Is this an ‘ageing’ hairstyle for someone nearly 50?

[Toastedcheese]

I love this cut, I showed it to a colleague and she said it’s a ‘Karen’. I hate that phrase and can’t understand why it’s been attributed to women with short hair??

My hair is already short, think chin length all the way around but I’d love a complete change.

WWYD? Is it a nice cut? And how easy is it to do? I don’t want to ask my hairdresser for something she will struggle to do.

Soooooo, I think all you need for a Karen to NOT be a Karen, and become stylish, is for the long bit at the front to be a shorter, and the overall look to be softer, with no spiky bits. In which case it becomes a pixie bob.

The whole thing is frankly ridiculous. An odd bit of hair here and there shouldn't be a big deal. As for pp's saying op should dye her hair brown, why the hell should she? What's wrong with blonde/grey hair?

Personally dislike the cut you suggested - too 'try hard' for me. I prefer softer looser styles. Anyway, best to have a hair stylist who gets what suits you and your face shape.

I'm older than you and know plenty of women around my age and older who still have collar length/ shoulder length styles. Fat less ageing than short cuts in my view. I last had short hair in my 20s when it was the height of fashion.

You have to understand where Karen comes from to understand the term. (Don't have to like it, but it makes it clear.)

In America, it's not all middle aged women. It's a specific term for a woman who uses her race and her class to exert authority over those who she deems insufficiently subservient. The stereotype is a lower-middle-class white woman who runs roughshod over black and/or working-class people. These women call on authorities (usually men) to solve the problem (which isn't always an actual problem) rather than dealing it with it themselves, mostly because of a really toxic understanding of gender roles. The name Karen was chosen not because of age, but because of race and class.

Anyway, OP, no, you shouldn't pick that hairstyle, mostly because it's very thick-highlights-mid-00s. Looks like Kate Gosselin.

Do the loose bob instead.

(Which is to say, it's an Americanism that hasn't translated well. Also, the reason that haircut has become a "Karen" is because it was popular with the stereotypical woman described above. It was certainly a class-specific haircut in America.)

I sort of have hair like that in that it’s an inverted short Bob and I’m blonde, but it’s not bouffant as I have ridiculously fine hair and a short fringe as my fringe hair rarely grows. I’m 52. It suits me. Makes my hair look thicker. Can’t get it cut currently so is longer and driving me up the wall cos of the heat.

I think it’s very dated. And ugly.

Karen, Karen, who the f**k is Karen?!! I always thought the style Karen was named after someone famous called Karen

I actually did have this cut done without me knowing! It was a def 'time to speak to the manager' haircut ..I spoke to the manager alright! I had to have even more cut off and the only way was to have an inverted bob.

I really like the pic of the French bob which really suits thicker choppy hair.

The odd thing is, when you look at the actual so called "Karen" clips on youtube (e.g. Permit Patty and BBQ Betty), I haven't seen one with the stereotype haircut, yet so many of the memes and clips, the women do have a short haircut.

So isn't this all about the usual fear and resentment of older women and short hair marks you out as older even more than it used to since short hair fell out of fashion for young and teen girls?

I’m not a fan.

A woefully competent colleague has that hairdo and is always fiddling with it.

INcompetent! Wishful thinking in my first message!

Your colleague is a brainwashed sexist idiot. The hairstyle you like is fine, if it suits you. It sounds like you've given it due consideration and decided it does - but if you're not sure, a good haordresser can help you choose a cut that both flatters your physical features and projects the impression you want.

@MirandaBlu

Your colleague is a brainwashed sexist idiot. The hairstyle you like is fine, if it suits you. It sounds like you've given it due consideration and decided it does - but if you're not sure, a good haordresser can help you choose a cut that both flatters your physical features and projects the impression you want.

100% agree.

@Teaandjam

Agree, and is there a male equivalent? No.

Yes there is. You’ve clearly never heard of a Chad.

No I haven’t @Teaandjam! But I bet the female label is used more aggressively, known more widely and is much more negative…just gone away to look…Chad doesn’t seem quite as negative to me and there isn’t nearly so much discussion. Perhaps “Chad” has not caught on as Chad isn’t a common name in the U.K. whereas Karen is (or was). Or maybe it’s because society by and large likes it’s middle aged women nice and quiet and invisible!

Who actually cares what’s allegedly ‘in fashion’ or not?! How sad if people are actually out off doing something just in case it’s not in. You get your hair styled based on your skin tone, face shape and of course, your personality. I do like the style personally and if you do too then go for it!

Okay here goes. I did say I didn’t want it too spiky but with light layers.
The colour is graduated to dark blonde at the back. I feel it’s a bit more versatile and I can either tuck it behind my ears or not.

I do like it, which is all that matters I suppose!

That's really nice op!

Looks really lovely op, suits you!

Lovely!

Looks lovely and really suits you.

That's lovely!

I like that. It really suits your face shape.

Fantastic and a lovely colour too.

You are all so kind. This ageing thing is very difficult, I never worried about a thing 30 years ago!

@PuppyMonkey

I thought Karen was just a vile, sexist, ageist insult, I never knew it was also a perfectly acceptable haircut that people can enjoy taking the piss out of too...

'Karen' started because of the haircut.

Middle aged white woman, with that hair, asking to speak to the manager. It was a huge meme a few years ago which started it. I'm pretty sure it was of one of the mums from 'dance moms USA'

You look lovely OP. Not ageing at all