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Style and beauty

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Original poster

Long hair on a forty plus woman

232 replies

Mitfordhons · 23/04/2016 09:08

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?

OP posts:

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Sgtmajormummy · 26/04/2016 19:13

My hair is not my crowning glory and never has been. It's coarse, irregularly wavy/curly and needs colouring every six weeks. I'm the junior side of 50 and for me my shoulderblade length cut can be styled in so many ways, it's almost like a signifier of what I expect from the day.

Business means an updo (straightened for serious business, loose curly updo for most days), casual is full on corkscrew curly with help from styling products and in between I do an Elsa french plait or Daenerys braids (thanks to DC for those definitions).

I never had such fun with my hair in my 20s when it was cropped and I didn't even own a hairdryer. From now on it's deep conditioning and more sophistication. That involves more work, certainly, but it's worth it IMO.

1stsignofspring2016 · 26/04/2016 20:24

My hair was down to my waist

I too had it shaved for charity and donated hair to Little Princess trust

I dont care what other people think

I have lovely compliments with zero hair, short hair or long hair and bright coloured hair

I think "me" is more about my smile and my personality

I am nota youngster

I think people should wear their hair how they feel comfortable and appropriate for work, if you work

Bananasinpyjamas1 · 26/04/2016 21:00

Am mid forties. I'm growing my hair long again. It's shoulder length but I think I looked much better when it was down my back.

Lulukat · 26/04/2016 22:36

I'm growing my hair now getting grey (but that makes me trendy as all teens are doing it) hair. It looks great :) I tell everyone I felt great 20, important things done 30 and now almost 40 I can't wait to see what happens. I've said it and i believe it, i will continue through life looking forward as I don't have eyes in the back of my head xx

Lulukat · 26/04/2016 22:37

I am also amazing at proof reading :)

Bogeyface · 27/04/2016 01:08

Ever since I turned 35 my mother has been on at me to cut my hair as "long hair is aging" I am 43 next month and still have long hair, dyed a very very bright red.

She no longer mentions it, not because she has accepted that a) it suits me and b) its up to me, but because c) I am a lost cause in her opinion!

She had long hair until she was 30 when she had a cut and a perm and spent the next 25 years with that same look. Now she has it similar to Helen Mirren but more "pouffy" so a lot of volume on top. It looks nice but is aging imo.

That said, I am sure that our daughters will all go for pixie crops when they hit 40 as in their opinion our long grey hair will look aging! Think about it.....when my mum was young many of the women of her grandparents age will have had long hair. Edwardian hair was long and worn up, so long hair was "old ladies" hair, short hair was funky and fashionable in the 60s so that what they wear.

Destinysdaughter · 27/04/2016 01:16

I'm 51 and have wavy shoulder length hair which still looks good. In fact one of the advantages of going grey is that I'm now a fabulous blonde rather than a natural brunette and I can justify it😄!

However as you get older your hair thins so a shorter layered look may be better.

I think Janet Street Porter who is 60 has fabulous hair!

SinisterBumFacedCat · 27/04/2016 01:21

My nan had lovely long hair, she completely ignored the regulation short perm for ladies of her generation. I turned 40 recently and am in no way tempted to chop mine off any day soon.

AdoraBell · 27/04/2016 01:39

I am 48 and my hair is past my waist. Cutting it would not be good. On the days that it is dry enough for tinder I can twist it and pin in up. Short hair would be like a 70's perm starting at ear level. Not a look I want to try.

Floisme · 27/04/2016 06:47

I think insisting you'll never cut your hair is just as silly as reaching for the scissors because you've hit a big birthday. Your face and hair are going to change, especially after the menopause. Jawlines sag and hair gets thin. The trick is to roll with the punches and keep reviewing your appearance, not to stick to a look that suited you at 40.

derxa · 27/04/2016 07:02

I hate it tbh. I'm sure you all look great so don't mind me.

