Pinned back fringe in the over-40s - muttony or youthful?

[HouseOfBamboo]

Hair dilemma - I'm mid-40s with a longish wavyish fringe (side parting).

Some days it sits quite nicely and doesn't get in my eyes. Other days it looks too heavy and doesn't sit right, and seems to be better pinned back with a plain clip or kirby grip.

I'm always a bit self-conscious about doing this. It kind of seems to make me look younger, but then I'm afraid I'm deluding myself and in reality I look a bit mad-old-lady.

Are there rules about fringe pinning for the over 40s? I'd draw the line at a cutesy clip with a flower on it, but are plain ones okay?

[z1rconia]

If you're in the UK,have a look at Miriam Stoppard lately. An intelligent woman,looking demented.

[HouseOfBamboo]

Ha yes, have just googled pics. Agree about the demented look.

But she is a good 30 years older than me, so I'm hoping I don't resemble her too much.

[CybilLiberty]

I tend to sort of wear it in a 'quiff '(thats sounds naffo but YKWIM) with a bit of height at the front and pin just behind

I ahve a short bit of fringe that pisses me right off

I also pin just to the side but think that more unforgiving

[CybilLiberty]

Miriam Stoppard doesnt pin her fringe though does she?

i cant believe I just typed that sentence

[BelleDameSansMerci]

Erm, I don't think it matters what age you are. Can't you wear your hair how you want to, regardless of your age? I don't see why you can't do this if you think it looks good?

[MotherLoose]

I know exactly what you mean OP.

I pin my fringe to one side when I'm in the house and think it makes me look younger. However, I do wonder whether I look a little like Kathy Bates in Misery.

[BelleDameSansMerci]

MotherLosse

[BelleDameSansMerci]

Mother Loose even...

[FoofusScrimgeour]

I'm with Cybil on this. Pinned back with a bit of a bump. Not a giant Cher Lloyd quiff just a bit of something so that it isn't flat, pollyanna style. I'm a kick in the backside away from 40 and think it's not too bad if you need to.

[Tuppenyrice]

I'm 40. My fringe is growing out. I often reach for one of my daughter's clips, forget about it, go shopping, do the school run etc get home, glance in mirror to see a tired 40 year old woman wearing an Upsy Daisy hair clip.
No wonder they never ask me to join the PTA.

[FoofusScrimgeour]

Tuppeny rice they clearly think you are slightly deranged.

[Alibabaandthe80nappies]

I used to pin my fringe with a bump when I was 13. Madly hairsprayed into the biggest bump my mother would let me out of the house with.

[Tuppenyrice]

Foo - they are not wrong

[CybilLiberty]

I used to have a quiff to rival King Kurt when I was 15

All set with Hard Rock hairspray

God I looked like a dick

[HouseOfBamboo]

at all these

I'm glad I'm not alone.

Will experiment with quiffs as they appear to be more a la mode than the side swipe secured with a Hello Kitty metal clip. Bit nervous as I've never quiffed before.

[kerstina]

Think you are being mean about Miriam Stoppard! I thought she looked lovely and feminine on the wright stuff recently with long hair and a sparkly hair clip. I have always loved pretty clips and sparkly stuff and I still wear a tiny diamantee kirby grip sometimes in my hair. Don't see why I should stop at any point so i will also be that demented older lady in a few years time

[Havingkittens]

I'm just wondering where this tablet of stone is kept where all these age related "Rules" are etched .

I'm 41 and I wear Converse, my hair clipped to one side, or even a quiff 9(of not unreasonable size), a flower in my hair, sometimes you can see my decolletage , I sometimes wear brightly coloured make up and wouldn't be seen dead in "age appropriate" boot cut jeans, etc. If I turned up at a MN meet up I'd probably have stones thrown at me or committed to a home for demented middle aged ladies

[noddyholder]

I used to love a quiff and was horrified when I tried it with a ponytail a few years ago and being 40 in spite of it looking good as a style with my face it was horrific But since the botox I sometimes do it for a night out and it looks ok again

[Havingkittens]

Maybe I can get away with it as I look younger than 41 but I still am a bit about the fact that people keep referring to some kind of rules when it comes to age and what you should or shouldn't wear. It really is about what suits you rather than how many years you've been on this earth, I think.

[noddyholder]

I never do 'rules' and I am 45.Nor do my friends although we are honest with each other about what looks good. Crop tops are a no no

[CybilLiberty]

I dont do rules either

Feel sorry for those who do

[noddyholder]

I think you can tell when its a no on you but that doesn't mean it is a no on someone else the same age.

[Havingkittens]

Quite

[Camerondiazepam]

Ooh dear, are there rules then?

[Havingkittens]

Not as far as I am concerned.

I just keep reading threads on here "am I too old to wear" or "is it against the rules to wear this at my age" or "should I be wearing more age appropriate jeans etc"

Common sense and self awareness are all you need really.