to ask at what age should a woman no longer have long hair?

[AuroraRedRose]

I love my long hair and right now in my life mid-20s I wouldn't dream of getting it cut.

I had it shoulder length once and it made my face look fat. Seriously.

But is there an age where long hair on a woman really isn't suitable or perhaps would be considered as a little mutton dressed as lamb kind of thing?

Any how our generation will still wear Jeans and mum boots in our 90's and I bet the reception mum's will collect their pensions in their converse.

I cannot see a great many of us seeing growing old as a reason to wear hideous embroidered cardigans and brown plastic trousers.

My friend is 62, she has marvellous, honey-coloured hair a couple of inches below her shoulders. It looks terrific.

I think older women look very glamorous and sophisticated with long grey or white hair.

Startail I think you might well be right there

I suspect also that as you get really old short hair is more practical, it doesn't need as much care.

I think it completely depends on the woman in question. Some older women look great with long hair but others,like Hilary Clinton for example, really dont suit it.That woman looked so much better with her hair short...she looked quite glam and professional.Now she just looks ridiculous-like mutton dressed as lamb!Or is it just me that thinks this?

I'm 50 and my hair is long and corkscrew curls, half way down my back. Mine looks awful cut short, when young I looked like a boy and now if I cut it short I look like the blue rinse brigade so I'm never cutting it again. I it short. So to answer the OP leave your hair however you like it, if you want long tell anyone who says you are too old to keep it long to bog off, and mind their own business.
I had a school teacher with hair as long as her bum, she could sit on it, she rolled it into a bun for work and still had it long last time I saw her when she was in her 80's, she was very glamorous looking with all that hair.

You're in your 20s...you should be having fun not thinking about such boring, rubbish. There is no age limit on long hair.

I was clicked on this, prepared to be outraged by old-ist comments.

How refreshing to see the upholding of a woman's right to do as she damn well pleases.

58. Long hair, mostly up, but always complimented when it's down.

I'm 33 and my mother has been telling me to have short hair for years! That said, mine is far too long at the moment (gets thicker and curlier the longer it gets!) so some of it will be going soon.

I

Also, when you have had chemo and lost your hair several times (like me) - you bloody well love having a full head of hair and will fight to keep it!

YABU.

this sort of rubbish about 'rules' really rips my knitting.

I'm not going to cut my hair short when I'm older, also I've never coloured it and can't be bothered starting when it goes grey. I suppose i might change my mind if mine looks truly awful, but I'm not automatically getting the dye out as soon as i spot a grey hair.

My mum is 60 (although she looks nowhere near 60) and has always had long hair almost to her waist. It is very dark brown, almost black, with hardly any grey and it is wavy. She would never get it cut i don't think. Its just trimmed by me and thats that. No fringe. Each to their own and all that. I think as long as it doesn't look scruffy then its fine. Rats tails etc. I wish i had kept my very long thick hair!!

Long hair, if it's in good condition, can look great.

I think if other hairstyles don't suit, then stick with long hair

But

I think many women are scared to try somthing new, when their hair no longer suits them. There's a particular idea that only long hair is " feminine" and I do think some women would look far far better, and have less faff, with a different style

I think this is true for women of all ages, btw.

It isn't an age thing, so much a style thing.

I am 45 and recently had my long hair cut into a very short, funky style. It looks amazing preens

I had a sudden realisation that nearly everyone has long hair nowadays - it is the fashion & the 'default' style. I looked around and just saw all these women with usually poor condition, dyed hair sitting on their shoulders looking 'blah'.

I am not one for following the herd, so went for a sharp choppy chop. I predict that in a few years, short hair will be all the rage again (remember the 80s, and the 'Lady Di' cut?).

These things go in cycles and I like to be ahead of the curve.

I notice how very rare it is to see girls with short hair. When i was a child there were always several girls in the class with short hair.

I have wondered whether this is somehow linked to the marketing of a narrow view of what comstitutes femininity, along with the ubiquity of pink in young girls clothes

My grandma had long hair until she died a couple of years ago at the age of 84. I mean really long (down to her waist) and very dark. She used to wear it up most of the time.

My hair is below bra length and lightly layered (by myself using the MN hair cut method!), currently very dark brown and in an excellent glossy condition.

I'm late 30s. I have no intention of getting it cut. and if I do, it will be because I fancy a change and nothing to do with my age.

*I notice how very rare it is to see girls with short hair. When i was a child there were always several girls in the class with short hair.

I have wondered whether this is somehow linked to the marketing of a narrow view of what comstitutes femininity, along with the ubiquity of pink in young girls clothes*

I think there is an element of that - the 'disney princess' hair phenomenom. Plus Kate Middleton & her tumbling locks have firmly established long hair for laydees as the done thing.

I look more attractive with long hair, and I can't be bothered with the faff that a short hair style takes to keep it looking good.

Not only that ithaka, but I had short hair as a child and was constantly being mistaken for a boy.

Even my children have seen photos of me with my brother as a child and asked who the other boy is. It's me.

I like a nice bob on a girl though.

Oh FolkElf, sad for you. Everyone should have their hair how they want. But short hair does not mean you have to look like a boy, it really doesn't. But it does look better for a bit of a bowdry & some product, that is certainly true. Mind you, I think that is true for all hair!

I'm in my 50s and have semi-long hair (just below shoulders). I damn well wish it would grow longer as that suits my face, and it tends to make my short dumpy body look longer, but unfortunately it's quite fine & just will NOT grow longer any more. Hairdresser cuts the absolute minimum he can get away with to keep it looking good, but mine grows comparatively slowly plus I shed like a long haired cat in the spring which doesn't help.

I do dye my hair but always get it done professionally as most home dyes don't work terribly well on it, and I spend a fair bit on shampoo & products which suit it so it's always in good condition.

I did try having it bobbed some years ago but looked dreadful with my rather round face, took me ages to grow back again. If I could persuade it to go back to it's old length of around the bra strap I really would, I find long hair to be very versatile - can have it up in various ways, back or down depending on what I'm wearing & where I'm going.

ithaka thanks. no longer a problem though, my hair is fabulous!

I'm 43 and have really long hair (an inch of my waist) with fine highlights and soft layers. I feel much prettier with it long compared to the mumsy bob I had from about age 35 onwards.