To think hair length does not have anything to do with age?

[Looby12]

Two colleagues at work were just talking about hair, colleague 1 (mid 20's with shoulder length hair) said she had a trim before xmas and will be keeping an eye on the length as she wouldn't want to get to "that point", colleague 2 looked confused, colleague 1 said "you know when its that length when you are too old for it and look nice from behind but turn round looking all haggard". Cue embarrassed looks as they both realised I could over hear and I have much longer hair (i'm only aged 35 by the way)

The cheeky bugger, since when can older people not have longer hair???

Would I be unreasonable to say to her its not her hair that is the problem its her face!

[sewingandcakes]

I have dreads and I'm 36. Couldn't care less what other people think, as it's my hair.

[Birdsgottafly]

In previous generations women were only valued for their baby making ability.

Their role once married was running the household and meeting the demands of her husband, she certainly didn't matter as a individual.

They were expected and forced to conform. Their appearance, lifestyle, disposable income etc reflected their oppression.

These days, thankfully, we women can develop our own personalities and make choices based on what we want and like.

So we can express this via our clothes, makeup and hair.

One good thing about getting to 40 (there are many good things about getting to 40 and older), is that you develop the confidence to make choices based soley on what you want and like and put a big two fingered salute to anyone who tells you that you should do otherwise.

This does terrify a lot of men and "those in charge" so they seek to still control us, nice to see that they are failing miserably.

Nothing worse or more scary than an older, happy confident woman knowing what she wants and needs and making sure she doing/getting it.

[manicinsomniac]

Wow, I didn't expect this thread to be about 35 year olds being too old!

Long hair is, I would say, unusual past a certain age but I'd say that age was more like 60 than 30! And it's still not unattractive imo, just uncommon.

[GoldenGytha]

I'm 46 and have had very long hair since I was 16 (mother wouldn't allow me to have it long before that)

I had it cut in December to just below my shoulders, and I hated it! Am growing it longer again, hopefully won't take too long.

My mother thinks that anyone over the age of 30 should get their hair cut short, mind you she hates long hair on anyone.

I love long hair, and will never have mine cut short.

[Chelvis]

It's odd but I think of short hair as ageing, probably because most women I know over 40 have very short hair. My MIL aged ten years overnight when she cut her lovely curly hair short, you don't suddenly suit a pixie cut just because you're 40

I want to look like my GCSE art teacher when I'm an old lady - waist length grey hair worn in a high ponytail, red lipstick, bright kaftans, foul mouth and a kind heart. She was fabulous!

[YoucancallmeQueenBee]

This is the 1664 thing. The idea that women can look 16 from the back & 64 at the front. Really, really depressing concept that shallow, judgy types think about or very silly 20 some things, who probably haven't ever had a "haggard" day in their lives!!!!!

For those kind of people you can't win really. If you go for a short cut, it is the "granny/biddy cut", if you wear it long, you are 1664 - so sod the lot of them & go for what you like best!

[Naoko]

Well, my hair is long and I'm 29, but I suspect that if it's still long in 20 years no one's going to mistake me for 16 from the back because I've been going grey for years. By the time I'm 49 it'll be grey all the way through, if my aunts are anything to go by (this early greyness runs in the family) it'll be a nice grey, so I can have long hair without frightening anyone if I turn around

[Coumarin]

A colleague of mine commented to me that she was way too old for long hair now. "There comes a point where it looks ridiculous." She is 37, I am 34. With long (ish) hair. She got this look

My shiny longish hair looks much nicer than her wispy dry crop. So there.

[Coumarin]

Not a comment on women with short hair btw. Women can have whatever they want. Have purple cornrows at 80 if you like them.

[fluffyraggies]

Haven't read the thread, but

Oh God. The days when whispering about 'women hitting a certain age' are gone aren't they? ?? I thought so ... ?

Are we all supposed to get it cut and permed when we get to 38 now? Like back in the 60s?

And wear more beige?

My mum chopped her beautiful long hair off and got a short perm when she had me at 30. She's worn it like that for 40 years now. I think she is a bit that i haven't done the same.

My MIL has long hair, salt and pepper. She's 64. It's always in a low pony tale or up in a bun. Looks very chic.

Mine's just past bra strap length, dark brown. I'm early 40s. It's looking better than it has done all my life. More body than in my 20s and 30s. So it's staying!

[Dahlen]

I've heard a few people come out with this gem - usually younger women who quickly revise their opinion once they reach 'a certain age' and realise they're either not ready to lose their long locks, or, worse still, chop it off and realise they look worse/older.

So much depends on the style, colour and condition of the hair - most of which is not due to age.

I have long, strawberry blonde/brown hair. These days it is layered to enhance the natural curl, because I have a longish face and as I've aged the layers are much more flattering (and a lot easier to maintain) than the all-one-length straightened look I used to favour.

[BillyBanter]

I remember someone I worked with who was approaching 40 saying she supposed she'd have to get it cut short at some point before she was too old for it. I'd no idea what she was on about but I suppose you don't see many 'older' women with proper long hair.

For older I'd think 50+ and I don't see why someone wouldn't have long hair at that age as long as it still suited them/they still liked it. I thought maybe the hair changed and long hair didn't look good maybe. It never occured it was because you might give some young cove a shock.

If more older women wear their hair long then people will not have an expectation that long hair = young. So that solves that problem.

[FreakinScaryCaaw]

I think she sounds a bit jealous and did it on purpose. I bet you look fab OP.

Am posting a pic on my profile of me, ripe old age of 45 and 46 in June, with my long hair. It's really longer than this and straight but I'd curled it for a dance night. I'll be removing it soon though.

[MrsOakenshield]

I think what you do need as you get older and greyer is a good haircut. Length doesn't matter as long as it's regularly cut and in good condition. I got my hair cut short when I started to go grey (I knew I wasn't going to be bothered/afford to dye it) and now get it cut regularly.

[HappySeven]

I'm loving the idea of warning people at a distance that I'm old and haggard so that they don't get a shock when I turn round.

[FreakinScaryCaaw]

Pic's up. Mean removing the pic not hair

[NigellasDealer]

haha my friend is like this she looks about 12 from the back with her long not grey waist length hair (sometimes in a long plait) and tiny figure, but when she turns round she is like mid 50s.....i think she enjoys the reaction!

[YoucancallmeQueenBee]

LOL HappySeven - will you have a bell, like lepers used to, or one of those big boards on a stick that golf shops seem to use?

I think I might go for the dunce hat, printed with "Beware, haggard close up" printed on it!

[ilovepowerhoop]

FreakinScaryCaaw - your hair is lovely there and you dont look your age at all

[Whereisegg]

I'm 32 with almost-waist-length hair.

I have been waiting for it to go white for ages

[gingermop]

bonkers woman, im almost 35 and hav hav hair almost to my bum

[FreakinScaryCaaw]

Cheers ilovepoerhoop. I put it in rags overnight. If I'm at work I just pin it up then do it properly before going out.

You do need to keep it trimmed when it's long imo. I do my own but am a hairstylist. Did that for eons but work in a different field now although do staff and clients hair, plus friends and family.

[FreakinScaryCaaw]

Ooops ilovepowerhoop.

[diddl]

I'm 50 with just past the shoulder length hair.

With a few greys-it's fabulous.

I think that short, dyed hair looks much more "old lady".