what age to cut long hair short?

[FoxtrotMikiLima]

I've got long hair and think it suits me...but..I saw a woman on the way to work who is probably not that much older than me (I'm 36) and she had extremely long hair scraped back in a scrunchie. I thought she looked awful and then it hit me...do I look that crap too?

When is the right age to cut your long hair short do you think?

My hair is not dead dead long (only mid way down back when not been to hairdressers for a couple of months) and I have a fringe (think a long haired less well groomed Claudia Winkleman type) but I'm thinking of having the chop...maybe.

All I think about when I see pics of Jerry Hall is not how attractive an older lady she is, but how old her long tatty mane makes her look. I'm no way near her age but this thought is really bugging me!

Any comments/advice?

I think there are a few rules about longer hair on middle-youth and middle-aged women.

1. Dont ket your hairstyle become "schoolgirly". So scrunchies, certain styles of ponytails, particularly with straight fringes, and long straight one length hair can all do this.

1. Layers become more "necessary" as the face ages - even if you dont have a fringe, the "curtains" thing at the front looks very very bad with a lined forehead or frown lines etc - much better to either have a sweepy fringe or some longer layers framing the face to break it up at the front. The sides and back generally also benefit from some kind of layering to add movement and "style".

1. Where you may have used to get away with a wash-and-wear style, you may now need to blowdry or do some kind of styling with GHD's or Babylis Big Hair or the like to appear as groomed as you used to with less effort. This is even more true if you are starting to go grey, whether you dye it not, because the cortex/cuticle is different (apparently)

1. If you dont have time to blow dry it, you can still wear it up, but not in a ponytail, try a twisty chingon type thing with a claw type clip or something unfancy

1. If you colour your hair as well, a few highlights make all the difference to stop a block colour making you look older in the face. This applies for shorter or bobbed hair too in my book

You have a really pretty face. However, I'd suggest you have some light layering etc in your fringe as it looks a bit severe. Or maybe try a side parting- must softer effect.

The length is fine, but it may get to look a bit school girlish unless you add some long layers round your face to give it some movement.

Ahh thanks for your kind words/comments/observations everyone! I didn't intend this to turn into some kind of affirmation pathetic fishing of how I look but I'm glad for the positive comments.

Has anyone ever told you that you look like Janet Ellis btw? I'm thinking 20 years ago when she was in Blue Peter - not now!

Probably nobody on here has a clue who she is and I've just given away how old I am

moomoofarm - thanks, but no, no one's ever said that! I'm flattered though - I always thought she was pretty. Her daughter is absolutely stunning despite Robbie Williams calling her 'satellite dish face'!

I have long hair that likewise is permanently tied back, if my hairband isn't in my hair it's on my wrist to the extent my 2 yr old daughter thinks that's where they belong.

I had mine cut to shoulder length in an attempt not to have long hair that was permanently tied back. But having looked at your pic I don't think you need to do this. Your hair looks good down.

I have a question - how do people make their hair look good in one of those clips, mine just looks like it's in an upside down ponytail.

Oh, you look nice with your hair!

However, I then hid the long bits with my thumb and can report I think you would also look good with a fringed bob ... not too short, but somewhere above shoulder level. See what you think.

Don't chop! Your hair looks great and really suits you as it is, and you look lovely, fresh-faced, happy and young!

For what it's worth, I think having your hair cut short can be just as ageing. Several of my friends had their hair cut to a shorter style when they had kids, mainly cos of the maintenance thing which made sense from a practical viewpoint, but personally I think it made them look older and more 'mumsy'....