I have long hair. I'm 40. It's going. can you find me a new hairstyle?

[hatwoman]

I have long thick hair. At the moment it's actually the longest it's ever been - half way down my back. It's wavy - when I blow dry it it's smooth and wavy ifkwim - it has a few long layers in it to give it a bit of shape so it's sort of a bit tousled. I've had long hair all my life but I think the time has come. It does still get compliments but there's just too much of it - it's hard to look smart/professional - and tying it back doesn't really suit me - looks a bit harsh these days. so what shall I do with it? any suggestions? the one thing I know I can;t do is an all-one length bob - it's just too thick and looks lego-like.

and I'm reasonably sure I can;t do fringes

Just nearly did this. I had it shoulder length, lots of layers, and a sweeping fringe. Now I put it up at the back with loads of grips, and just quickly style this bit that sweeps to one side and down the side of my face. So its up - not scraped back and boring and not cut short. Looks a bit bohemianish.

any thoughts (or, better, pictures) from the evening crowd?

leave it. Get the hairdresser to show you ways of putting it up. Occasionally just go to get it styled?

If your hair is thick, you've really got to either keep it long or go really quite short. Would you be prepared to go quite short?

I would get it cut just a bit shorter, so that it is just below shoulders, and have layers put in to take the weight out.

couldn't she wear it just below the shoulders (say 2 inches below)?

And then feathered in the front (if you get my drift) can't really explain it, cut so it falls inwards towards the face but stopping that below the face.

That's totally unclear sorry

I have quite similar hair and I have found that mid length hair just doesn't work for me as it just goes out like a wedge.

It really does depend on just how thick the hair is.

....leave it, it sounds beautiful!! I speak as a fellow long haired 40 year old

I just cut mine and regret it.

this

not very good but sort of what I mean without the fringe and a bit tidier. Cut so it falls inwards to the neck at the front. A ffriend of mine had long thick hair and cut it to about tis length in this type of style (no fringe) and it looked great.

could you just have it thinned out if you thik it is too bushy??

put a piccy on so we know whats what! - minus the hat obviously

Shoulder length choppy bob?

Keep some length. Women seem to hit a certain age and decide they need to get it cut off. Eventually they end up with the ubiquitous middle aged womens short haircut which all the middle aged women where I work have. I think long(ish) styled hair looks good as you get older (not that you are older yet!)

Having just hit 40 I thought the same - have had long one length hair pretty much since my teens. I have a side parting and have worn it loose, but increasingly scraped back in a ponytail; as I've become older I think this looks less and less flattering. I work in a professional job where it's not appropriate to have it loose at work. Only used to get it cut maybe twice a year. Mousey brown with maybe 10-15% grey now, but fairly evenly sprinkled through, so looks a bit highlight-y. Very, very thick and straight.

I have gradually had it cut shorter to just below the shoulders, with lots of long layers through it, kept the side parting. I had a very small area as a long sideswept fringe and have actually worked up to almost a full fringe, but still sideswept. I really like it, it still looks "long" when worn loose but not too "done, IYKWIM. Was aiming for that sort of Goldie Hawn shaggy style where the fringe is long-ish and flattering. It looks a lot more flattering when the back is put up in a clip or pleat too.

Even thinking of really pushing the boat out by using my faithful old Lush brown henna, which is very subtle, just makes it very shiney and tones down the grey a bit. My hairdresser is that I'm now booking an appointment every 6 weeks.

I too was keen to avoid the middle aged short hairdo! If my hair was not so thick, I would have gone for a one-length long bob - always so elegant.

Are you sure you can't do a fringe? I love the photos of Tamara Mellon in the Times magazine today. A hundred times better than the one length she had before. Long fringe, below shoulder wavy hair.

Keep the long hair! Have a Brazilian blow dry!

Pmsl at the name tamara melon btw, is she famous then?

the minute you cut it everyone will say "oh I LOVED your long hair it was beautiful..."

Don't get it cut short. Just take two inches off the end. You'll regret it. forty is not old. It cant be - I am forty.

long hair in your 40s

Don't cut it! just have a restyle with layers.
I'm forty and now growing mine as I look too mumsy with shorter hair.