By Iskra Banović, in consultation with Hairdresser Angela Sassoon
Pixie haircuts go beyond being a fashion statement; they’re a symbol of freedom and independence. Older women often embrace this chic style. Choosing the perfect pixie cut can be overwhelming. According to hairdresser Angela Sassoon “A pixie cut can be a fantastic way to bring a youthful touch to your look while keeping things elegant.” In this guide, we’ll explore various pixie haircut styles suitable for older women and provide expert tips on how to maintain them.
Key Takeaways
- Expert-approved pixie haircut styles for older women
- Maintenance tips from hairstylists
- Real-life testimonials from women who’ve embraced the pixie cut
Why Choose a Pixie Cut?
According to Angela Sassoon, “Pixie cuts are not only stylish but also low-maintenance, making them ideal for older women who don’t want to spend hours styling their hair.”
Benefits of Pixie Cuts:
- Easy to manage
- Time-saving
- Versatile in styling
There are several pixie haircuts for older women over 50 and 60, including the highlighted pixie with dramatic definition, elegant pixie with a high crown, choppy pixie cut for over 60, two-tone pixie for straight hair, and feathered pixie with bangs.
There are many stunning pixie cuts for women over 50. Here are 16 examples to inspire you.
One of the most fashionable hairstyles throughout time is the pixie cut. It made my list of the top 16 hairstyles for the year due to its widespread popularity.
The pixie cut is flattering on a variety of face shapes and works well with various hair textures. It is also a versatile style that looks great on women of all ages, from 15 to 80.
I feature my all-time favorite pixie hairstyles in this photo gallery on older women. I will help you determine whether a pixie hairstyle would work for you based on your hair type and texture and offer suggestions for both edgy and classic pixie styles.
Before getting a pixie cut, consider these tips:
- Before committing to a short haircut like a pixie, consider whether your personality is well-suited to this style. Short cuts tend to attract a lot of attention, so if you prefer to hide behind your hair or dislike being the center of attention, it may be wise to think twice before going to the salon.
- If you are someone who dislikes going to the salon or considers yourself low maintenance, there may be better choices than a pixie cut. It is one of the most high-maintenance cuts and requires regular trims every 4-6 weeks to keep it looking fresh.
- Are you a risk-taker? If you hate the haircut, it may take months or even years to grow back. If you are risk averse by nature (hey, I am, so I get it), then consider getting a shag or a bob before going all the way with this short-short cut.
Now, enjoy the gallery….
Popular Pixie Haircut Styles for Older Women
Classic Pixie Cut
The classic pixie cut is timeless and elegant. Angela Sassoon recommends this style for women with oval and heart-shaped faces.
Asymmetrical Pixie Cut
This edgy style adds a modern twist to the classic pixie cut. “It’s perfect for women who want to make a bold statement,” says Angela.
Pixie Bob
A combination of a pixie cut and a bob, this style offers the best of both worlds. “It’s versatile and suitable for all face shapes,” notes Angela.
Explore more pixie haircut styles.
Denise Welch’s Two Versions of the Pixie
Pixie haircuts that closely hug the head can look great on some women but may only be suitable for some. If you want to add some edge to your pixie, try using pomade to create a spiky, cool look like Denise Welch’s hair on the right.
Alternatively, for a trendy and stylish look like Welch’s hair on the left, consider wearing your bangs a bit longer so you can brush them back, forward, or style them however you like. Longer bangs in a pixie cut provide more flexibility in styling.
When looking for a timeless and gorgeous pixie, there are many examples that can serve as inspiration for women who want to change up their look and experiment with new styles. These cute haircuts are still low-maintenance and effortlessly chic options that will suit most textures and lifestyles.”
So would you look good short? Don’t miss How to Choose the Perfect Haircut for Your Hair Texture & Face Shape to find out if the pixie works with your hair texture and face shape.
