Am I too old for hair this long?

[Longhairmightcare]

Hi I'm 36 with long bushy hair. I'm worried I've ventured in to mutton dressed as lamb territory with the length of my hair.
When styled with hot rollers it can look quite nice, (see 'after' pic) but most of the time I don't have time (see other 'before' pic) and it's pulled back and I think looks scruffy, it gives me a headache if it's in a pony tail or bun too long because of the weight. I've also had short layers cut in sides which are supposed to look all swoopy and princess Kate-like but actually just go straggly and 90s esque. I'm reluctant to cut it though as I've basically learned how to style it like this myself even though if takes an hour of need be I know I can make it look good, and I don't know what style to get/how short.
Or should I keep it long but need suggestions for a cut that will look ok when not fully styled and frames my face a bit when up without looking straggly. I like the idea of a fringe in theory, but also frightens me a bit!

As you can tell I'm not sure what I want, feel stuck in a rut and a bit scared of cutting it short(er) after all this time. Any S&B thoughts appreciated!

If you don't want to cut try hairsticks or flexi-8s, you can make very comfortable buns with those that don't give the headaches. Stick buns on damp hair also give very nice curls with little effort.

If you've got 2 under 3 and look good once a week i'd say you are doing very well indeed, I looked like i'd been hit by a tractor still do some days and the youngest is 7

Your hair looks lovely. You might want to rethink the moustache, though .

Seriously, I don't think there is an age limit for long hair.

My mum has had short hair since her early 30s and tells me I need my (long greying) hair cut. She still dyes hers and is quite a severe bob. We are both blessed with a look ten years younger than we are (that's not me bragging, honest, it's family genes!) and i think my long greying hair looks better than her severely cut do. I have a few wrinkles but I am entitled to many more. I am 39. I have tried short hair many times but I find it a horrible faff. Far better to plait it, bun it or scoop up in a messy ponytail imo.

I find that if it gets too heavy, ask your stylist to reccommend more layers, or a way to lighten the load, without losing too much length. I pay £45 for a cut every 6 months, but he's so worth the money cos he "gets" long hair!

If it was my hair I'd lob a good 8 inches off it. It will look more modern and give a bit more swish to it. At the moment it's just hanging.

your hair looks lovely. You are the same age as me and hair pretty much too apart from colour . Except that most days my hair goes up in a messy bun because that's all i have time for. But for nights out/days when Ive got time to make an effort, I love doing my hair pretty. In fact i take exception to the suggestion that women our age need to have it all lopped of

I just think that even with the curls it's a bit Cheryl Cole on X Factor in 2012.

Not that CC didn't look lovely on X Factor in 2012...

Cheryl Cole still looks like CC on x factor in 2012, she's not changed styles at all.

Oh! I thought she'd had a ceremonial shearing after one of her recent divorces.

She's back to her normal swooshy self again now. More or less identical, bit curlier maybe

Cheryl knows what chworks for her.

Don't cut it. I went in for a trim last week and she took 12 inches off and gave me a Jennifer Aniston. I'm devastated. Your hair is beautiful.

I I think it looks awful, well you did ask. Mutton dressed as lamb springs to mind.

Your hair is beautiful. 😍😍

I think the colour is lovely and you have gorgeous thick hair. The length is great on you (agree with all previous posters that the 'mutton as lamb' comment is irrelevant these days) but I would get a regular deep conditioning treatment in place and would look at getting more long layers to lessen the bulk. I'd also try a different curl technique such as waves instead of tombola curls as it will then look more modern. Have a look at YouTube 'beachy waves/Victorias Secret hair' for turorials.

I'm in the same position as you (child wise) and had basically your hair up until 8 months ago or so. I got sick of just bunging it up and it getting so knotted because I didn't have time to look after it properly.

I went to a good hairdresser, and just asked for something that would work for me. My hair is also weird in that it is straight on top and curly underneath!

He was fab, he told me how to enhance the natural curl and chopped it all off. Like.. just above shoulder length and took loads of weight out. I can't do the lovely long swishy style any more but day to day it looks soooo much better.

Anyway, that's what worked for me! I do miss it, but it will grow.

It's very long hair for any age so yes, I'd cut it. It sounds high maintenance to make it look how you want. My hair is very thick and if I had it that long it would be very heavy too. I have i just about my shoulders now and love it. So much easier to style. Not that I'm saying you need to go that short!

No one is too old for long hair!
You've got lovely hair and are lucky you are able to have it long (mines too thin, goes straggly after shoulder length)
If I were you, I would have maybe 2/3 inches off and get some long layers put in, I'm thinking this would make it look better on the days you can't do anything with it but would also make it lighter for putting up.
Whatever you do to it we need after pics!

I think you have lovely hair. It looks very high maintenance to me though so for that reason I'd consider chopping it to shoulder length or so.

I had long hair like yours for a few years (not quite as long as mines curly) but not dissimilar and I'm a couple of years older than you. I had 7 inches lopped off about 6 months ago so it's currently a chin length bob (dh didn't notice but that's a whole other thread!!!)

I like mine long and I like it short! As its cuely its kind of wild dischelleved hair which suits me. When it was long I never put it in a pony tail but kind of twisted it up and secured it with 2 squeeze grip things which always looked nice and was easy to do and didnt hurt. And was easy for work.

I think it depends on how you feel. Apparently (according to my friends) I have quite a distinctive dress style in that I tend to wear stuff that is quite student ish or rocky (I don't own anything other than flared jeans and you won't find anything remotely skinny or smart casual in my wardrobe) so I never felt overdressed - if anything I tend to under dress at all times other than special occasions when I can't wear a hoodie.

What I'm trying to say is do you like it? And if you do then go with it. If you don't feel happy with it then you will never feel "right". And if you're happy it will shine through I think :)

I'm 47 and my hair is pretty much identical to yours curly although I'm brunette and I'm not getting it cut short any time soon. I don't care if I look like Cheryl cole, I love it.

Long hair, don't care. 😂

I am much older than you and still have long hair.I don't think age matters as long as you look after your hair. Much better than the unflattering "man dos" that lots of older women have .

It sounds high maintenance to make it look how you want exactly this!

. If I were you, I would have maybe 2/3 inches off and get some long layers put in, I'm thinking this would make it look better on the days you can't do anything with it but would also make it lighter for putting up.
^yes I think this is what I need to do!

Hair appointment not until 4th May! Seems like ages to wait, now I've made the decision.

Heathen4Hire

Your mother's hair will probably look better than yours if, as you say, yours is long and greying. I really don't think long grey or greying hair is flattering. Colour it and that'll be fine.

Ouch - "man dos"!!! I agree, though. Short cuts - other than the bob - are not flattering at any age. People call a certain cut a " pixie cut@ but in reality it is just short hair cut in layers.