What Changes After 50
By 50, around half of men have some male-pattern hair loss, usually a receding hairline, thinning at the crown, or both. Hair also turns grey and often becomes coarser. A haircut that worked at 30 may now draw attention to thinning. The fix is usually to go a little shorter and a little neater.
Classic Side Part
A tapered cut with a natural side part looks polished and suits most face shapes. If the hairline has receded, keep the top shorter so the part doesn't look sparse.
Crew Cut
Short on the sides, a little longer on top. It's low maintenance and works with thinning hair. One of the most reliable cuts for men over 50.
Textured Crop
A short, choppy top pushed forward disguises a receding hairline and thinning at the front. Matte product keeps it natural.
Read more: Gray Hair Styles That Look Intentional
Short Back and Sides
The British classic: tight sides and a tidy, slightly longer top. It looks smart with grey hair.
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Buzz Cut
When thinning is advanced, an even buzz cut removes the contrast between hair and scalp and looks deliberate. It suits oval and square faces especially. See buzz cuts by face shape.
Slick Back or Swept Back
If your hair is still thick, a medium-length swept-back style with tapered sides looks distinguished. Use a light, matte or low-shine product; heavy gel looks dated.
Grey, Beards and Upkeep
Grey hair looks best kept short and sharp; a fresh cut every three to four weeks makes a bigger difference than any style choice. A tidy, trimmed beard or stubble adds structure to the jaw, which often softens with age. Keep eyebrows, ear and nose hair trimmed. More in grey hair styles and balding haircuts.
Face shapes change a little with age too. The free face scan in Ollie Stylist measures your face as it is now and ranks haircuts and beards for it.