To have really long hair in my 40s?

[MonicaBingaling]

Recently turned 40 and have long blonde hair (past my boobs) and don’t feel comfortable with it now at my age. Although it’s healthy hair and people often say I look younger than my age I feel almost uncomfortable with it on me now whereas loved it in my 20s and 30s

have booked to get it cut next week 🤣

I don’t like the look some women have (long hair fillers Botox dressing as if in 20s) like desperately clinging to youth. I think it’s far more classy to have short/medium length hair, less make up etc

just wondered what others opinions are?

btw no offence to anyone who’s older with long hair it’s just how I feel about it on myself

yabu - long hair on older women is fine

yanbu- shorter is better

I’ve seen many ladies of all ages in this style pull it off as the clothes and hair look very beautiful and quite natural

stop with the judgement op. You might like natural styles for yourself but other older women may want non natural styles and that’s fine and they ‘pull it off.’

I hate that you feel there’s some kind of older woman etiquette that we all must stick to. You are really very misogynistic in all your posts. Tell me, do you have a partner and are they influencing this?

Totally depends on the hair imo. Healthy hair looks nice long, but unhealthy hair doesn't.

Thank you that’s very sweet of you 😍

Those are your words though. You chose them. Disgusting.

Oh don't be so ridiculous. It's ok to acknowledge other people are misogynistic and use it as a tool to diminish.

I'm in my mid forties and have long hair, mainly because I can't be arsed to go and get it cut.

I've never been accused of being classy anyway though so I won't be starting to worry about that now

But no need to use the name Karen - don’t think you realise how deeply upsetting people find it (my close relative for one every time she sees it).

Vogue did one similar,

https://www.vogue.com/article/long-hair-go-to-style-over-50s

Well, yes but how cam I allude to the fact that a short haircut will get people called that slur if not naming the slur. Would you understand if I said the k word?
And yes obviously I understand, which is why I bought it up. 🙄

Looks great!

I do think most women look better with long hair provided it's healthy. I don't know why, I just do. Just like how most men look better with hair than a shaved head.

I feel like only a select few can really pull off a shaved head (men) or a pixie cut (women). This is only my opinion so prepared to be told I'm wrong.

Im 40 this year. I would never want to cut my long blonde hair. Maybe you aren't happy with the way you look but you can't expect any woman over 40 to change the way they dress and have their hair. 40 isn't old ffs

I think it really depends very much on the individual. I have a friend with glorious long grey hair. Thick and healthy. Another friend's hair is thinning and straggly - she's plucking up the courage to go for the chop.

I had my very long hair cut when I left university because I couldn't face putting it up every day for work. I didn't regret it.

It grew long during Covid times and looked awful.

Have the hair you like.

Is it that you're outside doesn't reflect how you feel in the inside?

I went through a bit of a style crisis recently and realised that this is what it was. I've now got into a very senior role (being presented to by silks etc) , and now I'm perimenopausal, I've got a bit of an edge. I guess I've grown up slightly.

I'd had long barrel curled hair, jeans with boots and blazers, batwing tops, scarves etc.

Now my hair is a little shorter and blunt cut, which I can wear poker straight for panels and chairing. Blazers are boxier, shoes smarter. Clothes with too many details have gone - lines are sleeker but looser. Comfort is key too. Oddly Zara hits the spot for me style wise as does all saints, Zadig, toast, cos, rag and bone mixed with supermarket and some high street.

I feel more confident, especially in the boardroom. I felt I was regarded less seriously before. I do look older though but I like the gravitas that comes with it.

Just experiment a bit - go for cuts and clothes that are versatile so you can adapt to how you feel.

77 and long hair. Below shoulders. Thick and fine. Mostly wear it loose. No intention of having it cut.

I understand where you are coming from. I have long hair and my sister recently asked me when I am going to get it cut…
The styling and drying is annoying but I don’t want to get it cut. I like it. Maybe one day, when I decide. No one else!

Judgement and stereotypical

Pffft I'm nearly 46 & have long straight, dark blonde hair almost to my belt at the back (and I'm tall so, lots of hair). It's actually the longest it's ever been & I really love it.

However, you should always have the hair you want, it's totally up to you. Of course, you can do that without judging others about their hair - as women we just can't win, can we.

My mum, in her 60's, has lovely long blonde hair & hardly any greys - which pisses her off cos she's been wanting naturally white hair for years.

YABU. It’s about what suits you and that’s it. I can’t stand this whole notion that once a woman hits X age, she should be conforming to the hair police - not allowed to have long hair, not allowed certain styles, not allowed to dye her hair certain colours (but heaven forbid she should STOP dying it and let it go grey… the horror!).
Of course you can do whatever you like with your own hair, but to judge other women in their 40s for having long hair because YOU think they are ‘clinging to youth’ is just perpetuating the ageism that women have to deal with day in day out.

Age doesent matter. A colleague of mine is around 60, very long hair and she’s totally gorgeous with it! You gotta go with that suits regardless of age

I felt like that at 40, a sort of resigning myself to the fact I was now middle aged and on my way to "old"

Then I got over it and grew my hair longer, wore my skirts shorter and started wearing big hoops and more adventurous clothes...

Now in my 50s and my hair is longest it has ever been

I needed to get rid of some of that internalised misogyny first but now I feel free to just enjoy being a woman and dressing/looking how I want

Go find what you really want and how you really want to look ! Society, men, the general public will not give a Fock how you wear your hair, so choose whatever makes you happy

I have what my then hair dresser niece called ‘dead mouse’ coloured hair that is down to my bottom. I can wear it long & loose, or, as I do most days, have it piled on my head (occasionally like Aunt Flo from Bod if the mood takes me). Mostly a relatively neat chignon secured by a variety of sticks.

When up it’s short, when it’s down it’s wonderfully swishy.

I’m 51. Have long hair, or cut it short. It’s up to you.

Just don’t judge others for how they wear their hair.

I don’t expect them to?

I get what you mean OP. I'm sure there are some women over 40 who look great with long hair. Im approaching 40 and decided to cut mine short because it's alot thinner than it used to be, and I don't have as much time as I used to to style it. I felt it made me look older. I've cut it to just below shoulder length and think it looks alot better, tempted to go shorter though. Bobs are very on trend right now, I'd try getting shorter hair if I were you, see if you like it.
As I get older I want to look more expensive - clothes with better fabrics, tailoring, good nails and teeth, take care of my skin, be more polished and I do think short hair can help with that.