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?

I remember a bin man wolf whistling my uncle coming home from clubbing on Oxford Street when he had long peroxide hair. He turned around and said with perfect comic timing "thanks Mate"

Re Sharon Stone and the other celeb pic, they may have short hair but it's professionally styled and they also have a full face of make up on...

I felt embarrassed that white van men still tooted me from behind then were probably disappointed when they letched out of the window and looked back at me.

So you cut your hair into an 'age appropriate' style in case 'white van men' who were sexually harassing you on the street might be disappointed when they discovered that, according to you, your 'youthful' hair didn't match your age?

I don't think I can even bear to start unpicking that.

Why not take your inappropriately youthful neighbour down to the salon with you? That way you might be able to get a BOGOF on a nice blue rinse and set.

I always have a full face of make up on with my short hair. Alas, I am still deeply unfeminine/unsexy and not whistled at by van drivers

I guess a lot of it depends on what look you are going for - I aim to look chic and elegant which my hair works with.

However I didn't cut my hair short because it is thinning or anything as someone up thread suggested just because it suits my overall look and style more.

Long hair is currently fashionable ( almost universally amongst young women) In the 1950s nearly all fashionable women had shortish hair. My nan thought long hair was dowdy and witchy ( think Victorian granny with a bun) and talked about how exciting and modern it felt when she got her long hair chopped off as a teenager in the 1930s. There is nothing about long hair or short hair that intrinsically means it only suits one age group.

My local, you need to read up on internalised misogyny, you seem to suffering from a nasty case of it, but its all ok because its a JOKE and other women are just bitches

Why do you think your neighbour looks ridiculous? That alone is pretty nasty. How would you feel as the object of such comments by your neighbours?
Why are her leggings ridiculous on her and not on a younger person?

These are MY OPINIONS

Well, and most pps' opinions about them is that they are nasty.
Maybe something to consider.

IMO hair type and face shape are far more important than age in choosing a hairstyle

Some women (young and old) look far better with longer hair and some far better with short hair. A lucky few look great with both!

I have short hair because I don't have great hair (fine, neither straight nor curly, greasy if not washed daily), I think shorter hair suits me better and I like being a bit different in a sea of long haired women.

I know older women who look great with long hair but I do think that unless you have very thick, glossy hair or naturally curly hair then long hair can be harder to carry off once you are 35+

i'm 31 and cut my hair into a bob almost two years ago. It immediately transformed me from young person in late 20's to primary school teacher. Luckily, it grows fast and is almost back to its below bra strap length self.

The only issue now is that there are a few greys. I'm of mixed ancestry and have almost black hair, so they really stand out.

I love seeing older women with long hair. There is nothing worse than the idea that a woman must abandon any femininity and allure once she hits 50. I'll be keeping mine long as long as it looks in good condition.

When I recently chopped off my long hair many people said it made me look younger.

I'm not convinced. My reaction was thinking: are you mad? all the young ones have long hair!

Others also said I was brave and they liked the longer hair.

Oh, well, what do I care?

God, seriously short hair does not mean you have abandoned being feminine and having allure. Although - really I am not sure that I ever consciously think about trying to look feminine or alluring

It is about what you like and suits you.

Lweji - I got told it makes me look younger too. However I think it is mainly the botox that does that

For me it's about being able to pull my hair back or up when it's too hot, or having it snug when it's cold.
I tend to end up shorter in Winter and longer in Summer.

Well I will be 60 soon and no way am I having short hair with my round face. It is shoulder length and subtely dyed to hide the grey roots. I keep checking with my hairdresser and younger family members that Im still ok to keep it long though as dont want to look witchy.

Subtly that should read.
By the way when I was 20,30 and older I thought 60 was ancient and women would have given up worrying about style, fashion , hair etc. I can catagorically say I was wrong!

I think that overall short hair suits me better, but I keep it longish as it is really rather nice hair and I don't want to look sensible and middle aged/old. It is harder to get really nicely coloured short hair and mine glows with a myriad of blonde/caramel and light brown highlights and really is my crowning glory. I don't give a stuff what van drivers think but I don't want to look frumpy. Yes, sadly I do tend to judge and I do have a tendency to think those who embrace the grey have made a mistake, but just my view (never voiced) and I'm entitled to it. Older women don't need wash and wear hair, our children have flown the nest and I now have a lot of extra time in the morning to tend to my tresses.

I was thinking about this recently ( I have basically had the same hair for 25 years- think Cindy Crawford circa 1990). It is naturally thick and a bit wavy so lots of body- but I was beginning to think I was just too old for long bouncy hair, also the grey is at that really annoying stage, not that it would be any less annoying shorter I suppose. But this morning someone ( a man in his fifties)referred to me as " that fresh faced young women" - the hair is staying. :)

Actually just googled Cindy and my look is not dissimilar to hers - although she has had the same hair for 25 years as well.

I'm 53 and my hair looks like this except three inches longer. I love it. And this lady is older than me (though probably not when this photo was taken)

I'm 41 and my hair is long and dyed auburn (very natural looking). I love it. My mother was of the opinion that women should have that short, 'mum' cut after about 30. She spent years telling me that long hair was ageing.

Just to put that theory to bed...

Last year (at 40) I was chatted up by a 22 year old who thought I was 30 and my 30 year old friend told me a few weeks ago that he thought I was early 30s. So... not that ageing really.

Alidoll - having been said on the receiving end of various bitchy remarks over the years about the length of my hair (hardly mega-long,just below my shoulders) I have come to the conclusion that it is just good old jealousy rearing its head. The comments inevitably come from women with very short boring hair. So I take no notice how. If they don't like the length of my hair,that is THEIR problem.

Destinysdaughter - Janet Street Porter is actually 69! (Born 27th December 1946).