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!

Meadowy has a point, I gently suggested a trim to my friend who had a lot of thinning and she became very defensive.
I genuinely thought having a blunt cut just below shoulders would really suit her and make it look much thicker - but I know now not to mention it to her again.

I have pixie length short hair and between short chin length bobs, have always had shorter hair since my twenties and I’m 60’s now.

I can’t be bothered with faffing with longer hair so I love that I can shower and dry my hair and be out in about 15 mins max.

Wear your hair how you want and what’s convenient for you!

This is my aim too! I’ve actually been quite annoyed that my hair refuses to go grey/silver (in my sixties) as I want a long silver plait. My mum is nearing her nineties and still doesn’t have grey hair so there’s no hope for me.

OP,your hair is lovely. I used to have long hair, but as I got older I found it didn't suit me so well. However, that was just me. If I could have I would have kept it long. I have 2 cousins who are approaching 60 and still have their beautiful long hair and it looks fabulous on them. It's not so much to do with age as what suits you, the shape of your face etc.

I have long hair and I have had a bob. A short bob is so not practical! Unless it is long enough to tie back you just can’t control it! I di feel my hair is easier to manage when I have a couple of inches off, but never shorter than shoulder length or its a nightmare!

I think the shorter hair when you get older has finally been seen as not necessary and can in fact make you look older. Keep it long OP, just treat yourself to some hair masks and hair care products.

I have short hair because it’s straggly and doesn’t grow into a nice shape. You have beautiful hair-so there’s no reason to cut it unless you want to. You could look at having a more modern cut but still bra length-it would still be long but lift your face.

I love long hair. Im 40s and im growing mine long again from shoulder length. I hope shes booked in for her perm and purple rinse when she turns 60 if thats the way she looks at things! 🤦🏻‍♀️

I have very long hair and I'm a lot older than you!

I don't have the right head or face shape to have short hair.

What I would say is that as you get older any length hair can look ageing if it's dyed all over in one shade.

I am the same age as you and my hair is longer, I have decided when i do go shorter to send my hair to the little princess trust which makes wigs for children.
If you do consider the chop why not donate yours . X

My hair just sits on my shoulders atm.

I usually just let it grow until I can be bothered to cut it.

But this length seems to suit me the best -too much longer & it gets aging on me.

Your hair is nice Op & I wouldn't cut it just for the sake of having short/shorter hair.

There might be a length that suits you better though?

Well I'm late 50s and currently growing my hair out. Have got to shoulder length so far and aiming to grow it as long as it will go.

It has always been very curly - corkscrew curls which are relaxing and lying a bit flatter as it grows longer. I spent years cutting it short and blow drying it straight with not great success as it would just frizz up at the slightest bit of humidity.

Realised one day I was starting to look like Margaret Thatcher! . Lockdown helped me to decide to grow it and go with the natural curl. Aiming for a more bohemian vibe and less WI!

Have had a lot of compliments and people who haven't seen me for a while say I look years younger.

But the friend didn’t comment how happy she was with her own hair she said ‘at our age we shouldn’t have long hair’ which means she was directly comparing herself to the OP and if she wasn’t jealous about having to cut her hair because she felt she ‘shouldn’t have long hair’ she wouldn’t have said anything like that.

Said something along the lines of.

The friend was rude, I don’t think there are any rules about hair style and age.

Most people look nicer with regularly cut hair in a style rather than leaving it to grow.

I still have long hair in my 60's. My hair, like yours, is fantastic when it behaves - but when it's shorter, there are an equal number of days when it does its own thing & will not be tamed. I got fed up with the work involved in blow drying it every time I washed it, & so I let my bob grow out. Now I can wash it & leave it or just dry it a bit, which is far less work. It's not always true that short hair is less work.

I also cut my own fringe, copying what my stylist used to do. I once read some instructions for fringe cutting which were spot on: cut less off than you think you should; start in the middle & cut it longer at the sides; and only ever cut it when you're sober.😂I'd add: remember that if you cut it when it's just been washed, it will be shorter the next day, so allow for that.

Honestly I think the colour can be more aging than the length which is fine if maintained properly like any cut. I think as we age our skin tone changes naturally and that blue black on more mature skin can look very blocky and severe and obviously coloured . I think I would try and lighten it a couple of shades .

My mil shudders when anyone over 20 appears on tv with long hair 😂
She thinks it’s witchy and messy.
@Zoflorabore you have beautiful hair.

Please don’t cut it, it is beautiful!

Me thinks she might be jealous

Sweet lord no -Long hair looks terrible at any age if its not in good condition. i am close to you age and my hair is down to my bar strap. Very very thick as well. Washed once a week, regulars treatments both at home and hairdressers. Dye it however lighter in some parts to help with grey hair maintenance. I actually think short hair is more maintenance, more cuts to keep shape, wash more and also can look very server and aging.

You have lovely hair. I can see why women go shorter when their hair is thinning because it gives it the appearance of more body, but you don't have that issue. I hate this idea that women have to conform to set out standards of dress at each stage of our lives. We all know the unwritten rules that middle age means that hem line has to come down, the neckline has to come up, you should wear longer sleeves, cut your hair shorter and don't go too heavy with the makeup. Tina Turner was still killing a mini dress in her 50s, so as long as you think you can pull something off well, age is irrelevant.

Keep it long. What nonsense about age and long hair. Should we all have a cabbage haircut and blue rinse when we hit 50. Your friend prob regrets it and wants you to cut yours too. Don't. It's lovely. Keep it well trimmed that's all.

Cabbage haircut 🤣

I do agree. Once the jawline starts to sag, cut that hair. I long to take a pair of scissors to the Jerry Hall mane, most unattractive.