30 Best Medium Length Hairstyles for Older Women to Try in 2022
#1 Slightly disheveled clothes
Michelle Pfeiffer’s shoulder-sweeping tousled locks are the epitome of effortless style and the perfect cross between straight and wavy. Try using a sea salt spray for added texture.
#2 polished waves
Kyra Sedgwick’s polished look offers a touch of Hollywood glamor without being over the top. Her deep side part frames her face and adds to the drama.
#3 Side-Swept Waves
Diane Lane’s side-swept style is super flattering on every face shape. Tuck one side behind the ear for an even more sophisticated look (and to show off some cute tassel earrings!).
#4 Curly Bob
A curly bob never goes out of style. Viola Davis’ look is playful, feminine and easy to style, whether you dress it up or down.
#5 Slim Lob
Maya Rudolph’s lob is made even sleeker and more stylish with a modern center part. If you’re wondering how to get shiny hair like Maya’s, try a product with ingredients like argan oil and grapefruit extract, recommends celebrity hairstylist Marissa Marino.
#6 Curtain bangs
If you’re considering bangs but not sure you’re ready to commit, consider Elizabeth Banks’ soft, layered look. Longer curtain bangs like these will add dimension and texture to your medium-length look without requiring too much maintenance.
#7 The Wet Look
Juliette Binoche’s wet hair look is chic and sexy. You can achieve this style by applying a high-shine pomade to damp hair and blow-drying straight back.
#8 Layered Lob
Face-framing layers add interest and texture to Diane Keaton’s simple hairstyle. It looks great in gray if you ask us! (Check out our collection of the best gray hair color ideas for even more inspiration.)
#9 Curly Updo
Nicole Kidman’s voluminous updo is softened by curly tendrils that frame her face. For a casual take on this look, use an oversized clip (or as Ree would say, chip clip!) to secure your hair at the top of your head.
#10 Curled under lob with bangs
A shoulder-length lob with gently curled ends would look good on anyone, and can be easily achieved with a hot air brush. Heavy bangs add a feminine finishing touch.
#11 Soft Layer Bob
Meg Ryan’s layers add dimension to her shoulder-length style. Marine Cosseron, a hairstylist and colorist at Jean-Claude Biguine Salon in New York City, says the low-maintenance look is especially good for natural waves. To keep it in tip-top shape, have your cut refreshed every two to three months.
#12 Middle Part Bob
Nadia Vassell, owner of Nadia Vassell Salon in New York City, loves a middle part for a twist on the classic bob. If you’re going for a super-sleek style like Angela Bassett’s, be sure to use a heat protectant before flat ironing.
#13 Rock and Roll Fringe
Cate Blanchett wore this blunt bob to Ocean’s 8, but you don’t have to be on a movie set to rock the dramatic look! You should aim to get bangs trimmed every two to three weeks, Cosseron says, but you can also grow them out and wear them as framing or curtain bangs (which require less maintenance). To style bangs like these, run your fingers through your hair for a not-too-done look, or stir them up with a saltwater spray.
#14 Soft waves
A softly angled collarbone long bob draws attention to Julia Roberts’ face. “You’re lucky if you have natural waves, but you can also create them with a curling iron or a flat iron,” says Cosseron. Bonus points if you wear a Pretty Woman inspired polka dot ensemble. π
#15 Barrel waves
How gorgeous are Octavia Spencer’s bouncy waves!? To achieve the glamorous look, hairstylist David Stanwell told Hype Hair that he prepped Octavia’s hair with Dove Style+Care Curls Defining Mousse, blow-dried with a round brush, then curled small sections with a 1ΒΌβ curling iron.
#16 Layered Bob
Although Charlize Theron’s bob hits the chin, it has the same dimension as a longer cut, thanks to lots of layers. “Our hair changes as we age,” says Vassell. “Adding soft layers will add some volume and movement.”
#17 Natural curls
Angela Bassett’s haircut falls right at her shoulders and frames her face, and a side part gives the voluminous style some shape. The key to Angela’s healthy curls? “Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!” says Cosseron.
#18 Face Framing Layer
Add layers when in doubt! They are universally flattering and add movement and life to your style. “Just check out Martha Stewart at 79 – amazing!” Vassell says.
#19 Praise
Lob = long bob! Although you can style it however you like, Vassell loves an effortless beachy wave like Jennifer Lopez’s slightly tousled ‘do. “It’s perfect for older women because it’s super easy to style and maintain,” she says.
#20 Bob with bangs
French actress Sophie Marceau makes this medium layered bob look slightly airy! To copy Sophie’s look, you can either let your hair air dry or style it with a blow dryer and round brush, says Cosseron. Remember to trim your bangs every two to three weeks.
#21 Slim midsection
A middle part is a great way to hide thinning hair around the hairline, says beauty expert Cheryl Kramer. Face-framing layers also create flattering movement around Jennifer Aniston’s face.
#22 Half up, half down
“This hairstyle will give you a naturally lifted look,” says Vassell. Robin Given’s beautiful tendrils also draw attention to her stunning cheekbones.
#23 Curls with bangs
If you have curly hair like Viola Davis, you can absolutely get bangs, says Kramer. You just have to choose sharper styles instead of a blunt bang. An added bonus for the 50+ crowd: “Bangs hide forehead lines,” she says.
#24 Chic side part
Lucy Liu’s healthy blunt cut is especially great for naturally straight hair. Just make sure to get regular trims to prevent split ends!
#25 Beachy Waves
“Our hair’s density and texture changes as we age, so layers all over can help create more depth,” says Kramer. Laura Dern’s hairstylist Creighton Bowman swears by Bumble and Bumble’s Thickening Dryspun Texture Spray for her beachy waves, he tells E!
#26 High pony with bangs
Halle Berry pairs a more relaxed bangs with whipped curtain bangs. You can use a bobby pin to secure a strand of hair around your ponytail like Halle.
#27 Shaggy Layers
Padma Lakshmi is known for her long waves, but she debuted a bold layered cut with side-swept bangs at the Emmys a few years ago. Hairstylist Jeanie Syfu left the ends straight to show off the delicate texture of her cut, People reports.
#28 Natural waves
Blythe Danner shows that you can rock a slightly longer mid-length style at any age. Light layers and a subtle bang accentuate the natural movement of her wavy hair.
#29 Barely-There Bangs
If you’re looking to get bangs without the commitment, take a page from Real Housewives of New York City star Luann de Lesseps. The slight side bang reflects the layers of her trademark shoulder-length cut.
#30 High ponytail
“Try a high pony – it pulls back loose skin like a quick facelift!” says Kramer. Jennifer Lopez’s slicked-back style is also great for second-day hair.