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33 Classic Shoulder-Length Hairstyles For Women Over 50

ByDiane Newell Last Updated

Whether it’s soft waves, bold layers, or chic lobs, there’s something truly special about shoulder-length hairstyles. They strike that perfect balance – not too short, not too long, but just right for making a statement. If you’re over 50, this length brings versatility and style all in one. Here are some of our favorite shoulder-length hairstyles to inspire your next cut.

1. Softly Layered Shoulder-Length Waves

Softly Layered Shoulder-Length Waves Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with blonde highlighted hair.

These softly layered waves give your hair a light-as-air look. To style, wrap sections around a curling wand, leaving the ends free for a more casual look. Finish with a spritz of texturizing spray for a soft, touchable texture.

2. Voluminous Textured Waves

Voluminous Textured Waves Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her fifties with salt and pepper hair.

This medium-length style is defined by its voluminous waves that give you all the fullness you’ve ever wanted. Use a curling iron to create big, loose waves, alternating directions for a fun, casual finish. Use a volumizing spray/powder at the roots for a lift that lasts and lasts.

3. Center-Parted Face-Framing Lob

Center-Parted Face-Framing Lob Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with brown hair.

This center-parted lob (long bob) is sleek, stylish, and a total classic. The center part adds symmetry, and the soft layers give your hair gentle movement. Our favorite part? This style makes your hair look healthy and shiny, especially if you’ve got straight or slightly wavy locks. Smooth it out with a flat iron and apply a small amount of anti-frizz serum for a mirror-like shine.

4. Sweeping Shoulder-Length Layers for Fine Hair

Sweeping Shoulder-Length Layers for Fine Hair Hairstyle on a woman in her fifties with copper hair, side view.

Say goodbye to flat, lifeless hair. These sweeping layers are like magic for fine hair, adding texture and volume without making your hair feel weighed down. The cut creates a soft, feathered look that moves with you as you go about your day.

5. Sleek Silver Lob with Tapered Ends

Sleek Silver Lob with Tapered Ends Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with gray hair.

This sleek silver long bob, also known as a lob, is the ultimate blend of modern and chic. The tapered ends create a clean shape, while the smooth texture gives your hair a silky finish. It’s especially flattering for highlighting tunning silver tones, whether natural or dyed. Straight hair works best, but a flat iron can help you achieve a sleek look if your hair is wavy.

6. Textured Curled Shoulder-Length Hair

Textured Curled Shoulder-Length Hair Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with brown hair and blonde highlights.

Bring on the curls! This shoulder-length style celebrates texture, making it perfect for women who love their natural curls or waves. Use a diffuser to dry for defined, frizz-free curls.

7. Sleek Layered Lob

Sleek Layered Lob Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with straight brown hair.

This layered lob is a quintessential cut for your 50s. The layers are subtle but do wonders for adding dimension to fine or medium hair. Straighten it with a flat iron and add a shine spray to make every strand gleam in the light.

8. Loosely Curled Long Bob

Loosely Curled Long Bob Hairstyle on a woman in her 50s with brown hair, side view.

Think soft, touchable waves with just a hint of glam. This loosely curled long bob gives you volume AND length. The curls add texture, while the slightly longer length makes it easy to style in different ways. For relaxed, pretty curls, use a curling wand with a large barrel to create soft, romantic curls, then finger-comb them for a looser finish.

9. Straight Long Bob

Straight Long Bob Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with straight light brown hair.

This straight, shoulder-length bob is sleek, simple, and timeless. The even length keeps the look clean, making it ideal for showcasing healthy, shiny hair. It’s especially great for straight textures, as it is very low-maintenance and requires minimal effort to style.

10. Medium Gray Blended Layers

Medium Gray Blended Layers Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with dark brown hair and gray blended highlights.

Gray never looked so good with this shoulder-length cut. This medium-length style features blended layers that give your hair movement and texture without losing its smoothness. It’s a fantastic way to let your natural silver shine through.

