I finally found my ‘forever haircut’ at 52 – and here’s how you can, too

Writer Annabel Jones with her shoulder-length trim that achieves a modern yet classic look - Andrew Crowley

We all know the undeniable haircut icons, the women whose hair is so enviable it takes on a life of its own: Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, Alexa Chung… insert your own hair pin-ups here.

I, on the other hand, have put in little time at the hairdresser, preferring to let my hair do its own thing with little intention other than a bi-annual trim – and only at the behest of my hair colourist, Cetera Lamb at John Frieda, who is a stickler for maintaining hair health.

I’ve had a few inches shorn off every few years, but, without exception, I’ve subsequently grown it back. Not because I didn’t revere the skill of the hairdresser – I’ve been fortunate enough to visit some of the best snippers in the world – but because I was attached to the lengths that framed my features; a proverbial security blanket that stood in for sartorial discrepancies, or whatever body hang-up I was having that day. To quote Fleabag: “hair is everything.”

Annabel says she used to think long hair could compensate for bad outfit days and moments of insecurity, but was ready for a change

With most shifts in perspective, it took a life turn for the epiphany to land. Toward the end of last year, I was struck down with illness and my world withdrew considerably. When I eventually returned to my colourist’s chair with roots four inches deep, as she folded a foil around the final section of hair, I took a hard look in the mirror. How had I not noticed before that I’d morphed into an outdated member of The Real Housewives?

I decided then and there to make a change. Once my highlights were cooked, I briefed Nadia, the hairdresser who I had booked in with for an imperceptible trim. “Take it to here,” I said, pointing to just above my collarbone.

I wasn’t brave enough to go as short as I would have liked – a Gracie Abrams bob that skims the earlobes. I’m 52, Abrams is 26. Her cute indie bob could translate as “mum bob” on me. Closing the gap felt right for now.

Choosing the right bob can be tricky. While American singer Gracie Abrams recently turned heads with a pixie cut on the Met Gala red carpet, the style can sometimes be less flattering on older women - Dimitrios Kambouris/2026 Getty Images

As I watched the lengths fall to the floor I exhaled. Those old ends tinged a cheap rusty blonde by oxidised bleach represented a difficult period. When the salon assistant swept the fluffy mound of my hair into the dustpan, it was as therapeutic as Valium.

Once the length had been established, Nadia chopped into the ends to allow the shape to sit nicely on my shoulders. Without some invisible shaping, she explained, the cut would be boring. Too wide, too solid. Potentially ageing.

She then delicately sliced in a few side layers. Any sort of intentional layering – especially at the back – would read as tragically old-fashioned. When complete, it felt both modern and classic.

I was in good company. Katie Holmes, Margot Robbie and Hailey Bieber had also lopped off their hair, into a similar style, one that Tom Smith from the Aevum salon calls the “lazy girl bob”. Translation: it doesn’t take much styling to look good.

Most days I wash and condition – occasionally I mask, too. Then I de-tangle with a wide-toothed Tangle Teezer brush, followed by a generous amount of Dreamcoat Supernatural Spray by Color Wow, which de-frizzes without a trace.

Hailey Bieber helped popularise the ‘lazy girl bob’ that requires minimal effort to look good - Taylor Hill

I spray generously through damp mid-lengths and ends and roughly blow-dry until it’s 80 per cent dry. At this point, I switch to a round hot brush to smooth the surface of flyaways and to create a kick to the ends. I use either the Dyson Airwrap, which has various attachments from a standard drying tool to a wide round brush, or the GHD Rise Hot Brush. Though should you wish to try one, there are plenty of hot brushes that cost far less with good reviews.

For novelty I alternate between flicking the ends under and over – each direction has its own charm. The beauty of a haircut that sits on the shoulders, not above, is that the hair has something to push against; this helps to form the flick.

When I’m done, which (I swear) takes no more than 15 minutes, I apply two pumps of hair oil into my hands, which I run through the ends, twisting the shorter layers around my hairline to give it some texture. My hair is thick. so it needs breaking up a little.

Whatever’s left on my hands I use to smooth over the surface from the top down. My hair can go unwashed for three days and look as good, if not better, than day one. Sometimes I’ll use a texturising spray for volume and some grit, but mostly I wear it glossy.

Annabel mostly wears her long bob glossy, but she often adds some volume with a texturising spray - Andrew Crowley

The test of whether you’ve landed on a signature haircut is whether or not you have it cut a second time. I’m already booked in for my third restyle and I’m not planning on slipping. I’ve assumed a new and empowering identity as the standing appointment woman – a deliberate shift. The more polished my hair looks, the more in control I’ll feel.

I had clung to the idea that long laissez-faire hair was my trademark. That to give in to a proper haircut would feel too sensible, as though I was conforming to some midlife expectation of going shorter with age. Now I know that once you find a haircut that fits, it’s like discovering the most flattering cut of denim. It’s night and day.

Three tips for finding your best-ever haircut

Don’t obsess over face shape

Unless you have a particular insecurity that you’d like to address, in which case flag it to the stylist, a good hairdresser will adapt any style to suit your features. A long forehead can be disguised with a fringe, a wide face can be softened with a centre parting and discreet layers. But honestly, your personal style and the amount of time you have to get ready in the morning are the best indicators of which cut to get. Don’t let rules stand in your way – hair always grows back.

Lean into it

Generally it’s best to take baby steps when deciding on a big change. If your hair has always been long then lop off a few inches first. Or cut in a fringe, then add some layers. The best haircuts are the ones that grow from constant tweaks until you find the one that feels right.

Maintenance makes or breaks a cut

How thick or fine is your hair? Is it curly, textured, or straight as a sheet? These are the elements that will determine how easy your cut will be to keep the style going at home. Work with your natural hair type when choosing a new haircut; it should look good even if you do little to it.

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