The Layered Haircuts That Make Mature Hair Look Fuller and Fresher

It goes without saying that anyone can get any haircut at any age. Like most things in beauty, the only “right” look is the one that makes you feel your best—whatever that may be.

But if you’re in your fifties and looking for inspiration for a hair refresh this summer, layered styles are one of the best ways to do it. “Layers are honestly one of the most transformative things you can do for mature hair, and I don’t think they get enough credit for how much hard work they’re quietly doing,” says hairstylist Samantha Cusick, who recently opened a new salon on Liverpool Street in London.

For hairstylist Adam Reed, it’s all about embracing modern layering. “We’re no longer talking about heavily feathered or over-layered cuts, but softer, more considered shapes that enhance the hair’s natural texture and movement,” he tells ELLE.

What are the benefits of a layered haircut?

The biggest upside to cutting layers into your locks is movement. “As hair changes with age, it can start to sit quite flat and heavy, and layers immediately bring it back to life,” shares Cusick. “They create shape, bounce, and they give the hair that lighter, more dynamic quality that makes such a difference to how a whole look lands.”

For those prone to hair that falls flat, layers will instantly create volume, too. “Rather than hair sitting in one dense, heavy sheet, layers distribute the weight more evenly and lift the root area, which is where most people over 50 are noticing the most change,” says Cusick. Plus, it’s easier to style as the cut itself already makes a statement.

Natalie Ashworth, educator at Paul Mitchell, agrees. “Short layered haircuts are easier to manage as you can wash and go, especially for someone who has wavy or curly hair as it can enhance the natural movement in the hair; think styles like the pixie cut or a shorter layered bob,” she tells ELLE. For longer lengths, the layers can “open up the facial features,” says Ashworth, adding that a fringe can also help balance the weight of the hair as strands become finer around the hairline with age.

The Best Layered Haircut Styles to Try This Summer for Mature Hair

For Fine Hair

Cusick is a fan of soft, face-framing layers. “I’d always recommend keeping the layers longer and more subtle on fine hair because too much layering can actually make it look thinner rather than fuller,” she shares, suggesting a longer bob or a “lob” with face-framing layers and minor internal layering through the top for volume and movement.

Reed concurs, adding that collarbone-length cuts will work beautifully, too. “They create movement while maintaining enough weight to make the hair appear fuller,” says Reed.

Wavy Hair

If you have naturally wavy hair, the textural changes that can happen with age have the ability to enhance that wave pattern. A layered mid-length cut will elevate that even further. “I love a soft, shoulder-length cut with layers that start from the cheekbone down; it gives the wave room to move and creates that effortless, lived-in finish that looks so beautiful and so current,” says Cusick.

Curly and Coily Hair

“Curls need layers to breathe,” according to Cusick. “Without them, the weight of the hair pulls the curl down and you lose all that gorgeous shape and definition.” She recommends a layered cut that removes the weight through the mid-lengths and ends while maintaining volume on the crown. Reed seconds this, adding: “Layers are essential for shape and balance. They allow curls to move freely while preventing the silhouette from becoming too heavy or triangular.” A similar principle applies to coils, too, but with an emphasis on improving hydration at home through nourishing formulas such as Olaplex No. 3 and No. 8.

Always go to a curl specialist for your haircut, as they’ll understand the curl pattern better and how it shifts with age.

Straight Hair

Look to the ultimate straight hair inspiration, Jennifer Aniston and Gwyneth Paltrow, with their long layers. “Soft, long layers that start from the mid-shaft create movement and the illusion of thickness. A slightly layered fringe can also be really transformative for straight hair over 50 because it adds softness around the face and draws attention upward,” says Cusick.

Short Hair

The “soft pixie” is one of the standout trends of the summer. Rather than a severe crop, this look is gentler, with more texture and length through the top and crown. “Those layers through the top create beautiful volume and movement, and it frames the face in the most flattering way. It’s also incredibly easy to live with, which, at any age, is a massive bonus,” shares Cusick.

Both she and Reed note a rise in popularity for the bixie cut, too, which sits somewhere between a pixie and a bob. “That in-between length with lots of texture and layering through the crown gives so much volume and personality, and I think it looks absolutely brilliant on women over 50 because it’s modern and directional,” Cusick says.

Fringes

When it comes to bangs, versatile curtain fringes are easy to maintain and look incredibly fresh. It’s one of Cusick’s most requested looks, and for good reason. “It parts naturally in the middle, it grazes the brow, and it creates that gentle frame that works with almost every face shape. The key is keeping it soft and not too heavy so it moves rather than sits as a solid block across the forehead,” she shares.

If it’s a romantic vibe you’re after, the side-swept fringe is also making a comeback. Team with a layered bob or longer layers to give it a polished finish, or have it as a choppy side-swept fringe à la Naomi Campbell.