Going from long to short hair in mid-40s - need ideas please

[feetheart]

I've taken the plunge and the hairdresser is coming tomorrow night to chop off my hair! All I need now is an idea of a style!!

I'm 48 (OK not exactly mid-40s), 5'10" so tend to stand out, size 12-14 and will probably be very grey once she cuts the length off.
I'm pretty hopeless with 'styling' so something that needs very little day-to-day maintenance would be good.

Any ideas ladies?

Yes

Unless you have a bone structure like Mia farrow dont go short short

How long is it at the moment?

I have done the opposite.
Gone from a short-ish ( think Princess Di look) to longer- just above shoulder with long layers round face.

I think going short can be ageing. You need something that has movement and long layers. If you look at many older women they have short mannish hair and look sexless.

Totally agree. I wouldnt go any shorter than a chin length bob, make sure its graduated and has some nice choppy layers otherwise it could look mumsy. Also think a side swept fringe is very flattering and softening.

Id also get her to colour it, even if its something you could manage the upkeep of yourself (maybe a semi permanent), I do think grey is very ageing on most of us

Are you getting it chopped off because you think that women should do this after a certain age or simply because you want to; fancy a change?

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=farm2.static.flickr.com/1325/801494154_ad662e4cf2_m.jpg&imgrefurl=awonderfuleverything.blogspot.com/2008/03/uma-thurman-blonde-choppy-bob-photo.html&usg=__fHNXHV5fx6qUtA69nWJLBCiz8pM=&h=240&w=181&sz=24&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=xIS0dDW6BypDYM:&tbnh=142&tbnw=107&ei=PwAzTazwNYqIhQfIxJWkCw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dchoppy%2Bbob%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-gb:IE-Address%26rlz%3D1I7RNWE%26biw%3D1003%26bih%3D592%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Divns&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=375&oei=PwAzTazwNYqIhQfIxJWkCw&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:17,s:0&tx=52&ty=44" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this is nice length

Are you sure????

I had my very long hair chopped off on a whim at about your age. Emerged with a chin length bob and everybody loved it - except me. Short smart hair styles are very high maintanance, need cut again regularly, require more washing, straightners and blow drying to look smart. You are also stuck with the same style all the time. No swirling it up on top of your head for a big night out, no putting it in a pigtail for painting or gardening. When you bend forward - to plant seeds, to change a nappy - shorter hair falls forward over your face, you can't see, you push it back, it gets dirty.

I lasted about a year and then grew it back to long. Thankfully my hair grows really quickly! but when I turned 60, under pressure from family and friends I had it cut again. It is much admired - thick and dyed honey blonde. I have a very good hairdresser so it is well cut and easy to maintain. However IT IS BORING and I MISS MY HAIR.

Maybe just go for a colour for a change?

Cyb, that exactly what I had in mind

Cyb that's my style - though not quite so messy-'cept when I have just got up!

Seriously OP, I went short from shoulder length at about 45. I have now grown it again and people think I am still 45 but that's a long while back!

Deffo agree about the colour- short and grey will look very ageing.

cabbageroses I had mine cut to short/shoulder length bob last year and am also now growing it back. Short hair = high maintenance IMO.

Also, I want it long again... Also, mine is naturally about 70% grey. It's skilfully covered and staying that way! Grey can be very ageing.

Belle- if you had it cut short to shoulder length what was it before?
Mine is not quite shoulder length and i consider it now mid lenght/long-ish.

Half way down my back... I had Shilpa Shetty like hair but it hadn't really gone back to normal (then just over two years) from having my DD. It's always been thick but it was just too thick and I'd had enough. It is back to normal now and I'll be growing it again but not as long as it was before.

I know it sounds really arrogant but I have great hair and I felt like I'd cut off one of my best bits. I had it cut to shoulder length and then went shorter and shorter. Now it's nearly back to my shoulders. It grows really quickly though so I expect it'll be quite long by my birthday (September).

Feelheart don't go too short it could be upsetting if you did not like it. Try shoulder length with long layers for a bit. If you like it then go a bit shorter with each trim.

Sorry I disappeared, went off to list things on ebay!

Thanks for all the ideas. Urma Thurman look is lovely but definitely not for me I really don't like it getting in my eyes, makes me twitchy just looking at it :)

Hair is currently nearly half-way down my back. It is usually well coloured but needs re-doing and currently looks and feels very 'witchy'- grey and ragged

I have always had short hair but decided when my DD was born (nearly 8 years ago) to have a change. I just don't think I like it anymore, not really sure that I have ever liked it.
Am definitely going to get it coloured but am also a bit curious as to how it will look without it - possibly vampish!

Definitely want a change for me NOT because of my age.