Fine hair that thins after 70 tends to go flat at the crown by mid-afternoon, and the right cut does more to fix that than any amount of mousse. The hairstyles for women over 70 that hold up best are cut dry, point cut at the ends, and built to air-dry or finish with one brush.
1. The Crown-Lifting Feathered Pixie
Oval or round faces with fine to medium density suit the feathered pixie, and it heads my list of hair styles for women over 70 because it brings the crown back up where fine hair has flattened. The sides and back are cut scissor over comb on dry hair, the crown layers are point cut at the occipital bone, and the top is feathered forward. Styling is a root lifting mousse and a blow-dry upside down. Trims run every five weeks.
2. Bevelled Chin Length Bob
Oval or square faces with fine to medium density suit a chin length bob with bevelled ends, a reliable shape for women over 70 because the rounded edge reads full. The perimeter is cut at the chin on dry hair, and the last inch is bevelled under with point cutting. Styling is a volumizing mousse and a medium round brush rolling under. Trims run every six weeks and glosses every eight.
3. Short Layers for Fine Hair After 70
Most face shapes with fine density suit short layers, point cut and never razored so the ends stay full; these are the hair styles for women over 70 that fine hair holds best. The back and sides are cut with graduation on dry hair, and the top is point cut to three inches. Styling is a vent brush and a root lifting spray. Trims run every five weeks.
4. Soft Gray Bob Parted to the Side
Round or square faces with fine to medium density suit this bob, and among hair styles for women over 70 it is one grey hair carries well, since the side part shows the silver at the crown. The bob is cut at the jaw on dry hair, the ends are point cut, and the part goes to one side. Styling is a flat brush pulling the heavy side across. Trims run every six weeks, with violet shampoo once a week.
5. Wash and Wear Pixie Cut
Fine density and gray hair that holds its shape suit the wash and wear pixie, which settles into place without a brush. The back and sides are cut short with graduation on dry hair, the top keeps two inches, and everything is point cut so no line sits anywhere. Styling is a towel-dry and fingers pushing the top forward, then nothing. Trims run every four weeks, with violet shampoo once a week.
6. Collarbone Lob Cut With Long Layers
Most face shapes with medium density suit a collarbone lob, which gives length without the weight of long hair. The perimeter is cut at the collarbone on dry hair with point cut ends, and two long layers are slide cut from the chin. Styling is a round brush rolling under, or air-drying with a light cream and one side tucked. Trims and glosses both run every eight weeks.
7. Short Shag With Light Layers at the Crown
Round or oval faces with medium density suit a short shag with light crown layers, which adds height without daily work. The crown layers are cut short on dry hair, the sides are point cut to the jaw, and the fringe stays soft. Styling is a rough-dry with texture spray and the crown pushed up. Trims run every six weeks and glosses every eight.
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8. Tapered Pixie Cut With a Longer Top
Oval or long faces with fine to medium density suit a tapered pixie, which keeps the neck clean and the top full. The nape and sides are cut scissor over comb on dry hair, tapering to the ear, and the top is point cut to three inches. Styling is a vent brush taking the top up and back with a drop of paste. Trims run every four weeks so the taper stays sharp.
9. Blunt Jaw Length Bob on Fine Hair
Oval or long faces with fine density suit a blunt bob at the jaw, the fullest shape for fine hair over 70 because one straight line makes the ends read thick. The perimeter is cut straight on dry hair with no layers and parted slightly off center. Styling is a paddle brush, flat, and a root lifting spray. Trims run every six weeks since a blunt line shows growth.
10. Side Swept Bangs on Feathered Layers
Square or round faces with medium density suit feathered layers with side swept bangs, which flick away from the face. The perimeter is cut at the shoulder on dry hair, the layers are feathered from the chin with the shears angled out, and the bangs run from brow to cheekbone. Styling is a round brush rolling every layer back. Bangs are trimmed every five weeks and the layers every eight.
11. Soft Curls on a Pixie Top
Wavy or curly hair with medium density suits a pixie with soft curls on top, where natural texture does the work. The sides and back are cut with graduation on dry hair, and the top is cut curl by curl so each one sits where it falls. Styling is a curl cream on wet hair, a scrunch, and air-drying or a diffuser on low. Trims run every five weeks.
12. Short Bob With Layers Hidden Inside
Oval or round faces with medium to thick density suit a short bob with internal layers, which remove bulk so it dries lighter. The perimeter is cut at the jaw on dry hair, then two layers are slid through the interior only so the outside stays smooth. Styling is air-drying with a light cream or a paddle brush blow-dry. Trims run every six weeks and glosses every eight.
13. Side Swept Fringe on a Gray Pixie
Round or square faces with fine to medium density suit a gray pixie with a side swept fringe, which is managed with a single brush. The back and sides are cut short with graduation on dry hair, and the fringe is point cut from brow to cheekbone. Styling is a flat brush pulling the fringe across. Trims run every five weeks, with violet shampoo once a week so the gray stays bright.
