These 40 Youthful Hairstyles Are Perfect For Older Women

This voluminous bob looks great on just about anyone. Take your cue from Diahann Carroll and invest in some curling irons to really get those ends looking perfect. You’ll be super glad you did!

Who says you can’t have long hair in your 50s? Sleek and straight is the way to go, and you can achieve the look with the help of heated styling tools. Just be sure to keep your hair at its best with a moisturizing serum so that it remains just as impeccably shiny as Demi Moore’s.

A cut with a deep side part is easy to style. Even better, it’s flattering on round, heart, oval and square-shaped faces — which means pretty much all of us!

When you think of beachy waves, you probably envision extra-long, effortlessly tousled hair. But Meg Ryan proves shorter hair that’s loosely curled can also rock. Add a few face-framing pieces to really complete the look.

You may think you have to tame and control the frizz that sends your hair soaring into the air. But Diana Ross’ full mane – complete with a few flyaways – proves otherwise. Embrace your imperfections and add that volume!

No matter how old you are, you can always try something new with your hair. Why not opt for a lighter shade for your locks, then re-style them into a curled, voluminous crop just like Molly Ringwald?

Curtain bangs prove that short hairstyles don’t have to be boring. They add dimension and boost volume with the clip of the stylist’s scissors. They also frame the face rather than camouflage the forehead. Ready to try them for yourself?

For Jennifer Lopez, looking good seems to be effortless. Just take this hairstyle: her shoulder-length locks appear to have been tousled by the wind before landing just so. Try skipping the hot styling tools after your next blow-dry to see if your strands fall like J.Lo’s!

When in doubt, go long and layered. This classic hairstyle is “age-defying,” according to the Aussie magazine Woman’s Day. And you can get Elizabeth Hurley’s bouncy finish with a curling iron, turning your hair away from your face to create body.

Even if you have short hair, you can still use a curling iron to spruce up your strands. If you have naturally wavy or curly hair, meanwhile, just leave your locks to air-dry to create that added dimension to a neat, short crop.

Don’t forget how versatile a simple bob can be. You can tousle it up or straighten it out depending on your mood. You can also slick it back behind your ears like Sharon Stone for a night on the town. Marvelous!

Susan Sarandon often struts down red carpets with tighter curls. But this look switched things up – and it could be an easy style for you to emulate if you have wavy hair. Just leave your locks to their natural devices! Sarandon’s side-swept bangs are optional, though.

The flip was the must-have ’do of the ’60s – but there’s been a resurgence in recent years with a few upgrades. It’s a bit sleeker, with less dramatically styled roots. Bette Midler rocked it on a 2019 red carpet, and it’s the perfect inspiration photo for your next haircut.

Jessica Lange’s face-framing crown of curls is incredible on her — and it could look just as good on you. Got grays? No problem! You can follow in the actress’ lead and blend them with an ash blonde.

When you think of Sharon Osbourne, you probably picture her with dark-red hair. She did rock that hue for nearly two decades, after all, before letting her locks return to their natural state. Need the confidence to go gray? Remember how cool it looked on the Talk star!

There are few hairstyles that look good on everyone. But a medium-length cut works with nearly all hair textures and types. It can flatter almost any face shape, too. So, if you like Marie Osmond’s mane here, there’s good news: it will look just as wonderful on you.

Is it a bob? Is it a lob? Whatever you want to call Olivia Newton-John’s cut, it’s effortlessly chic and adorable — especially with those wispy bangs. And while you can wear it on a red carpet, it’ll look just as good for a lazy Sunday brunch — or a night in front of the TV.

Thanks to those waves, this style has tons of volume. It’s also got an asymmetrical part, which will push your locks even higher into the air — no product needed!

Pixie cuts are classic — and surprisingly versatile. You can wear it straight, as Kris Jenner is doing in this photo. Or you can add some volume at the back, spike it up, add an undercut... The possibilities are almost endless!

Well-placed highlights can light up your face! And they’re especially effective on a mid-length ’do. Don’t just settle for strands of blonde, though. You can go red, green, blue, purple... Be daring, and see all the admiring glances coming your way.

A shag flatters women at any age. Plus, it’s easy to style. You just need to use your hands to brush through your hair as it dries before applying a finishing spray.

Lisa Kudrow’s flippy bob draws the eye directly to her sharp jawline, and a similar length could do the same for you. But the real news here is that the Friends star has selected a color that perfectly matches her skin shade. If you’re looking for a color refresh, work with a pro. They can help partner you with the hue that will bring out your best features.

