Am I conceding to being old if I have my hair cut?

[IslaValargeone]

I am in my 40's, have long hair with fringe, very straight.
I feel I am being aged by my hair and would love to be a bit more chic. I'm wondering however that if I go short I am surrendering to the fact I'm old and past it
What is a nice feminine cut for an over 40 person.

You were once mistaken for Kate Moss

Begone with you wicked minx, mocking the hair dilemas of others....tsk.

I'm off to bed, hoping I'll wake up with hair like <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=thestarceleb.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/beautiful-hair.jpg&imgrefurl=thestarceleb.com/2010/11/09/avoid-bad-hair-days-this-winter/&usg=__NiB_AkGknm_fGAgbXALEiZXtdmk=&h=726&w=570&sz=85&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=ZDqHDcxQT-BhhM:&tbnh=135&tbnw=116&ei=avVBTe2wDcTOhAfll8jiAQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbeautiful%2Bhair%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D618%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=319&vpy=91&dur=203&hovh=253&hovw=199&tx=122&ty=107&oei=QPVBTdDyIsTBhAeZmIjIAQ&esq=9&page=1&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this but knowing it will probably be more like <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=farm3.static.flickr.com/2062/2461848949_5e5352a38c.jpg&imgrefurl=hallofthewendigo.informe.com/forum/the-crusty-bunker-f133/do-you-ever-let-your-hair-go-greasy-for-a-fashionable-look-t1411.html&usg=__WLR3KHT9gjEV3dYIESM-PA21vuc=&h=500&w=355&sz=157&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=1QDwzjAi78T7KM:&tbnh=144&tbnw=92&ei=n_VBTZOMEIuwhQeynPm9AQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgreasy%2Bhair%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D618%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=348&oei=n_VBTZOMEIuwhQeynPm9AQ&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0&tx=44&ty=51" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this

felicity your google skills surpass my often once mistaken identity 18 years ago

I am going to get my hair cut.

I've had almost waist length hair for years-no fringe, but shaped and layered. Because my hair's very thick I was getting to the stage where I either had a permanent sweat head or always wore it up, which resulted in a headache.
I had it cut last year, in 3 stages and it's now just below my shoulders, but the same basic shape-long layers-I've found it totally liberating!
I turned 40 last summer and I promise it had nothing to do with my age-people have commented that it's taken years off me-go for it! :)

I think you have to consider lots of things, not just your age:

*condition and quality of your hair- most 40+ hair does not have the lustre/shine and quality like a younger person's hair

*dry or ratty loooking long hair is just slobbish and looks ageing

*salt and pepper long hair is very ageing- as it one block of colour ( low lights needed)

*face shape- straight Alive in Wonderland is a style very few people can take even in their 20s.

• height- petite women look dwarfed by longer hair (I am talking beyond back bra strap length)

Most flattering is a shoulder length cut with some long layers.

If you have very long hair post 40 it tends to look old fashioned TBH- even my DD aged 22 has had her hair cut from Alive in Wonderland ( with a side fringe) to just on shoulder with long layers- and she has beautiful hair- thick, but fine, lovely dark blonde/slightly auburn shade and loads of shine.

This is a good site for inspiration