The Most Flattering Long Hairstyles for Women Over 50

There are many strange beauty ideas that are tied to aging. One of them? That women of a “certain age” should never have long hair. In the past, women may have felt obliged to limit their hair’s length as they hit middle age—but as the 2020s have ushered in a new era of acceptance, including a welcome move towards embracing our true selves, shunning societal expectations around how we “should” look in favor of what makes us feel good. The option to wear your hair however you want at 70 is very much a part of that.

“We are moving away from the ideology that women of a certain age need to have their hair cut short,” agrees Dom Seeley, Color Wow’s international creative director. “It’s all about what makes you feel confident; what defines your style and personality. There is nothing wrong with going short when you get older, but don’t conform to society’s beliefs about how you should feel or look.”

Those in the public eye sporting long hair are reason enough to consider all avenues when it comes to your hairstyle at 50 and beyond. The list is rather exhaustive: Sarah Jessica Parker, Monica Bellucci, Julianne Moore, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jennifer Lopez, and Naomi Campbell all wear their hair below their shoulders. “Jane Seymour has a soft fringe graduation around the face and great color, while Michelle Pfeiffer’s hair is soft and wavy, always worn slightly tousled,” says hairstylist Paul Edmonds. “All of these women look great for their age, without trying to look like they’re 20.”

Without further ado, here Vogue takes a look at the best long hairstyles for women over 50, from past shoulder-length styles to mermaid-esque lengths.

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