Glamour Magazine Editor Cindy Leive in Her Signature Pixie
It is important to consider your body type when deciding whether a pixie haircut would suit you. Here are some general guidelines regarding who tends to look good in a pixie:
- Women with a longer, elegant necks.
- Petite, thin women like Glamour Magazine editor Cindy Leive, pictured here, also look great in this cut (think “Amelie”).
- Tall, slimmer women often look good with a pixie cut (such as Charlize Theron, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Audrey Hepburn, who was actually quite tall for her time). But body type does matter. A pixie cut may be unflattering if you are tall and have a boyish figure.
- If you’re a larger body size and have a petite face, the pixie might not be right for you, either. You need more body up top to balance out your body below the neck.
- Some experts claim women with round faces should not wear a pixie, but that’s not true. In fact, some of the most beautiful women with round faces rock pixie cuts, so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
In the end, rules are meant to be broken, so don’t fret if this site (or others) tell you that a pixie won’t look good on you.
The Super Edgy Pixie
I love this hairstyle on Judi Dench because it’s edgy and cool and could suit a woman at age 15, 25, 40, 65, or 85. Plus, I love that she keeps her hair naturally gray.
There are many reasons why more and more women are choosing to embrace their natural gray hair color. If you have beautiful gray coloring and don’t want to deal with the time and cost of coloring your hair, letting your gray hair be is a great choice. Alternatively, you may simply want to embrace the natural changes that come with age.
Tabatha Coffey’s Super Stylish Pixie
I love the pixie on TV star Tabatha Coffey. The pixie is her signature look and is perfect for her role as a super-powerful figure on TV. She’s intimidating, and the pixie fits her personality beautifully.
According to stylist Anh Co Tran in Allure Magazine, the long, side-swept bangs on Coffey provide a lot of versatility when it comes to styling.
“Keeping it longer on top gives you that versatility to sweep it to the side, part it in the middle, pull it back, or create waves,” says Co Tran.
“It’s also flattering for almost everyone. You can play down a square jaw or round face.”
Best Hair Texture
Pixies can work on all hair textures — even curly! But super curly hair may grow out crazy cut super short. Before getting a pixie cut, it’s important to consult with your stylist to ensure that your hair is suitable for the style and won’t require a large amount of styling products to maintain it.
Learn more about how important hair texture is in finding the right hairstyle in Things Every Woman Should Know About Hair Texture.
Funky Cuts Must Fit Your Personality
According to stylist Matt Fugate in an interview with the Glo website, anyone with confidence can rock a pixie cut. This style is more about attitude than face shape.
It works best on thick, coarse hair but may require a lot of styling products to maintain volume on fine hair. A skilled stylist knows how to create edgy, funky styles that follow the shape of the head rather than just the face shape when cutting a short haircut.
Jamie Lee Curtis in a Pixie
Pixie hairstyles generally look good on oval, square, and heart-shaped faces, but this particular style is especially flattering on round face shapes. It adds lift at the top of the head, creating the illusion of an elongated face.
“All those little pieces help emphasize the cheekbones and eyes; it’s almost as if you build in cheekbones with this cut,” says stylist Jimmy Paul in Allure Magazine.
A pixie haircut may not be suitable or flattering for everyone.
This pixie style suits petite women with wavy or straight hair. However, it may make a long face appear even more elongated.
Side-swept Bangs
Sharon Stone is sporting a short hairstyle with side-swept bangs in this photo. Bangs are a great option for older women as they can give a youthful appearance and draw attention to your best features. However, they can be high-maintenance, requiring regular trims every few weeks.
Another Version of the Pixie
The pixie, pictured here, works best on women with thick, naturally wavy hair. I find the pixie doesn’t work as well on fine, straight hair because the hair can fall too close to the scalp, looking a bit flat.
If you have fine hair, you may need lots of products to add body. The pixie haircut tends to be most flattering on women with heart-shaped, square, and oval face shapes.
