest trends. For some ideas, check out these photo galleries of short cuts.

Your 30s

These are the years you may be starting a family or powering ahead in your career (or both). While you can get away with all sorts of styles at this age, you'll want to pick a style that fits your lifestyle. Single in the city? Go for long, sexy waves. At home with a toddler or 2? Skip the all-one-length long hair and try a shoulder-length cut that can go in a ponytail during the day but with a curling iron or flat-iron, can look great while out with your husband.

Tip #1: Just because you're a mom doesn't mean you can't be sexy. If you want long locks, go for it. Just make sure you have the time to keep up your style.

Tip #2: Don't be afraid to go short. I kept my hair long for years thinking someday I would HAVE to go short. But then I decided I'd look better in short hair, so I cut it. I got a ton of compliments. After all, you can always grow out your hair if you don't like the short hair.

Tip #3: Gray hair popping up? Most women see a few strands of gray hair in the mid-to-late 30s. African-American women tend get gray later in their 40s. If you have just a few strands, ask your stylist to hand-paint the strands instead of applying a full head of color. But if more than a third of your hair is gray, go with full color and camouflage gray hair in between coloring with hair mascara. See "Help, I'm Getting a Few Gray Hairs!"

Older Women Hair Styles