The youngest person in the salon on a Tuesday morning is 67. The soft hiss of hairdryers, coffee cups, and magazines. Denise, 72, is sitting in the big chair by the window and scrolling through pictures on her phone while twisting her faded bob between her fingers. Women her age with short, sharp cuts keep showing up on her screen. They have tiny, flipped-out fringes, sides that hug their cheeks, and a crown full of texture. The word “trixie cut” keeps coming up in the caption.
Her stylist raises an eyebrow. “Are you really thinking about that one?”
Denise laughs, but she keeps looking at the pictures. Some women look bright, sure of themselves, and younger. Some others look like they’re trying too hard. The kind of haircut that can make you look 10 years younger or 10 years older.
This spring and summer, that little space is where the fight over the trixie cut is happening.
The short cut that makes women over 70 fight
You can hear people say, “Should I try that short thing everyone is talking about?” in any salon this season. The “trixie cut” is right in the middle of the fight. It’s a mix of a pixie and a cropped bob, with light layers around the ears, a fun fringe, and a back that looks a little messy but is supposed to be easy to style. It is framed on Instagram as the miracle way to get young right away.
The result changes a lot on real faces over 70. Some women get up from the chair with bright eyes and sharper cheekbones. Others leave feeling like they have someone else’s head on their shoulders. This is why people either love or hate the trixie cut.
If you ask three women in their seventies about it, you’ll get three different answers. Marta, who is 74, says the trixie cut “gave me my neck back” after years of hiding behind a bob that was too low. She suddenly started wearing bigger earrings, brighter lipstick, and even bought a leather jacket. Joyce, who is 79 years old, went to a trendy salon with a screenshot from Pinterest and came home crying, sure that she looked like “an ageing pop star’s backup dancer.”
We’ve all had that moment when a haircut shows more than we wanted it to. Some people feel free after getting a trixie cut. For some, it’s a harsh light on every line and hole.
Most clients never hear the small, technical details that make the difference. A great trixie cut for a 25-year-old influencer needs a lot of hair at the crown, a strong hairline, and a strong jaw. The rules change after 70: hair gets thinner, the neck gets softer, and the face loses volume in new places. When stylists ignore this and cut the hair “by the book,” the end result can look almost like a cartoon.
Some older women think it’s silly for this reason. Not because short hair is bad for people over 70, but because a short cut that fits everyone else doesn’t look good on an older face. When the rest of the body is quiet, the haircut screams.
How to wear the Trixie cut after 70 without looking silly
Stylists who swear by the trixie cut for women over 70 don’t get it from social media. They change it into another language. To start, they soften every harsh line: they make the hair longer around the ears, lighter on the neck and less choppy on the fringe. The goal isn’t to show everything; it’s to frame the eyes and lift the cheekbones.
A simple way to do this is to sit in front of the mirror before your appointment and gently pull your hair up and away from your face with your hands. Check out your neck, jaw, and temples. What do you like? What makes you feel bad? You should bring those notes to your stylist, not just a picture. The right trixie cut starts with your real face, not the one on your screen.
Women over 70 who get this cut often think it will “fix” their age, which is the biggest mistake they make. There is no hairstyle that does that. A trixie cut makes your bone structure, expression, and energy stand out more. A very short, cropped nape might feel terrible if you really don’t like your neck.
Another common mistake is to walk into a trendy salon and tell the staff, “Do whatever you want.” Let’s be honest: no one really does this every day. Young women even regret saying that. You need a hairdresser who will listen to you after you turn 70, not one who is always looking for their next Instagram before-and-after. *Just because the cut is in style doesn’t mean you have to be comfortable.
Some older women also feel judged when they ask for something new. People tell them to “stay classic,” as if wanting to be edgy at 75 is a bad thing. That’s where the best stylists really shine. They talk, try things out, and make changes.
Claire M., a London stylist who mostly works with women over 65, says, “Having short hair after 70 isn’t about pretending to be younger.” “It’s about getting rid of distractions so the woman comes first and the haircut comes second.”
Request a “soft trixie,” not the Instagram version. It should be longer at the temples and have a less harsh texture on top.
If you’re shy about your ears or hearing aids, keep some length on the sides. The cut can still look modern.
Add one bold detail, like glasses, lipstick, or earrings, to the cut so that the short hair looks like it was done on purpose and not because of a medical condition.
Instead of getting a big chop twice a year, plan small changes every 4 to 6 weeks. Short cuts grow out quickly.
Say clearly, “I want youthful energy, not a haircut for a teenager.” The difference is important.
When a haircut says something about age
There is a quieter story behind the fight over the trixie cut: how women over 70 are supposed to look. Some people feel like they have to cut their hair short because people still look down on “long hair after a certain age.” Some people feel like they have to get trendy cuts to show that they aren’t going away. Both come from the same thing: people being afraid of getting older.
If you want your hair to be light, easy to care for, and have a little bit of spring energy around your face, a trixie cut can be a great choice. If you like the softness of long hair brushing your shoulders or if change makes you nervous, it can be a bad match. There is no right or wrong side in this case. What matters is if you can look in the mirror and see yourself without having to explain or defend what you see to anyone else.
Some women try the cut once, hate it, and then let it grow out without saying anything. Some people get it at 71 and never go back, saying, “This is the haircut I should have had my whole life.” The real question is somewhere between those two extremes: are you picking your hairstyle for your own comfort and happiness, or to make a world that still has opinions about how a 70-year-old woman should wear her hair feel better?
Main point Detail Value for the reader
Make the cut fit your faceSofter lines, length changed at the ears and nape, and a custom fringeLessens the chance of feeling exposed or “ridiculous”
Pick the right stylistFind someone who knows how to deal with mature hair and is open to talking.Gives you a better chance of getting a good result instead of a bad one
Set a limit on what you’re comfortable withBefore the appointment, make sure you know what you want to show or hide.Helps make sure that the trixie cut fits your personality, not just the style.
Is the trixie cut good for hair that is getting thinner after 70?Yes, but it needs to be layered in a smart way. If you have thin hair, too much choppy texture can make it look even thinner. Instead of harsh razoring, ask for soft, blended layers on top and a little more volume around the crown.
Does a very short cut make wrinkles stand out more?Some people think that it makes the face look “wrinkled” because it draws more attention to it. People usually notice facial expressions and bone structure the most. A longer fringe and soft edges help balance lines instead of drawing attention to them.
How often should I cut my Trixie?Once every four to six weeks is best. After eight weeks, the shape starts to fall apart and the cut can look unfinished or messy, which a lot of women take to mean “this doesn’t suit my age.”
Can I keep my grey hair if I get a trixie cut?Of course. The cut can make grey hair look like it was meant to be there and stylish. A little bit of gloss or toner can keep grey from looking dull and help the texture catch the light.
What if I change my mind about going that short?Tell your stylist to leave a little more length on the sides and fringe so that it can grow into a soft crop or mini bob. Use light styling creams during the grow-out phase to keep your hair from looking messy while you change it.