14. Curtain Bangs on a Shoulder Length Cut
Oval or long faces with medium density suit curtain bangs on a shoulder length cut, which soften the forehead without a full fringe. The perimeter is cut at the shoulder on dry hair, the ends are point cut, and the bangs run from cheekbone to jaw off a center part. Styling is a round brush rolling the bangs back while the rest air-dries. Bangs are trimmed every six weeks and the length every eight.
15. The Classic Fringed Pageboy
Oval or long faces with medium to thick density suit a pageboy with a fringe, a clean shape that reads modern again. The perimeter is cut at the chin on dry hair, a straight fringe is cut at the brow, and the ends are bevelled under with point cutting. Styling is a round brush rolling under with the fringe smoothed flat. Trims run every five weeks and glosses every eight.
16. Stacked Bob Cut Short at the Nape
Round or square faces with fine to medium density suit a stacked bob, which adds height at the back and keeps the front at the chin. The nape is cut short with graduation on dry hair, the layers stack up to the crown, and the front stays long. Styling is a round brush rolling the back under with the front dried forward. Trims run every five weeks so the stack keeps its shape.
17. Dry-Cut Wavy Lob for Over 70
Wavy hair with medium density suits a wavy lob, cut dry so the waves land where they will live. The perimeter is point cut at the collarbone in the wave pattern, the layers stay below the chin, and a little crown lift goes in. Styling is a sea salt spray on damp hair, a scrunch, and air-drying. Trims run every seven weeks and glosses every eight.
18. Textured Short Crop
Oval or heart faces with fine to medium density suit a short crop with a textured top, a two minute style. The back and sides are cut close scissor over comb on dry hair, and the top is point cut to two inches with the ends roughed up by a razor. Styling is a little paste rubbed between the palms and the top pushed in any direction. Trims run every four weeks.
19. Fine Hair Pixie With a Soft Perm
Oval or round faces with fine density suit a soft perm pixie, which gives body to fine hair that falls flat and keeps its place on the list of hair styles for women over 70 that fine hair clients ask about. The pixie is cut with graduated sides on dry hair, the top keeps three inches, and a loose body wave is set on large rods. Styling is a towel-dry, a light mousse scrunched in, and air-drying. The perm is redone every four months.
20. Low Ponytail on Long Gray Hair
Most face shapes with medium to thick density suit a low ponytail, which works for long gray hair the client is not ready to cut. The perimeter is cut blunt at mid back on dry hair with no layers so the tail stays full. Styling is a smooth brush out, the hair gathered at the nape, and a small section wrapped around the elastic. Trims run every twelve weeks and glosses every eight.
21. Side Swept Bangs on a Jaw Length Bob
Round or square faces with medium density suit side swept bangs on a jaw length bob, which change the look without changing the length. The bob is cut at the jaw on dry hair with point cut ends, and the bangs run from brow to cheekbone. Styling is a flat brush pulling the bangs across with the bob dried under. Trims run every six weeks and glosses every eight.
22. Pixie Shaped Around Glasses
Most face shapes with fine to medium density suit a pixie cut around glasses, which keeps the sides above the arms. The sides are cut short scissor over comb on dry hair with the client wearing her glasses, the top stays longer, and the crown is point cut for lift. Styling is a vent brush taking the top up. Trims run every four weeks so the sides stay clear.
23. Soft Waves on Shoulder Length Hair
Oval or long faces with medium density suit soft waves on shoulder length hair, which take ten minutes with a large iron. Long layers are cut from the chin on dry hair with point cut ends. Styling is a one and a quarter inch iron, a brush out, and a light spray; on days without the iron, damp hair braided overnight does it. Trims and glosses both run every eight weeks.
24. Short Gray Bob Worn Tucked Behind the Ears
Oval or heart faces with fine to medium density suit a short bob tucked behind the ears, the no styling version of the bob. The perimeter is cut at the jaw on dry hair with point cut ends, and the sides stay long enough to hold a tuck. Styling is air-drying with a light cream and both sides tucked. Trims run every six weeks, with violet shampoo once a week.
25. Pixie Bob With Layers
Round or square faces with fine to medium density suit a layered pixie bob, which lands between a pixie and a bob. The nape is cut short with graduation on dry hair, the front falls to the cheekbone, and layers are point cut through the top. Styling is a flat brush pushing the front forward and the crown lifted. Trims run every five weeks and glosses every eight.
See also short hair for older women and shag hair styles for older women.
Hairstyles for women over 70 do more with the cut than any mousse once the hair thins after 70 and goes flat at the crown. FYI, a layered pixie bob landing between a pixie and a bob keeps the nape short with graduation. That dry cut is what puts the lift back where it is lost by midafternoon.
