The Best Long Haircuts for Older Women

"I will still be wearing my jeans, and I will still be wearing long hair, and I will still be doing the same stuff I've always done." That’s Cher — style icon, trailblazer, hair role model — sharing her thoughts with Good Morning Britain on turning 80 in a few years. She drives home the point that no matter how old or young you are, and despite what our ageist society might try to tell us, you can wear your hair any way you please. 

That being said, it’s a fact that as you age, the texture, density, and elasticity of your hair changes, and there might be haircuts that are easier to pull off depending on the condition of your locks. If you’re planning on a long hairstyle, here are a few ideas for haircuts and hair care that might help.

Long and Sleek

Cecilia Moreno, editorial director for the luxury fashion and beauty magazine Genlux, suggests ditching the layers and going for a clean look à la Michelle Yeoh, especially if your hair is dry. "The ends of your hair don’t get as much oil as your scalp and tend to be drier, causing hair to frizz up. Layers may accentuate this by giving hair too much volume," she explains. "Unlayered hair helps it stay smooth, as the weight is pulling it down."

Up Front

If you’re determined to keep those layers, try a style with a few softening pieces only at the front. Jennifer Aniston, who’s known for an iconic hairstyle you may have heard of before (ahem, the Rachel), recently debuted a slightly shorter ’do that’s all one length except for a few wispy layers that frame her face.

Get the Bangs

Jane Seymour once said that getting bangs changed her life and gave her a fresh outlook on life — without fillers and procedures. “Since I'm not a Botox babe, you know, bangs work,” Seymour said back in 2013. If you don’t want to go for blunt bangs like the actor, try curtain bangs that are wispier and shorter in the front and longer on the sides. “Curtain bangs are really in right now and definitely can be worn by women of any age,” Moreno says. “They're very, very flattering.”

Shag, Baby

Apparently the ’70s are back, and so is the iconic haircut of the era — the shag. This could be the ideal style if your hair is thinning or already thin to begin with, as a few subtle layers might help to fill things out. Eva Longoria rocks a long shag that has lots of movement and volume; her hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos said on Instagram it was inspired by Mick Jagger.

Keep It Curly

If you’re lucky enough to have curly hair, flaunt it! There’s no reason to limit those curls to a short hairstyle. Tracee Ellis Ross has worn her gorgeous locks in all lengths from a medium-length bob to a below-the-shoulder style, and says the key is keeping her curls healthy: She even created a line of hair care products, Pattern Beauty, to ensure she always has a good hydrating shampoo, shower brush, leave-in conditioner, and diffuser.

Do the Wave

If your hair is naturally wavy, go for long layers to accentuate the waves and control volume. Jennifer Garner, who moved on from her short-hair era and went back to her signature long, soft-wave style, said it’s all about keeping it simple. “With long hair, you can just stick it in a bun on top of your head,” she shared in June 2023. Angela Bassett has been wearing her curly hair in a long wavy style, too, such as at the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards.

Gorgeous and Gray

If you’re thinking of letting those long locks of yours go gray (and why not?), experts advise going with soft layers, as blunt cuts can look severe. Andie McDowell is a beautiful example of someone embracing this style — she decided to grow out her hair and go gray during the pandemic. “I thought it would look good on my face. And when I started growing it out during COVID, I thought, I was right. It looks good on me,” she said in an interview with Katie Couric. “As it was growing… I liked the way my skin looked. I felt more powerful and I felt more genuine. I felt more myself. Just more me. This is who I am.”