We’ve already said that a medium-length haircut will look good on just about anyone. And former First Lady Michelle Obama proves how versatile it can be with this ’do. According to Woman’s Day, her style “looks gorgeous with straight or wavy hair,” so you can style it to suit your mood.

Now, curtain bangs aren’t the be-all and end-all. You could still go for a blunter cut — just like Mary Steenburgen. In tandem with her flared bob, the straight bangs make the Oscar winner look both cute and chic. And isn’t that what we all want at the end of the day?

This va-va-voom look — as sported by Julia Roberts — is actually surprisingly simple to achieve. It just requires you to flat-iron your locks, then tease them at the root for just the right amount of volume.

This fun style leaves Janet Jackson’s curls loose and teased, resulting in an effortlessly beautiful look. The kicker? Her bright red hair dye. Maybe it’s time for you to try a bold hue, too.

What’s the shade you’ve always wanted to see on your head? Well, don’t be scared to try it — especially if it’s pink! Case in point: Helen Mirren and her adorable bubblegum-colored locks. The Oscar winner’s relatively conservative crop is made so much more fun by the baby pink dye job.

A shiny, straight bob accentuated with some bright blonde highlights will bring warmth to your face and highlight your best features. Try it with a long bob, or “lob” — a classy, modern version of the iconic vintage ’do.

Okay, so this isn’t for everyone. But if you’re a curly girl looking for a real change, try the faux hawk! Tease the top of your tresses and tie back the rest to create this punk-inspired look for yourself.

Nowadays, people want unfussy-but-chic hairstyling options. And that’s precisely why the shag has come back into style: it looks its best when it’s a bit messy, after all. But you can still have a very polished take on the hairdo. You can even let your grays show! Diane Keaton’s silvery strands make her shoulder-length cut look even cooler.

It’s hard to keep your eyes off Oprah when she’s on TV — not least for her perfectly pruned curls. They surround her face and draw the eye directly to her. If you want to grab people’s attention, you may want to consider the same cut for your own ringlets.

This crop is so much more exciting than the traditional extra-short ’do because of its curled ends. Those swooped bangs will help balance the proportions of any oversized statement glasses, too.

Whether you’ve rocked locs for years or have always wanted to try them, take inspiration from Whoopi Goldberg. She proves that older women can pull off dreads with style. If you don’t want to spend hours in the stylist’s chair to get this look, however, then small braids — gray or otherwise — will also grab people’s attention.

A sleek and shiny long bob makes you appear polished whatever the occasion. And you can easily replicate Lucy Liu’s look so long as you have some anti-frizz spray. That way, your hair will stay in place without fear of flyaways.

When in doubt, reach for the curling iron. Loose, romantic curls suit just about any occasion, and they look good on anyone, too. If you need further reassurance, just check out this picture of Michelle Pfeiffer. The Scarface actress is timelessly beautiful with her ’do – and you will be as well.

If being on trend is your mane motivation (sorry!), then head to the hair salon and show your stylist this photo of Naomi Watts. The Academy Award nominee keeps things super-modern with her chin-length, choppy bob, which suits women of all ages.

If you’re contemplating whether or not to go gray, here’s your sign: it looks amazing on Jamie Lee Curtis, and it could have the very same effect on you. Jane Fonda decided to stop dying her hair, too, and give in to the gray. But unless you want patches of white in your hair for months on end, it’s a good idea to have a stylist make that color change for you in one go.

There’s a reason why so many women over 50 opt to chop bangs into the front of their hair. The straight-across, face-framing feature has very youthful vibes. You may have even had them as a kid! If you need further inspiration to go for full bangs, check out how amazing and edgy they look on Angela Bassett.

Here, we see Sandra Bullock with that mid-length cut that seems to flatter everyone. But that’s not all the Oscar-winning actress has to inspire your next ’do. Her locks fade from dark to lighter highlights in a way that brightens up her face. That’s why experts say ombré is a great anti-aging technique. It’s also an easy way to subtly mask grays, if you need further coaxing...

Cicely Tyson’s ombré hair was edgy but still age-appropriate. The late actress had black roots that faded into a silvery hue, then a crisp white, and that sleek, blunt bob topped it all off. If you’re looking for hair-spiration as an older woman, you can’t go wrong here!