You should cut your hair short, now that you're 40

[FanGirlX]

Is this a thing?

My mother (age 75) has just informed me that I should cut my longish hair short now that I'm over 40. Or is this a generational thing, mum and her friends have all had short hair for as long as I can remember. My friends tend to wear their hair longer (even those over 40 ).

Some older women do resemble witches when they let it grow long.

Sounds like a plan.

There’s some “conventional wisdom” that long hair - especially straight - draws the eye downward and accentuates the vertical lines and “droop” that typically come with ageing, while a short cut allegedly draws the eye upward and gives the impression of “lift”. (Of course, you could always wear long hair up or back off the face too for the same effect).

I think this is generational. And I don't think 40 is "old" now at all. My mum is early 60s. She has thick shoulder length hair. It looks amazing. No way she should get short hair with an old lady perm!

I don't see how it is generational, given many women of the generation who are apparently saying this are in fact currently wearing long hair into their seventies and beyond. I think it is cultural, perhaps, and that as a woman reaches the age that in her family and friendship groups it is culturally expected a woman cuts her hair off she starts voicing it to the next in line - so generational in a sense, but not, also.

Yep, generational misogyny IMHO.

I grew out my hair dye a few years ago which was incredibly liberating and makes me look younger. My hair has so many different tones and is way less aging than when I had a tide mark after a fortnight.

It's been a real struggle to find a hairdresser who doesn't spend the whole time pushing me to dye it though. I think it's such a huge income stream for them.

The one I've been using is unsupportive of me growing my hair and seems to cut more off than I'd like. I've just realised he probably thinks I'm too old for longer hair!

Ffs, now I have to find a new one.

Personally I think pixie cuts only look good on very young, slim and beautiful women. Short hair in general looks shite on middle aged women. But I wouldn't say that out loud.

@milkyaqua

Some older women do resemble witches when they let it grow long.

Sounds like a plan.

Love this

When you look at old photos everyone looks older than they would at the same age now. We live longer and we look younger longer. 40 is not even middle aged now. Anyway no way should women cut their hair in relation to their age, just do what suits.

Given that many of us who are hitting our 70s now were hippy free thinkers in our youth - and in many ways far less constrained by convention than people in their 20s and 30s now appear to be - I don’t agree that it’s generational. It’s a personality thing.
The picture of an older woman with a pinny, a perm and sensible shoes is from a generation that is (mostly) dead by now.

OMG…my husband literally just said this to me. We were googling journalists and he commented how it’s surprising so and so has long hair in her 50s. I could just about strangle him! I’m in early 30s so doesn’t affect me personally, but it’s the mindset! 😡😡😡

@MarleneDietrichsSmile

Generational

My mum has kept on about my hair being too long and childlike for someone of my advanced age since I was 35 (15 yrs ago)

She says it makes me look lanky and younger, and that is not a good look for a woman of 50

I just nod and smile

And my nan told me to get all my teeth out and had dentures when I hit my 30s as they were so much more convenient

I have no thoughts about anyone’s age and hair. My gaur is long and I’m old, so maybe that’s why. Off the top of my head I can’t think of one person who is aged by long hair. Grey hair - yes. Short hair - yes. But long hair - no.

@Mariell

I’ll get flames but I’ve yet to see any woman of any age that looks better with short hair.

Some do.

My relative had shoulder length hair pretty much her whole life. She had some stress related alopecia and decided that the best way to deal with the thining and patchyness was to shave it off for charity.

She looked amazing. She has since kept it at about three quarters of an inch all over. She looks so much better.

I'm not just saying that, I am a big fan of long hair, but it really surprised me how great she looked and still does.

@milkyaqua

Some older women do resemble witches when they let it grow long.

Sounds like a plan.

Yes! To me "witch" says wise woman, stoic, practical, eminently capable, copious amounts of knowledge about all sorts of things. What's not to like? [hgrin]

Aww, the witch emojis aren't working yet!

milkyaqua: Esmé Weatherwax had hair to her waist, which was how she could beidle the unicorn in Lord and Ladies.

Bridle. FFS.

My mum said the same to me, it's made me more determined to keep it long.

My former sexist boss used to say this about women. I was under 40 at the time. He's also said he preferred me in skirts, or skirts shorter than the one I was wearing. And that you should never wear flat shoes in a boardroom. Thankfully retired into oblivion

Oh bugger. I used to have amazing long hair (I'm 49), as hard as it was to manage being thick and frizzy - but it got wrecked with one bad salon bleach job, so it's got progressively shorter. First to get rid of all the breakage, then it was just never the same anyway - never seemed to grow much after that.

Then I lost a load of hair after having covid, and the new hair growing back in is really weak, so a few highlights and it's all snapping off again. It's collar length but my lovely sweepy side fringe is all broken and looks ridiculous.

I was thinking of getting all cut off next week in the hope it might make me look younger and be more manageable, but I'm put right off now!

@FlorallyBankrupt same here. Slightly older and lost my shiny long hair after an attempt to cut costs and go to a different hairdresser for highlights . All broke off and I had to have a pixie. One patch of hair refused to grow and only now 3 years later is it starting to look longer. I lost my fringe too. I've taken the plunge and let mine go grey and tbh it's in better condition now.

53 here and have properly long ..half way down my back , hair for the first time in my life. I stopped colouring it nearly 5 years ago too, so it has long silver streaks in it.

And I have had so many compliments! Even my brother (not known for his tact) said 'keep it long it really suits you' I love it. I'm lucky that it's thick and healthy, and mostly it's just swings in a plait for work (in a special school so lot of small mucky hands!)

For special occasions it gets styled or at least blow dried but mostly..wash, plait, go!

Yes I look like I'm in my 50s.. but that's because I AM, and I'm happy to own it! Plus my baby grandson loves to grab Granny's hair.. it's one of his favourite things

My mum had had short hair all my life. It’s awful and just sits flat as its really fine and she does nothing to style it. I have vowed no ever to cut mine really short. She sometimes goes to a barber so it really is a man’s cut and really unfeminine.

I shan't be cutting mine short and I'm nearly 46, in fact DH said the other day promise me you'll never get a short old lady cut!

I think short hair is much more aging. I get my hair cut short and look older. When it grows longer I look and feel younger.