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!

My Mum commented recently on someone ‘being nice, but almost 50 and still has long hair’. As if that was a shocking thing. I understand as we age our hair can thin, and for some people long hair doesn’t look so great any more, but this person had the most beautiful hair (as do you op). I think it must be some sort of outdated thing where women of a certain age ‘must’ have short hair, as all my mums friends had short hair growing up. I guess your friend is off the same opinion but I’m sure most people under 60 are not! Have your hair however you want it, it’s lovely!

I'd agree with this. Mumsnet loves long hair but it can veer a bit 'sister wife' if you are not careful.

You have beautiful hair, for many women as they age their hair can thin (often drastically) and then taking a few inches off and styling can make a massive difference.

I have a decade on you and I have long thick beautiful hair which gets a lot of compliments.
There is no way I will cut off what is my best feature ( and I love and find easy to care for) for ridiculous ageist shite.

Gorgeous! @Siddalee

Yes, definitely something my mum would say as well! I had very long hair right up to the menopause transition when it went rogue for some years - thin and a bit frizzy. A few years back, I got some layers cut in and a fringe and my hair seems to be its old self once more. Do what feels right for you, OP!

Have whatever hair you like! Think your friend has been talking to my mum! She nags me

But taking g some length will improve condition

My mother would have agreed, lol. Thankfully it’s 2024 and we can have whatever hair we want. I am a bit older than you, have long hair, and give no fucks.

Your hair looks lovely. I now have the longest hair I have had in 30 years and I am over 60. Love the versatility of it and dont intend to grow old gracefully.

I'm so jealous of everyone's lovely thick hair.

I don't get the argument that short hair is somehow easier - I've always it's much more work to make it look nice. Long hair is much less of a faff as you can just stick it up in a clip.

Do not have a bob. Far too drastic and your hair is very long. So all women should have a bob at 50? Not everyone would suit a bob anyway quite a tricky style to pull off!

Your hair is lovely!

I kind of fell for this view in my forties and had bobs and such but at 60+ I have my long ‘lockdown hair’and wish I’d had it long all my life!

It’s so much easier than any other style I’ve ever had, and I’m a busy outdoors gardening and dog walking kind of person so even though it’s mainly tied up or back, it’s great!

Have whatever you like!

If the hair looks like yours then No, 46 is not too old

Its gorgeous

Your hair is beautiful. I have shorter shoulder length hair and the upkeep ( cut, colour and blow dry ) is regular & expensive. Ignore your friend and just have your hair however you would like it.

I’m in my 40’s and everyone in my office is older than me, and we all have long hair. If you want to cut it though then go for it, I chopped mine last year, wasn’t keen and it soon grew again!

Wow, your hair is beautiful.

Im 50 this year and have long hair. I’ve cut it to a bob twice but it’s too much work to style it so I’ve grown it again both times and it’s staying long now. My hair is fine and greying but it grows well and it’s so much easier to look after.

I don’t care what anyone else thinks or says, I will do what works for me.

When I married for the first time my mother bullied me into having my hair cut short and a perm “because you’ll be a married woman”…………I was 22!!

I got on with the rest of my growing up after that. It’s been a long time now since anybody told me what to do about anything.

You have your lovely hair exactly as you want OP.

Wow thank you all for your responses ladies!

I agree with the poster who said they could see a bit of breakage, my dd (13) tells me straight and said I’ve got lots of split ends so maybe a little trim would be a better call. Im really impulsive, was diagnosed last year with ADHD and I can’t just normally for a trim, it’s more “all or nothing” but I do like the idea of long hair and I’ve done this before many times and tend to regret it.
I’m lucky my hair grows ridiculously quick.

It seems that my friend is definitely out of touch with reality and she’s actually only just turned 40. Her hair was in a terrible state due to her poor MH and she had little choice but to chop it off so there may be an element of jealousy there.

I love hearing of ladies in their 60’s rocking the longer hair.
Im very self critical but I do think my hair is quite nice most of the time when it behaves so im going to just book a trim for the ends and my fringe, currently can’t see out of it.

really appreciate the time that you’ve all taken to reply and @Siddalee your hair is amazing.

My friend is 60 and has beautiful long hair, she does tend to wear it up a lot. My hair has unfortunately thinned so I keep it shorter, if it hadn’t I would still have long hair. I don’t think it’s the age of the person it’s the state of the actual hair that is key.

The 'no woman has long hair over 40' died out long ago. Your friend needs to keep up.

I think longer hair softens features and can look lovely on older women. I can’t believe the ‘rules’ who says we need to do anything with our own hair! Or any other part of us. Your hair is in great condition - I would be mindful of your friend, I am not sure she has your best interests at heart op.

I'm 46 with a sprinkling of grey in brown hair. Mine is long but nearly always tied back. I've had it cut above my shoulders once in my life, it looked awful (curly so just goes triangular) plus I hate not being able to clip it away out of my face. I have no intention of cutting it short or dying it as I get older. If long grey hair is unfashionable I'll be unfashionable. Do what you like with your own hair.

Sometimes a change can be good, it will always grow back. Maybe do it gradually.

She’s most likely jealous

Totally agree short hair is much more work than long. I never understand people cutting their hair when they have a baby. It's so much easier to clip it back than actually have to style it! And I can easily do tied back styles that look quite smart so it's not even about shoving it in an elastic.

Glad you’re keeping what you want and have just booked a trim

Regular maintenance is key to keeping long hair in good condition. I have mine trimmed and my roots coloured every 6-8 weeks.