Women over 50 can choose from a wide variety of hairstyles. At any age, a great hairstyle flatters a woman's features and is easy to maintain. As a woman matures, there are some common problem areas to consider when choosing a great cut.

Common Problems for Women Over 50

1. Thinning Hair - As women mature, decreasing oil production often leads to dry, thinning hair. Shorter hairstyles are often best at camouflaging thinning hair. Bob cuts, short shags, and chunky layered crop cuts are all good options. Long, side-swept bangs keep the look fresh and look good on many women.

2. Graying Hair - The choice to dye hair is a personal preference. Hair products today keep silver hair shiny and manageable. As hair color transitions, highlights are often the best way to blend in graying hair. Lighter hair colors look good with many skin tones and are easier to maintain than darker shades, but pale women may opt for a dark brunette color for a more youthful look.

3. Dropping Jaw Line - Short layers around the face draw the eyes away from a dropping jaw line. Use a round brush while blow drying to flip layers up. This added bounce and flipped curls detract from the jaw line and visually uplifts the whole look.

4. Softening Neck - As women age, the skin on the neck often softens, losing some of its previous tone. Drawing attention higher will emphasize the eyes and pull focus from a softening neck. Hairstyles such as bob cuts that keep the length near the ears are a great option.

Great Hairstyles to Consider

1. Bob Cuts - A classic bob cut hangs evenly around chin length. A graduated bob falls at an angle, with the front hair longer than the nape. Bob cuts work well for many women and can be easily customized to emphasize a woman's best features. They can be cut without bangs, with long, side-swept bangs, or short chunky ones.

2. Page Boys - A page boy is simply a longer bob cut. It falls well below the chin and often all the way to the tops of the shoulders. A page boy is a timeless look for women of any age, but looks particularly smart on older women. The ends can be blunt, curled under, or flipped up.

3. Spiky Cuts - Many older women opt for a funky, short spike cut. These cuts are great for active women as they are easy to maintain. They draw the eye up, allowing focus to fall on the eyes which are often a woman's best feature.

4. Crop Cuts - Crop cuts with many layers are another great option for women who like very short hair. A chunky, modern look can be achieved with razor cuts or hair can be scissor cut for a softer, pixie cut.

5. Long Hair - There was a time when older women were discouraged from having long hair. While shorter cuts often conceal some common problems, it is perfectly acceptable to wear hair long as well. Newer shampoos and styling products maintain hair health, making it easier than ever to keep hair long and shiny at any age.

Before trying out a new style, it is a good idea to see how it may look. Computer software now lets a woman upload a picture of herself and edit it with different hairstyles. Programs can be purchased for home use, or can be found online. One option is Lifetime TV's Total Beauty Makeover.

Taking these problem areas into consideration, a woman can find a flattering hairstyle while transitioning into a new stage of life. Regardless of age, a woman's beauty lies in finding the look that flatters her own personality and unique style.

Learn more about this author, Susan Quilty.
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