11. Bouncy Curly Shoulder-Length Layers

Bouncy Curly Shoulder-Length Layers Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with black hair.

Get ready to let your curls steal the show with this lively, bouncy look. The mid-length layers are designed to lighten the weight of your curls, giving them spring and definition. No more limp or frizzy ends – these curls are springy and lifted!

12. Shoulder-Length Shag

Shoulder-Length Shag Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with layered blonde hair.

This shoulder-length shag gives rock-and-roll vibes with choppy, feathery layers. You get texture and movement, which helps make your hair look thicker and more voluminous. Use a texturizing product at the roots for lift, and tousle your strands for that messy, textured finish.

13. Loose Shoulder-Length Waves

Loose Shoulder-Length Waves Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with honey blonde hair.

These waves are like your favorite cozy sweater – easygoing but classic and comfy. Loose, flowing waves fall naturally, giving your hair a soft, smooth look. This cut is perfect for bringing life to straight or wavy hair while keeping styling low-key.

14. Tapered Lob with Bangs

Tapered Lob with Bangs Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with golden brown hair.

The gentle graduation of this tapered shoulder-length haircut keeps the length playful while giving your hair shape and dimension. If your hair is fine, the tapered edges can make it appear fuller and bouncier. A volumizing mousse or a texturizing spray will help you recreate that airy, lifted effect.

15. Tousled Long Layered Bob

Tousled Long Layered Bob Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with brown hair and blonde highlights.

Textured layers add depth to this shoulder-length layered bob, making your hair look lush and full. Perfect for fine to medium hair, it gives your strands that airy, touchable quality. Use a lightweight texturizing spray and shake it out for that tousled look.

16. Shoulder-Length Lob with Flipped Layers

Shoulder-Length Lob with Flipped Layers Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with brown hair.

Ready to flip the script on your hair? This lob takes layers and gives them a playful finish by flipping them outward. The result is hair that looks lively, full of motion, and even a little flirty. (This style is perfect for straight or slightly wavy textures.) To style, blow-dry the ends with a round brush, pulling outward to create the flips, then lock it all in with a flexible hold hairspray.

17. Shoulder-Length Angled Long Bob

Shoulder-Length Angled Long Bob Hairstyle on a woman in her 50s with brown hair and highlights, side view.

This angled bob says sharp and chic without being too angular (it actually has a somewhat rounded shape). The subtle slant creates a flattering line that draws attention to your jawline and elongates your neck. Smooth it with a flat iron and use a shine spray to make the clean angles pop.

18. Shoulder-Length Curls

Shoulder-Length Curls Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with highlighted brown hair.

This shoulder-length cut amplifies natural curls with layers that keep them full of life and perfectly defined. The cut prevents heaviness, so your curls stay light and fluffy. Use a curl-enhancing gel or mousse and dry with a diffuser to lock in definition and give you that wet look.

19. Textured Lob with Long Side Bangs

Textured Lob with Long Side Bangs Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with gray hair.

A textured lob like this has a way of making your hair feel lighter without sacrificing its fullness. The layers give your locks a playful bounce. The long side bangs add an intentional softness to this straight hairstyle.

20. Medium Feathered Silver Layers with Bangs

Medium Feathered Silver Layers with Bangs Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with gray hair.

Show off those gorgeous silver strands with this soft, feathered cut. Those feathered ends play a clever little trick by softening your look while making your hair appear fuller. This look is perfect for women who love their silver strands and want a hairstyle with an attitude and a classic finish.

21. Shoulder-Length Wavy Layers with Bangs

Shoulder-Length Wavy Layers with Bangs Hairstyle on a woman in her 50s with strawberry blonde hair, side view.

Soft waves and playful bangs team up to create a hairstyle that’s full of charm and bounce. The wavy layers give your hair movement that feels alive, while the bangs add just the right amount of flirtiness. (Keep your strands hydrated with a leave-in conditioner to maintain the silky, flowy look.)

22. Straight Brunette Lob with Subtle Highlights

Straight Brunette Lob with Subtle Highlights Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with brown hair and subtle highlights.

