...or is 'No woman over 40 should have hair past her shoulders' utter bollocks?

[bringincrazyback]

It's something a friend of mine says a lot. She's in her fifties and lucky enough to suit short hair, is always badgering me (50) and another friend who's in her 40s to wear ours shorter, which I just ignore because I like my hair long and don't believe age should dictate how people wear their hair.

Just curious, though, as to whether anyone still buys into this idea that women should wear their hair shorter simply because they're approaching, or have reached, middle age? And if so... why???

I'm in my late 50's and have long straight hair down to my bra strap. I colour it too. I will not be cutting my hair in the foreseeable future. When I am old I will probably wear it up more.

To me, it's usually people who are jealous of others with long hair who say this crap.

my mum in her 70s thinks this. She has put pressure on me to go short in the past. I had to say look, women my age aren't looking for the approval of women you're age. If they're bothered by anybody's opinions at all it'd be those of women their own age I guess. She left the subject then.

That's nonsense. Some older women look lovely with long hair.

@starsandstuff your hair is really gorgeous

I'm in my thirties and have very long hair. Its very thick, healthy and lustrous so I've no intentions of chopping it off into a middle aged mum do.

The one thing I've varied is the colour. I've opted for less strong colouring as I've gotten older so I have a nice subtle balayage now rather than block colour.

Even on this thread. ‘Ohhhh, she could pass for mid 40s’ ‘like a witch’
When will women stop being critical of other women’s choices, and when will women stop being so ashamed of looking the age they are?
Why do it? Criticise and judge someone who was happy before you opened your mouth? ZAP!

I cannot imagine saying to someone that they should have their hair cut shorter. Even if I though they should!

Thanks @pineappple and @Vitalogy. It's naturally frizzy wavy which means the shorter it is the bouffier so that's another reason I prefer it long!

‘And women in their 50s should have learned to keep their opinions to themselves’.

My dm always nagged me about the length of my hair. She liked it short like hers. But my hair has always been long since I left home, and it always will be....partly as I hate going to a hairdresser.

Watch real housewives of Beverly hills or orange county - all them glam women with hair past their shoulders.

Yeah, their gorgeous hair is probably extensions (but I could be wrong)

Totally agree that it's an individual thing and having short hair "at a certain age" is bollocks. My SIL (early 50s) has thick shoulder-length hair that looks great; my own finer hair looks better just above my shoulders and also in an "up" do.

However, I work with someone in her 60s who has thin, grey hair down her back and I think a shorter style (say shoulder-length) would suit her better now. Her hair was probably thicker in the past.

But, she likes it, so it's none of my business!

That sounds like the kind of nonsense my mother would come out with, silly rules about who should wear what and when that make no bloody sense. Best ignored.

I'm 42, my hair is bra strap length, but I might grow it a bit. I have huge amounts of hair, but it's in nice shiny condition, and I like it, grey striped and all.

I think age is irrelevant, have your hair as you want. However, I find it intresting that as someone in their mid 40’s with short hair the number of women who say I should grow it long is unbelievable. The reason ‘long hair is more fashionable, and everyone has it’.

If your hair is in good condition keep it long, if it’s not go shorter.

I'm 60. My hair is just past my shoulders, mainly black with some grey streaks, very thick and in excellent condition. I'll do as I choose.

As stated upthread my hair has got a lot thinner so I've gone shorter just for that reason. I'm 45. I hope other people don't look at me and think I now have a 'middle aged mum do'

I have bright red, naturally curly waist length hair. I'm 48. I absolutely love my hair and get complimented on it pretty much every day. It's not getting cut.

Of course not, it is utter piffle. Younger hair makes you look younger, the TV proved it!

Im 53 and have long blonde hair just above my bra strap. It suits me and fuck off anyone who thinks it is inappropriate. Who are these women that think we should all adhere to a norm from 60+ years ago?

I dislike short hair on older ladies, it’s not flattering.

It's more flattering on me (53) than long hair. Mine is very short but a bit longer on top. Long hair would be such a nuisance at work - it'd have to be plaited (which I hate on a grown woman) or tied in a pony tail.

I'm afraid I do think it looks a bit strange if a women looks in her twenties from the back, but twice that age from the front, which is what having long hair tends to do.
It varies by country as well. When I lived in Belgium you rarely saw women over 35 with long hair, but in France and the US it seems to be more common among middle-aged women and something in the middle here.

Kirstie Alley on CBB is 67 with a glorious mane of thick, tousled streaky hair. She looks fucking incredible!

I’m in my 40’s. Occasionally I do think I ‘should’ get my (waist length) hair cut shorter because, you know, ‘years of it being hammered into us about not having long hair when you’re older. But it still looks healthy (though admittedly, not as thick ase thinks. when I was younger) it’s ‘me’ and frankly, I’m not one for ‘fussing’. Having it long I get it cut infrequently (i couldn’t stand frequent hairdresser visits), I wash & brush it and it’s good to go. I couldn’t do that if it was short because it’s incredibly fine.

It’s currently a no brainer & I really don’t give a crap what anyone else thinks 🤷🏻‍♀️

@butterflysugarbaby none of those ladies you have posted have natural hair all extensions I'm afraid