Is long hair a bit much at 46?

[Zoflorabore]

Hi, as per title, I’m 46. I’ve always had a good head of hair but it’s really thick and has got a wave to it and I don’t make much effort with it beyond washing/conditioning regularly but only drying maybe once a week and straightening it maybe every couple of weeks. It’s also super dark, almost black and I’ve been getting greys since I was about 20! And do my roots about every 3 weeks.

My friend recently said something along the lines
of “at our age we shouldn’t have long hair” after getting hers drastically chopped off. It’s made
me think. I work from home, don’t socialise at all really due to chronic pain and other health issues and it’s getting on my nerves.

When I’ve made the effort it can look lovely bit most of the time it’s tied back and has no style or anything. I would love a bob but like to have a pony when cleaning/exercising.

any thoughts please? I also have a thick fringe like Claudia Winkleman and don’t suit not having one.

i will attach a pic from behind which was taken recently when my dd dried my hair for me.

honest opinions welcome!

Wear your hair how you want not what your friend sees as society norms.

Age shouldn't dictate how we have our hair, what we wear, how we act etc. If you'd love a bob, go for it, it will look lovely.

I would kill for your hair and I'm 52! Mine doesn't grow much past my shoulders. Definitely don't get it chopped! It looks in lovely condition too

I have long hair at 52 and it's not as beautiful as yours. There's no right age to have long or short hair. Wear it as you like. Your friend is probably envious.

Your friend’s daft!

Yours is lovely. I’m in my 50s and currently growing mine after a medical loss of 50% of my hair. It’s all coming back now so it’ll be a decent length in a year or so.
Long hair is who I am, and I’ve not felt like myself with enforced shortness!

No I don't think 46 is too old for long hair, but for practical reasons I would go for a bob. It would look good, as your hair is lovely and thick.

I'm in my 60's now and used to have very long hair, but now have a shoulder length bob, that's still easy to tie back and up, which I much prefer, as the one of the drawbacks of longer hair when you're older, is that it can make your face look older.

Also short cut can take more time and expense to manage

I think it would be different if you loved it. Then I would absolutely encourage you to do whatever you wanted and ignore what your friend said. BUT since you say it’s getting on your nerves, you should absolutely get it cut. Also, if you tell the hairdresser that you want it just long enough that you can still pull it back, you should just end up with maybe just above shoulder length. I’ve often had that before because when I have hair (currently I’ve had to shave it due to pain, ha), I also feel like I MUST be able to pull it back if I want to. Also, if you have chronic pain, you’ll find the less hair you have, the less of a faff it is. Once you cut it, you may find yourself wishing you’d done it years ago, as it will make washing, drying, etc. so much easier for you.

I don't understand this idea that you can be 'too old' for long hair - it's something I've only heard recently and only on mumsnet.

Have your hair how you like it.

So that is to say, age doesn’t determine your hair. But your wants should.

That's beautiful hair, your friend is jealous! I suppose why that has become a trend is more because women have thinning hair and not luscious, beautiful locks as you do

I think your friend is jealous and regrets cutting hers!
I had this from a friend too, and mine was only chin length, when she had a pixie cut.

I'm nearly 50 and have very think curly hair . It's not long but it's past my shoulder . If I cut it short I'll look ridiculous so what am I supposed to do with that .
She is an idiot and being controlled by society's old fashioned ideas about women being in boxes !

I still wear whatever I want and will continue to do so because life is very very short

It's an old fashioned view, my Mum would say you can't have long hair at 50. I personally think in this day and age you can have your hair however you like!

No, of course not.

Your friend is an idiot.

Your hair looks stunning, please keep it! I’d kill for hair like that! :)

From current experience a bob is much higher maintenance than long hair!

I have similar hair and a few years had it bobbed. Awful, so many regrets. It was just a boring, middle age hair style. Took ages to style as I have such waves/kinks in it. I just looked like Wendolene Ramsbottom from Wallace and Grommet. I’ve grown it again now. I look at photos of me from 5 years ago and I look 10 years older than I do now! Was so aging. Maybe some people can pull it off but it didn’t suit me.

Don’t women usually get a chop because of hair thinning with menopause? It’s like new mums getting the chop because they’re losing hair. I don’t think most 50+ women have short hair out of choice. Enjoy your long hair while you can!

It's not about a person's age with long hair I think it's more about the condition of the hair. Yours looks thick and healthy so I would ignore her and do what you like! If it was fine and wispy then I would say cut it off.

You should wear your hair how you like.

If you want to try it shorter because it’s getting on your nerves, fine, but you shouldn’t be getting it cut because you’re suddenly “too old” for long hair.

I’m about your age, my hair’s a similar length to yours, and I’ll be keeping it this length because I’ve tried having it short and I found managing short hair to be much more work than long hair for me. Although other people’s experience may vary!

FWIW, while short hair on women does seem to get more popular as women get older, I do know a number of women in their 70’s / 80’s with long hair.

If my hair were that healthy in my 40's I absolutely would NOT cut it off! It's gorgeous!

Your hair is beautiful as it is and there are no rules that state you can’t have long hair after a certain age. Forget that and have it how you want it.
If YOU fancy a change, maybe have it cut to just below your shoulders, that way it will still look and feel quite long, so it won’t be too much of a shock. You could also still put it up. I imagine your hair grows very quickly, so it’ll soon grow back if you don’t like it shorter. I’m in my 60s and still have fairly long hair. I really don’t care what anyone thinks, though have to say I get many compliments as I’m lucky to still have very thick, healthy hair.

I disagree with the age rules, but I hate long, long hair. I would chop it to under your armpit- where your vest line is. It just looks fresher to me. A bob is really hard work and can look frumpy too. Well it does on me. There is literally nothing wrong with your hair now. I agree that older women probably cut their hair to thicken it up as it's thinning. Mine is.

My grandmother used to say that you should have your hair short by the time you are 40. I have long hair in my late 40s and mil has long hair at 78! Nowadays many people seem to have their hair how they want more!

There used to be an idea that you shouldn't have long hair past 40. But as long hair is so ubiquitous now I'm surprised anyone under 80 would say this. Have your hair as you like, shorter or longer.