Sleek and sophisticated doesn’t have to mean boring. This straight brunette lob glows with its natural shine – and those subtle highlights in the front add a whisper of brightness. Think of it as a polished but approachable style. This is a style that really benefits from using a flat iron plus a smoothing cream to achieve that ultra-glossy, straight finish.

23. Textured Shoulder-Length Hair with Bangs

Textured Shoulder-Length Hair with Bangs Hairstyle on a woman in her 50s with silvery gray hair.

This one’s got texture for days… subtle layers add volume and interest to an otherwise simple style. For maximum texture, ask your stylist for razored layers and long, soft bangs that can be styled straight or swept to the side.

24. Soft Shoulder-Length Waves

Soft Shoulder-Length Waves Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with blonde hair.

Soft, touchable waves cascade gently to your shoulders with added lift thanks to the layering. The loose texture gives you volume and dimension, making your hair look thicker and healthier. Use a large-barrel curling iron to create the waves, then tousle for a more relaxed finish.

25. Wispy Layered Lob with Bangs

Wispy Layered Lob with Bangs Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with cool-toned gray hair.

This mid-length style has light, wispy layers and bangs that create a frame around your face. The feathery layers add movement and volume. If your hair tends to look a little flat, these layers will give it the pep it needs, adding body and texture where it is needed.

26. Lob for Fine Hair

Lob for Fine Hair Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with blonde hair.

Flat hair? Not with this lob. Designed with fine hair in mind, this cut adds structure and bounce while keeping things light. The barely-there layers create just enough volume to lift your hair and make it look thicker.

27. Face-Framing Long Bob

Face-Framing Long Bob Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with brown hair.

This long bob has layers that bring dimension to the style, making it ideal for women who want structure without losing that flattering softness. What do you get? Sleek but not stiff. Modern but not trendy.

28. Textured Voluminous Shoulder-Length Layers

Textured Voluminous Shoulder-Length Layers Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with ash blonde hair.

This hairstyle is your ticket to full-bodied glam. The layers are cut to add loads of volume and texture, making your hair look bouncy and full. Add a dollop of volumizing mousse before blow-drying with a round brush to get a just-home-from-the-salon bounce.

29. Shoulder-Length Highlighted Waves

Shoulder-Length Highlighted Waves Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with brown hair with blonde highlights.

These waves are loose and relaxed, giving your hair a sense of movement that never feels stiff. The highlights aren’t just for show – they subtly contour your hair, making the layers pop and giving you that extra bit of brightness. It’s like the highlights and waves are working together to make your hair look vibrant and healthy.

30. High-Volume Textured Shoulder-Length Layers

High-Volume Textured Shoulder-Length Layers Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with black hair.

Perfect for women with fine hair or anyone who wants a little more volume, the layers are designed to lift and separate, creating a full, thick look. To get this high-impact style, spritz your roots with a lifting spray, then blow-dry upside down for maximum volume. Simple but stunning!

31. Medium-Length Blonde Wavy Layers with Bangs

Medium-Length Blonde Wavy Layers with Bangs Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with blonde hair.

Layers blend beautifully, giving your hair a cohesive flow from top to bottom. The bangs are like a built-in accessory, drawing attention to your eyes and adding that little something extra. Taken as a whole, this style is equal parts playful and classic.

32. Copper Layered Waves with Bangs

Copper Layered Waves with Bangs Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with copper hair.

Who doesn’t love a fiery twist? These copper waves are rich, warm, and downright dazzling. The shade enhances your skin’s warmth, while the layers give your hair a rounded, cascading flow right to your shoulders.

33. Medium-Length Silver Curls

Medium-Length Silver Curls Hairstyle on a smiling woman in her 50s with gray hair.

These medium-length curls create dimension and softness, making your hair feel luxurious without being high-maintenance. The shoulder length is the perfect balance: short enough to feel fresh but long enough to let your curls do their thing. Ask your stylist for long, rounded layers that keep the curls from getting weighed down.

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