AbernathysFringe · 27/04/2016 08:41

Ask the Real Housewives...they all have 20 something hair. If you want to emulate them, that's one look...but then they've had their faces sliced and puffed up too.
Old old but more natural and not dyed like Yasmina Rossi and Cindy Joseph can look amazing if you have the cheekbones -See pics.
I think if you have the confidence and keep it in lovely condition it's a hundred times better than cutting off purely for age reasons. Just do what suits your face.
If you're stopping dying it silver highlights can look gorgeous. I'm aiming for one long silver plait, occasionally worn up when I'm old, old. The sheep look will be gone by the time 30 somethings reach their 60s.

ohtheholidays · 27/04/2016 09:02

I think it all depends on what condition your hair is in and whether long hair suits you or not.

I have long hair and I'm 41 soon,but my hair is in very good condition(it's the one thing I really like about the way I look)I'm always told I look alot younger than I am as well and I think my hair style and length tie's in with that.

I've had my hair all different lengths over the years,I've had a long bob,a short one,when I was 11 my hair was waist length,I've had my hair shaved at the back.It's quite long now about 5-6 inches below my shoulders.

Marginalia · 27/04/2016 09:22

There's only an age limit on long hair if you also believe that the second a woman turns some arbitrary age, say 60, she immediately nips down to the local salon for a blue rinse and set or faces a large fine.

sherbetpips · 27/04/2016 09:38

I am 42 and last year decided that my mid back length hair just looked naff. I have thick and lustrous hair but it just didn't work anymore. I now have it to my shoulder blades which is still long but just not 'young girl' long.

NotJanine · 27/04/2016 09:39

I see a lot of the retired women with very short hair round here. Not stylish pixie cuts, just shorn off, looks like they've been to the barbers. I hate these outdated 'rules' of how older women are expected to look and behave.

I believe you should wear what you want and have your hair however you want regardless of age. If it makes you happy, do it.

GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 27/04/2016 09:42

I got my very long hair cut short just after my ds was born 10 months ago and while it's great for washing and leaving, I think it made me look frumpy...I'm only 43 and I think I sometimes look much older now. So I'm growing it again. But I keep thinking that once I go grey, I'm staying grey. Hope I don't end up looking like a mad old biddy at the school gates

SoConfused15 · 27/04/2016 09:46

I tried to grow my hair long in my early thirties but it was really unmanageable. I then had a graduated Bob for most of that decade. Looking back it was a bit mumsy and dull. I have been growing it for the last few years and hugely prefer it long, I'm 42 now and no plans for the chop anytime soon. It seems to be in much better condition now, not sure why! Friends and colleagues have all different lengths and styles, can't say there's a definite trend around here at all.

KittyKrap · 27/04/2016 09:53

Mutton reporting in!
Late 40s with long hair and I couldn't give a stuff what people think.

It's like that programme years ago, '10 Years Younger'. Every woman on that programme ended up with a long bob, tunic tops and leggings. We are not sheep.

sherbetpips · 27/04/2016 10:00

The two ladies in the pictures above might have lovely faces but I don't agree that there hair looks good, they look like white witches to me, its a very boho look and I guess that's just not my style. Different looks suit at different times of your life and long, one length hair is for me a 'girls' hair do. Styled, layered hair at a longer length is fine as long as it flatters and suits you, rather than just being 'how I have always had it'

sherbetpips · 27/04/2016 10:01

But also agree the middle age bob is very ageing too, have made that mistake several times!

nanetterose · 27/04/2016 10:26

"white witches"

Do you think women should be forced to dye their hair, to prevent that then?

It shouldn't 'look like anything'

It is purely a women with her natural hair that she has chosen to wear long.

Lweji · 27/04/2016 10:29

I don't agree that there hair looks good, they look like white witches

I'd say their hair looks fine. But saying they look like white witches is insulting. In fact, to women in general.

Eliza22 · 27/04/2016 10:38

George Clooney doesn't get this hassle about going grey!

I love this... It's what I'm aiming for.

Eliza22 · 27/04/2016 10:40

Abernathys those photos are beautiful. Also like this...

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