Am I too old for hair this long?

[Longhairmightcare]

Hi I'm 36 with long bushy hair. I'm worried I've ventured in to mutton dressed as lamb territory with the length of my hair.
When styled with hot rollers it can look quite nice, (see 'after' pic) but most of the time I don't have time (see other 'before' pic) and it's pulled back and I think looks scruffy, it gives me a headache if it's in a pony tail or bun too long because of the weight. I've also had short layers cut in sides which are supposed to look all swoopy and princess Kate-like but actually just go straggly and 90s esque. I'm reluctant to cut it though as I've basically learned how to style it like this myself even though if takes an hour of need be I know I can make it look good, and I don't know what style to get/how short.
Or should I keep it long but need suggestions for a cut that will look ok when not fully styled and frames my face a bit when up without looking straggly. I like the idea of a fringe in theory, but also frightens me a bit!

As you can tell I'm not sure what I want, feel stuck in a rut and a bit scared of cutting it short(er) after all this time. Any S&B thoughts appreciated!

[stiffstink]

Hmmm, I'm the same age as you and I have a blue rinsed short perm 😁

[Justmadeperfectflapjacks]

Personally I would be more worried about the brows and the tash op. .
Hair is great!!

[MrTurtleLikesKisses]

I think your hair is lovely!

[Mum2jenny]

I'm way older and my hair is longer. You are fine.

[Blazedandconfused]

Since when is 36 old?

I'm 32 with 2 kids and a mortgage and am still waiting to feel like a grown up. I did feel very dizzy when I went on the swings at the park last weekend which I suspect was ace related.

I wear my hair long, usually in a high ponytail. I would never consider there to be an age limit on long hair.

[Therealslimshady1]

Mutton dressed as lamb is a very outdated expression, you're too young to use it!

In the 70s and 60s women were supposed to cut their hair short to avoid the ridicule of trying to look and feel attractive at the advanced age of 35+

Thankfully, those days are looooooong behind us!

[lurkingfromhome]

Yes I think the law is that once you turn 30 you have to get it chopped off into something sensible and unflattering.

OP you have great hair. You are not old. Even if you were old you'd still have beautiful hair. Now, please, never utter the phrase "mutton dressed as lamb" again. It is so demeaning to women. Wear whatever suits you. Have hair that suits you. Embrace your glorious hair. Age is bugger all to do with anything.

[PugwallsSummer]

Don't cut it! It's long and thick and looks absolutely beautiful styled. Cutting it shorter won't make it any less "bushy" in its natural state.

Can't you run the straighteners over it as a happy medium if you want it to look styled but don't have time for the rollers? Or have a keratin treatment to make it smoother?

[MovingtoParadise]

I think if I was going to pick fault I would say the moustache is a bit bushy

[Longhairmightcare]

Ok thank you. I've just re read my post and it's long and rambling, oops.

What I should have put is - I'm stuck in a rut, had this style for years and years nervous to cut it and looking for suggestions that would look ok without an hours work with the rollers!

[PugwallsSummer]

Shorter styles can sometimes be more high maintenance...

[Longhairmightcare]

I think if I was going to pick fault I would say the moustache is a bit bushy
That's a whole other thread

Message received about 'mutton dressed as lamb' it's out of my vocab

[Longhairmightcare]

My hairdresser was horrified when I said I wanted to cut it, but the salon specialises in hair extensions, so I think they're just unfamiliar with the concept of someone wanting to shorten their hair!

[Longhairmightcare]

pugwalls straighteners might be a good shout, I'd got out of the habit of using them.

Putting in a pony or bun is getting too heavy to do for any length of time, so I think I'm going to have to cut though on that basis alone.

[ImperialBlether]

I would keep it long and curled for a few more years - it's really lovely. It looks in much better condition when it's curly than when it's straight.

[Longhairmightcare]

I do love it curly, it's just impossible to do Day to day (2 under 3's, hot hair appliances, would need an hour, DH has to be here basically and I have to schedule 'doing my hair' in) so spends most of its time in the scruffy state, ends up getting pulled back (pony tail looks like a burst cushion) and I don't feel good about it.

If I could have it curly every day I definitely wouldn't even be asking this question !

[Glossolalia]

Maybe dye it darker?

[Leopard12]

I know you don't want to show your face on a public Internet forum but it does depend on your face in my opinion. It looks great curly but I wouldn't wear it without doing anything to it, in a bun I imagine would look really good but I know how heavy hair can feel! I had 13inches of mine cut off and it felt great! I donated it to the little princess trust so I felt it was for a good cause and figured my hair would grow back if I hated it! It's about collarbone length now and im thinking of letting it grow a bit longer but not to the length it was before, its just so quick to wash, dry and straighten/curl now and much lighter tied up!

[HuntingSquirrels]

Seriously. Would a man worry about hair and age? If you like it, have your hair how you want. I am 51 and have long blonde hair - always have - I couldn't give a fuck.

[Longhairmightcare]

leopard you get it! So no regrets then? Did you just have the same style but...shorter, or was it a completely new look?

I'm thinking I shouldn't have put the 'curly' pic up as it's a bit of a red herring, in that it looks like that once a week at most!

gloss I did go darker for a while in the hope that it would look healthier, but I'm too pasty! Looking back on the pics it wasn't a good look on me. Although it would match my moustache

[Longhairmightcare]

hunting I'm not sure I do like it though. I suppose what I meant now I've reflected a bit, (which I should have done before writing the op I guess) is does it look a bit dated, too young and therefore aging on me.

What I'm not trying to say is that older people shouldn't have long hair, although I appreciate it may have come across that way so am genuinely sorry about that.

Rather selfishishly I'm actually just interested in how it looks on me

[Ledkr]

Fucking hell, I may have had to much to drink tonight but I'd say the hair is the least of your concerns

[Mermaidinthesea123]

No it's lovely, I'm 55 and have hair twice that long :-) not sure about your makeup though

[ErrolTheDragon]

It's gorgeous^^ hair!
Maybe so you don't have to spend so much time on it every day, get it cut a bit shorter, maybe just a bit below shoulder length, with some shaping at the front so you're happier with it uncurled but still long enough to do the curls sometimes?

(For the record, I'm another who's always had long fair hair, mine is dead straight and cba to ever have tried curling ... I'm 56)

[KickAssAngel]

It does look like great hair.

Have you though about just tying back the front of it to keep it out the way but not hurt your head?

Also - can you do a low bun fairly quickly? Or braid it down your back.

Straightening it.

It looks great curled - if you smother it in hair spray before you curl it, then it should last a couple of days, maybe even 3 with a bit of dry shampoo.

Curl it, if it does 'drop' then tie back the front & it will look more styled.

If you really want a change, maybe just get a bit cut off, perhaps so that it ends at your bra strap, with the last couple of inches layered.