These face shapes have balanced proportions that are well-suited to the pixie’s sleek, angular lines.
If you have a round face and are considering a pixie haircut, it’s a good idea to keep the bangs long and style them forward or up to create the illusion of length. This can help balance out the proportions of your face and make the pixie cut more flattering.
Kris Jenner’s Short, Edgy Haircut
It takes guts (or what we call “chutzpah” here in New York) to get a super-short, edgy haircut, but as you can see on Kris Jenner, the results can be very, very cool — and even sophisticated.
Whether you’re seeking a cut that’s sexy or funky, or sweet, there are many, many cuts available to you.
Love this Cut
Pixie cuts can be very stylish and versatile, as Tilda Swinton demonstrates in this photo. You can have the top of your hair cut longer than the sides and style it slicked back or with long bangs.
Super-Short and Edgy
If you have long-ish hair and you’re considering going short, try this tip from “Confessions of a Beauty Editor” by Allure’s Linda Wells.
Take a picture of yourself in front of a dark or light background depending on your hair color (if you’re blonde, choose dark, brunette, choose light). Take a Sharpie and “cut off” your hair to see how you’d look shorter.
If you’re considering a pixie haircut, start with a longer length and gradually go shorter over time rather than making a drastic cut all at once.
This can help you avoid cutting off too much hair and potentially regretting the change. Starting longer and gradually going shorter can also give you time to get used to the shorter length and style, and allow you to make any necessary adjustments along the way.
In my article, How to Tell if You’d Look Good With Short Hair, I share tips to find your best short hairstyles.
Makeup Considerations
You’ll find you may need to change your makeup when you get a pixie haircut. Your face is on display, and you attract attention with your edgy haircut, so I recommend either going with a bold lip (think bright pink or red) or a bold eye (long lashes and an amazing eyeshadow color).
Glasses are Wonderful Paired With a Pixie
Just because you’re a Woman of a Certain Age who wears glasses, you are not doomed to bifocals. Glasses hung from chains around the neck and the pastel frames you bought for $40 back in 1988.
Choosing the right eyeglasses and frames can help you appear younger, while the wrong ones or sticking with outdated styles can make you look older.
If Evelina Khromchenko, pictured here, were to wear the wrong eyeglass frames, she could appear frumpy. However, the frames she has chosen show that she is a fashionable, sophisticated woman.
The oversized, cat-eye frames suit her well. To pull off this look, it’s best to keep jewelry and other accessories to a minimum.
You Gotta Get Bangs
In her book “How Not to Look Old,” which came out a few years ago but is still super relevant and super cheap online, author Charla Krupp tells women they gotta get bangs.
“Once you reach a certain age, you look better with bangs,” she writes. “Almost everyone does.”
She’s right. I’m a big fan of the bang, even though I’m growing mine out now, because they can also take years off your face by hiding a wrinkled forehead, bringing attention to your eyes or your lips instead of your fine lines, and by making an otherwise boring haircut look fresh.
Florence Henderson’s Lovely Pixie
Good news: most people can rock a short hairstyle, like the pixie on actress Florence Henderson. However, it’s important to keep in mind that certain styles work better with specific face shapes and hair textures.
For example, a haircut should help create the illusion of an oval face shape. If you have a round face, you’ll want a cut that elongates it, while someone with a square face may want a style that softens their jawline, and someone with a long face may want a cut that makes their face appear wider.
I love this look on Florence Henderson because it’s not dowdy, flatters her face shape, and brings attention to her beautiful eyes (which look to me to be done, but I don’t judge).
Maintenance Tips from the Pros
Maintaining a pixie cut is easier than you think. Here are some expert tips:
- Regular Trimming: To keep your pixie cut looking fresh, Jane Doe recommends getting a trim every 4-6 weeks.
- Use the Right Products: Opt for lightweight styling products that won’t weigh your hair down.
