...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???

My mum has been telling me I'm too old for long hair for about the last 5 years. I'm 33 and my hair is down to the bottom of my back. It's still as thick as it ever was however it does badly need dyed

I think long hair doesn't work if it's very thin, and I thought hair thinned as you aged? Mine is thin anyway, I'm 26 and have just had mine cut above my shoulders. There was a post on here where a MN let her hair go grey, I can't remember her age but she was above 40 and it looked stunning. Long hair definitely suited her.

Tell them to fuck the fuck off to the far side of fuck.
They hate our long hair because their husbands can't take their eyes off it.

You need feed your hair that they are not getting thinner. You need things like fete
As well as use good hair products

That’s a nice cut inspace

Mine is just past shoulder as I haven’t found a decent hairdresser in 5years where we live, easier to keep it long and get trims now and then, rather that, than risk a botched short cut.

I am nearly 40 (aargh!) and have had alopecia since my late teens.

Were my erstwhile beautiful locks to grow back in again - they won't - I would go full-on Rapunzel with them.

@starsandstuff, your hair is absolutely beautiful.

I think if you’re in the midst of a very sweaty perimenopause you might be tempted to have your hair trimmed so it’s easier to manage, but with the advances in hrt and dry shampoos etc, there’s no need to suffer a bad hair day over 40 anymore.

I also think with improved nutrition and thyroid medication there’s no need for hair to thin and dry out, so there are many more hairstyles for us over 40 ladies than the busybody the OP has met!

If you’re bothered by aging, then you might think that a straight long hairstyle emphasises your age and sagginess, but if you’re not aging like that, or don’t give a shiny shite about it, keep your hair as long as you like for as long as you like. As a op said, a layer might suit better to give movement in a longer style.

Personally I did get my hair trimmed to shoulder length when I was growing out my hair colour. But my hair is long again as a pepper and salt natural hairstyle, and the hrt I take has sorted out the perimenopausal hot flashes. It’s no more difficult to manage than it was in my 20s and 30s.

We have more options now ... OP your friend is lost in the past!

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

Sagging jowls framed by long hair is not a good look either. Different styles suit different people.

I’m in my late 50s and wear my very thick hair in a sleek bob.

It's bollocks, OP. Keep it whatever length you want. I'm in my 50s and have waist length hair. No intention of cutting it. I like it this length and bugger what anyone else thinks.

This has infuriated me to the core!! Who made up these stupid rule? Have the hair that you want. You please your self.

It’s an utter myth that as you get older you must have short hair! Utter bullocks!! For sure, a short cut will suit some women - young or old, but not all. I see my mum and many of friends, having cut their hair because “that’s what older women do”, but also because, supposedly, it makes them look “younger”. Well, in my mums case, that’s not true. It’s aged her and she looks crap for it.

ivissaSenorita Sun 09-Sep-18 20:13:14
@butterflysugarbaby none of those ladies you have posted have natural hair all extensions I'm afraid

So? It’s the style we are talking about, not whether it’s natural or not.

I'm mid 30s,still got long hair here. Don't intend on cutting it when I'm in my 40s.

It's still in good condition but it has lost the wow factor it had in my teens / early 20s. But by most people's estimations it's still good hair.

I haven't gone grey yet, but when I do get a bit of salt and pepper I will die it, then got completely white or grey when it's mostly that colour anyway, Helen Mirren style.

a) I've never heard of that in my life, most of my friends have long hair at 40+

b) I'm 45 and mine is just past my bra strap. I regularly get mistaken for being 10-15 years younger so it can't be that aging!

Thankyou HerRoyalNotness.

I actually think length doesn't matter (oo err)- it's the quality of cut and whether it suits you that's important, whatever age you are.

My hair is ridiculously thick and ridiculously curly if left shorter. I wear it between bra clasp length and waist length. That way, the weight of it drags it down and it looks almost orderly.

I could not be bothered with the faff of straightening it, and I am not keen on wild curls. This solves the problems.

I am 51, was born a redhead and will die a redhead, albeit from a bottle nowadays!

Long hair if healthy & appropriately styled for the face is good at any age. Can’t link but look up ‘Older women with long hair’ in Google Images. Wish I looked like some of them!! Long, thin, straggly hair does not look good at any age. Too much of a generalisation from your friend.

All these women are pre-eminent in their field. All have the temerity to be over 50 (well over in the cases of Jane Campion and Meryl Streep!) and to have long hair. How very dare they!

What does it matter if the hair is extensions Eivissa totally irrelevant point to make, it’s the length we are talking about not how they achieved that length.

I'm 46 and have bra strap length, mostly white hair. It's glossy, hasn't thinned, and I really don't have the patience to style short hair properly every day wheras I can put my hair in an up do super fast

I'm 44 and my hair is to my bra strap. I've always had long hair, the shortest I've ever had it was a shoulder length bob, and because it's curly, it went triangular. I looked like Crystal Tips. I'm in no hurry to make that mistake again!

I don't believe in that "rule" at all.

My neighbour in her 70's has nearly waist length hair (with fringe) and looks fantastic.

We don't get on at all but i'd love to follow her example and have long hair when I get to her age!

Short hair doesn't suit me at all - I've tried it. I look like a bloke

It's shoulder-length at the mo.

I grew mine long again in my 40s but it really doesn't suit me so I reverted to shorter hair.

If anyone else's hair was my business, which it isn't, I would turn it on its head (pun intended) and suggest that teenage girls should have an imaginative haircut when they turn 13 (giving it time to re-grow in time for prom - I'm not a monster!). Teenage girls all look exactly the same.

@starsandstuff your hair is beautiful!