...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 45 and have long hair , haven’t started to dye it yet either although I do have a few greys . I like the idea of going grey gracefully. I’m hoping for a badger stripe down the middle .

@SilverApples

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?

This x 100

It does my head in every time I see a poster saying someone mistook them for 15 years younger than they are. This person either saw them from 40-50 feet away, or they need to go to specsavers!

Virtually EVERYone looks their age, whether they like it or not, despite claims from some that they get asked for I.D. to buy wine, even though they are 43!

I am more than happy to accept that I look roughly my age. On a good day, I look 3-4 years younger, on a bad day, I look 3-4 years older. But I look roughly my age, and I am fine with that. Why the hell WOULDN'T I look my age?

I'm fucked if I'm going to look 10-12 years older though, and that is why I dye the grey streaks in it. IMO, grey hair on middle aged women (and younger) is horribly ageing and unflattering.

47 and long hair. It was to my hips, but I've had it trimmed to the top of the 'small of my back' at the moment. Not dyed, golden blond going white gently. It started as streaks above my ears and I used to get asked how I got it dyed so perfectly.

FIL told me 9 years ago that I had to have my hair cut now I was a mother. Turns out its not a law.

A few weeks ago I was in a cafe at a NT site and the woman serving (a few years older) had a beautiful long blond/grey plait. We chatted about the joys of going grey disgracefully. If mine goes like hers I will be thrilled.

As for being witchy - I don't have a problem with that.

No way am I cutting my hair. 50something and it's nearly waist length. I love it. It's very versatile because it can go ultra glam or tie it up for ultra easy!
My aunt had hair down to her bum until the day she died in her late 80s. Always plaited it and wound it round her head.

Yes yes PurpleTigerLove, i too have been hoping for a Lily Munster type stripe, not happening so far, so contemplating bleaching then silver shampooing one in

I’m nearer 50 than 40

My hair is past my shoulders i have a lot of hair it seems to be getting thicker

It needs a cut it swamping me at the moment the longer my hair gets the thicker it looks

The age threads on S&B depress me. The examples of eomen in their sixties that would look better with short hair can equally be applied to any age. Some teens twenties have very damaged hair that would benefit a good cut. It has nothing to do with age, just condition.
I have an older friend who will not show her upper arms, purely due to her age. Her skin is lovely and she knows it so nothing to do with condition just that she had a set of rules drummed into.

Also know a lady in her fifties at my work that was told she shouldn't wear jeans or trainers due to age. We need to stop this crap. Be grateful you reach each age and wear and look however makes you happy.

43. Long hair, don't care

Someone should tell my hair that it's supposed to be going thin and grey now I'm nearly 50. It didn't get the memo.

The longer it is, the easier it is to manage, to a point. That point seems to be just above my bra strap. Or it would be if I wore a bra. No one seems to have informed my boobs that they're supposed to be sagging now I'm nearly 50.

My body doesn't seem to realise people have expectations of it.

YANBU
Have your hair any way you like.
But my mum has started getting hers cut below shoulder length because she felt it was too thin to keep longer, so I think this is generally the reasoning. I couldn't tell you her exact age, but around 55

Lovely hair JeSuisPrest

I'm 41, my hair is thick and dark and shiny and it looks great long, so I will continue to wear it long. Besides, everyone knows 40 is the new 20. 😉

Yep,utter bollocks. I'm nearly 55,and my hair is just past my shoulders. But I'm very lucky that it is still very thick,and in quite good condition. I really do not suit short styles. Unfortunately,my late DM was of the opinion that women over THIRTY should not have long hair. In fact,I don't think she liked long hair on anyone,full stop. I can remember being marched off to the hairdressers with monotonous regularity when I was young,to have it hacked off trimmed. As soon as I turned 16,I dug my heels in and refused to have it cut short any more. And I've been that way ever since.

I should tell my 60 year old mum with her hair down to her waist to get her scissors out then shall i...

Next time she says it, rummage in your purse looking for scissors. Then pull out...your middle finger.

I've seen plenty of older women with long hair and if it's in nice condition and well looked after it looks lovely and can be very elegant.
I fully intend to keep my hair long for as long as I can. Obviously if the condition is not good and it starts to look straggly I'll have it chopped but I'm hoping it doesn't come to that as I don't think a short style would suit me at all and I love long hair.
Please don't let anyone pressure you into having it cut short if it's not what you really want to do.
ShinyMe, your colleague sounds bloody horrible! You obviously keep your hair long because that's how you like it. How dare someone think they have the right to make such personal comments.
My friend had a pixie cut when she turned 40 last week. She regretted it instantly, god knows how long it will take to grow back plus she'll have to go through a horrible in between stage whilst it's growing out. She has to style it every day now whereas all she had to do before was blow dry it or just tie it back if she couldn't be arsed.

Definitely bollocks. I'm 51 and my hair is straight and bra strap length, I have it dyed it back to its original dark brown as I have what used to be called 'sallow' skin and I don't suit grey hair. I agree long hair with a lot of grey is not always a good look. I wouldn't suit short hair either. Having it long enough to tie back or put up gives me options I don't want to give up.

I've had the same style for years and apart from a quick blow dry when I wash it I don't do any styling - a quick brush and that's it, or maybe a pony tail on a hot day. I can't imagine suddenly having to take on 20 minutes styling a day! I would say my hair is in better condition now than is has been since I was a child.

On the other hand I have a friend in her 60s with a grey pixie cut and she absolutely rocks it.

if it’s all grey and very long it can look quite witchy.

Well, that's my aim! I have short hair at the moment - which is very depressing and is due to illness and steroids. I am desperate to grow my hair long and grey. Even more so, when I think of all the people it will piss off

Grey/long - mid fifties! Don't care! aging gracefully!

It’s nonsense!

By 45, women were meant to be in skirts with a pinky on top in the kitchen. Nice purple rinse. No jeans or trainers. I think fashion is ageless now.

It’s all bollocks! Wear your hair as you want as long as it’s not straggly, which looks good on no one

My DM is 86 and has beautiful grey hair which she wears in a bun. I'm well into my 50s and my hair is as thick as it was when I was 20. I don't look like 20 though-- and why would I want to? All that life experience, all the added confidence of middle age - why would I want to hide that?

@PickAChew, not sure what your point is showing images of stunning models. You might as well put up Cindy Crawford and claim long brown hair doesn’t age any woman because look at how stunning she looks.

Well yeah because they’re gorgeous. Their hair would age most women and look horrid. They, on the other hand, could make a potato sack look chic.

My point is the same as all those pictures of celebrities.

Or is there a special beauty test that women have to pass at the ripe old age of 40 to determine whether they're allowed to wear their hair how the fuck they like? Are you admitting to being the sort of person who nudges their neighbour and tuts because a far too ordinary looking 50 year old dares to break the rules and have silver curls tumbling down past her collar bone?

I'm only 30, but I have waist length hair and I intend for it to stay that way. I'm aiming for the 'witchy' look when I'm older. I've also developed white streaks on either side of my parting, and I'm not going to dye my hair either.

My ex boss used to say this to female employees. Along with comments about how he thought they looked better in skirts than trousers. He clearly retired at the right time.