- Styling Techniques: Learn simple styling techniques to change up your look. Jane suggests using a flat iron for a sleek look or a curling wand for some added texture.
Read our complete guide on haircare.
How to Choose the Right Pixie Cut for Your Face Shape
Finding the perfect hairstylist is essential when going for a pixie cut that truly shines. A skilled stylist can adapt the cut to suit your face shape, hair texture, and lifestyle. However it’s important to keep in mind that with a stylist you’ll still need to dedicate time for regular upkeep.
Round Face
Hairstylist Angela Sassoon advises, “For women with round faces, go for pixie cuts with volume on top to elongate the face.”
Square Face
“A soft, layered pixie works wonders in softening the angular jawline,” says Angela.
Long Face
Angela recommends, “Opt for a pixie cut with bangs to balance the length of the face.”
Quick Tips
- Round Face: Volume on top
- Square Face: Soft layers
- Long Face: Add bangs
Learn more about face shapes and hairstyles.
Real-Life Testimonials: Women Who Love Their Pixie Cuts
We spoke to three women over 40 who have embraced the pixie cut lifestyle. Here’s what they had to say:
- Sarah Westcott: “For years, I was stuck in a hair rut. My mid-length, straight hair with a long fringe had been my signature look for over two decades. But as I approached my 40s, I began to question why I was clinging to the same style. Was it out of comfort, or was I afraid of change? Read more about common hair ruts and how to break free.”
- Molly Hurford: “Two years ago, I took the plunge and went for a pixie cut. Despite the occasional temptation to grow it out, I’ve stuck with it and couldn’t be happier. In this article, I’ll share why the pixie cut has been a liberating and practical choice for me. Read my initial thoughts on getting a pixie cut.”
- Baru Fisher: “A pixie cut is not just a hairstyle; it’s a statement. It can make you feel more confident and put-together, but it can also make you feel exposed or limited in styling options.”
Would you ever consider making such a drastic change in your appearance? Have you ever experienced a transformative haircut? What are your thoughts on the emotional connection we have with our hair?
Common Myths About Pixie Cuts Debunked
There are several misconceptions about pixie cuts that deter older women from trying this style. Angela Sassoon helps us debunk some of these myths:
- Pixie Cuts Are Not Feminine: “This is a dated notion. Pixie cuts can be incredibly feminine and elegant,” argues Jane.
- Hard to Style: “With the right products and a little practice, anyone can style a pixie cut,” assures Angela.
- Not Suitable for Curly Hair: “A pixie cut can look fantastic on curly hair, you just need to find the right style,” says Angela.
Read our article debunking hair myths here and here.
How to Transition from Long Hair to a Pixie Cut
Transitioning from having hair to getting a pixie cut can be nerve wracking. To help make the process smoother Angela Sassoon provides some tips and expert advice;
- Consult a Professional: “Always consult with a hairstylist to discuss what style would suit you best,” advises Jane.
- Start Gradual: “You don’t have to go super short immediately. Start with a longer pixie or a bob and gradually go shorter,” recommends Jane.
- Prepare for the Change: “It’s not just a physical change but also an emotional one. Be prepared for a new you,” says Jane.
Read our guide on transitioning to short hair.
Final Thoughts
Pixie cuts are a bold and beautiful choice for older women. They’re not just a hairstyle but a lifestyle. As Jane Doe puts it, “A pixie cut doesn’t just change how you look; it changes how you feel.”
Book an appointment with an expert hairstylist.
Overall, pixie haircuts can be a great option for older women who want a modern, chic, and low-maintenance hairstyle.
Whether you’re looking for a timeless classic or something more edgy and contemporary, plenty of pixie haircuts will suit your age, face shape, and personal style.
While it’s important to consult with a stylist and consider factors such as your hair type and face shape before making a cut, don’t be afraid to embrace your age and try out a new, short haircut.
A pixie can be a great way to refresh your look and feel confident and stylish at any age.
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at Blufashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2018. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
