Long hair on a forty plus woman

[Mitfordhons]

When I was younger I thought older women looked a bit mutton with long hair, but things have changed. I'm not sure if it's part of the cultural shift that says 60 is the new 40 and so on or if it's just that I'm now older, but I just don't see it now. I'm in my late forties and have long hair, I'm fortunate that it's thick and in great condition, but am I deluding myself? Every few years I cut my hair short and I always regret it so I don't want to and I do feel it's a bit frumpy on me, but is it just as bad to have young looking hair on a not so young face? When is the - excuse the pun - cut off?

oldraver - my hair's in reasonably good condition. It's very curly and what I do is condition every day with anywhere from 2-5 conditioners (2 wet, 3 dry, depending on how much time I have to spare and what style I'm using) and shampoo no more than once a week. I also sleep in a satin night cap (don't laugh, this has made a major difference to breakage) and failing that in a plait. I also avoid blow drying and don't use irons or other heat. Haven't ever dyed it either (other than a few wash-out dyes as a teen).

For those that say their long hair is in good condition

Mine was good, but I'm only in my 40s.

I don't wash it every day, though. It actually looks better the day after washing when natural oils start taking over and it's somewhat more heavy.

I really don't want to go the way of having a dozen conditioners and sleeping in a cap for the sake of having great hair. :)

Oldraver,I wash mine every other day.I used to wash it daily but it does seem to be so much easier to style when I wash it every other day.

I don't use a hairdryer any more,I let it dry naturally and that has done wonders to the condition of my hair.I wash my hair in the evening because it's long but it's also very thick as well,so it has time to dry before I want to go to bed.

I do colour my hair,I colour it myself at home,I don't use any products on my hair at home though,but when I get it cut at the hairdressers every 6 -8 weeks they use a hair dryer and a small amount of very expenisive products.

One of the main reasons I wash everyday is that if I leave it, it will itch me terribly.. It will look ok in the morning if its left but as the day goes on starts to irritate, so I tend to find daily washing feels better for me, though probably not good for my hair. I used to use Tresemme naturals but my hair just looked meh. There are also some shampoos that irritate me.

My masseuse used to say my hair was lovely and shiney after a massage...well it hadn't been washed for a day and had tons of oils in it. To me though, it just looked greasy so I think there maybe a bit what looks good to another etc

I also very rarely dry it or use any heat

Mid fifties and very very short (Grade 2 clippered) hair here. My face doesn't suit hair at all - any longer and I look like a truck driver in drag. It's also bleached and spiked to mitigate the effect.

I did grow it once. It's thin and very curly, I looked like an ageing poodle.

There is a cut off for hair?

I wash my hair once a week with a silicon free conditioner then use a thicker conditioner after then leave it to dry naturally, with just a blob of boots curl cream in it. I tie it up in a high ponytail using a loose scrunchie at night to prevent knots.