When is it time to quit with long hair?

[CharlottesComplicatedWeb]

So, I think I look like this...

But actually have a feeling I look more like this...

How will I know when it’s time to go for a sensible/appropriate cut for a 57yr old woman?

it's all that bloody rain and timey wimey stuff that's made Claudia look like that. I doubt Jen has nearly the same amount of drama in Beverly hills.

I'm the same as you- long hair, never worn down. 54. I think I might slowly approach a fringe. And better shampoo. Because am definitely more Claudia than Jen!

I'm sorry to hear that Winnie but I'm not sure what your relationship with your mum has to do with my post about post menopausal hair.

I’ve recently had my long hair cut short into a pixie cut. I really like it. I have a small thin face and the long hair definitely was making me look older .i really object to the idea that woman only do it because it’s “ expected” of them when they get older . It’s the 6 th or 7 th time I have had a pixie cut - first in my uni days.
I’ve always liked short hair and I hate the generalisation that no woman looks good with it. I see plenty of woman with lank long hair that is doing nothing for them. It’s almost like you are a misfit if you want to have it short - you’re either frumpy , old fashioned or unfeminine. I don’t think the expectation any more is that you have to get your hair cut shorter when you get older , it’s that you are expected to keep your hair long at all costs to fit in with societal expectations.

@Floisme

I'm sorry to hear that Winnie but I'm not sure what your relationship with your mum has to do with my post about post menopausal hair.

Um, not YOUR hair specifically!

But there is still a lot of pressure on women in their 50s to ''go shorter''

I disagree as above . There’s a lot of pressure to stay long .

I'm 50 and have waist length curly hair. It's not going anywhere! If you have curls, check out the curly girl method to keep it looking lovely.

Well i guess there's two lots of pressure at once. The pressure to stay youthful. The pressure to not be mutton dressed as lamb. I feel both. My mum does not represent society, but she is a loud voice! Many people my age will have this situation.

I've also gone really short a few times. I love it. It shows everybody young and old that I"m more than my hair.

I think if people have very very long hair, never going short, their hair is their hair is a part of their identity. Nothing wrong with that perhaps but I don't want that.

It's less about your age and more about your hair. Like a PP my hair looks so much better short, it's fine and this makes it much thicker looking. And yes the menopause made it worse as did older skin, and longer hair dragging my face down as my type of hair needed blowing drying and lots of products to get volume. Now minimal maintenance having found a hairdresser who know how to cut and colour short hair. Love it.

So the answer shouldn't be do you cut it because you're 55, it should be my hair is frizzy/fine/straight/curly/falling out/turning grey/thick/long.... my lifestyle is busy/outdoors/professional/glamourous ... I'd like to experience short hair/would hate short hair ... what should I do ?

😂😂😂 Thanks so much for all the interesting replies and advice. I do know I shouldn’t have a cut based on that photo. Everything about that photo was shite, not just the hair!

Jen in a wig... Im not having that!

Layers... nope, don’t want the wispy face framing sort. Long layer just to break up the “one block of hair” look is what I’m after.

Not ready for short yet. I think with the falling of my face, I do need hair so that I’m less exposed, if that makes sense. And I do like a bob. Frankly, I think it can lift a jawline.

Anyone willing to post a photo of their hair for me? Incognito of course 😊

Here’s an example of a cut taking years off a lady...

Now I think she looks a decade older in the second photo!

I lobe this type of cut but, not ready for it just yet...

The grey hair pic is what I’m thinking as I’ve thick hair. Just a long layer for some movement.

@ScorpioSphinxInACalicoDress 😂. I think she looks like me going round Aldi, in the first. Very old.

Oh and the “mutton/lamb” “trying too hard” thing is huge, for me because I still love to wear makeup and frankly and look like I’m a bit over glam, if that makes sense. I thought with a “sensible” cut I’d look like I was “polished” “appropriate”?

I cut my waist length hair to shoulder length aged 37 and have since wondered why I hadn't done it sooner!! So much easier to manage/wash/brush, and in much better condition

I’ve had long or very long hair just about all my adult life-I just turned 50. I had it cut into a fairly short bob a couple of years ago-nothing to do with my age, I just fancied a change. I lasted 6 months before I let it grow again! My hair grows really quickly so it needed cut about every 4/5 weeks and I just can’t be bothered with that!
I’m kind of fortunate in that I have a lot of hair, so it’s never straggly. I have it trimmed -I have long layers, and coloured about every 8 weeks or so, and I think this is pretty much how it’ll be forever 😂
Long hair which is well looked after and styled looks good whatever your age, but I think it can be very ageing and pull your features down if it’s all one length and just hangs there

Hi, op. I’m 55 and have mid back length hair. It is very thick, so I mostly keep it plaited. I have no plans to get it cut as long as it remains remains shiny and healthy. Do what feels best for you.l

I'm approaching 50 and I'm on countdown to a short haircut (next week).

For the last 5 years I've done everything I can to keep shoulder length hair - vitamins, conditioning treatments, no hair dryer etc etc - buts it's thinning, one side is very patchy indeed, dry and frizzy. It looks awful every single day. Up until my mid 40's my hair was pretty much my saving grace.

Hormonal changes have wrecked it. So everyone rolling their eyes and sneering at the over 50 short hair cut can fuck right off.

Op talk to your hairdresser they may have options to keep your hair as king as you like. I'd bloody love to have long hair again.

Long not king!

I knew I was middle aged when a friend suggested cut my hair into a bob.

@CharlottesComplicatedWeb, in the before and after photo, she looks better in the after because it's a more flattering light, make-up, she has updated the spectacles and isn't wearing the frumpy cardigan. It isn't the haircut.

Well I am in my 50s and my hair is shoulder length ,and sometimes worn in a ponytail! Never understood all this no long hair over 45 stuff TBH. Wear what you are happy with surely!

Blimey, people really don't like short hair on women any more do they? It's definitely not a thing for women to cut their hair short at a certain age any more and I think that's great. I literally can't think of any of my friends/school mum aquaintences of a similar age to me (mid 40s to early 50s) who have short hair.

I currently have short hair. My aged was never a factor in the decision. I've cut it off plenty of times in my life before. Can't say that I look anything like Gloria Hunniford...

Op, I would try some of the tips people have suggested if you'd rather long hair and if they don't work come back to a decision about short hair. Take your age out of it though, it's completely irrelevant!

@MikeUniformMike did you go and have a bob?!

I don't plan to cut mine ever but I will change the styles I wear it in. Going to rock a voluminous updo Katharine Hepburn style!

As well as the question of how old is too old for long hair, how old is too old to go around with your hair in a pony tail continually.

I'm guilty of this. I have collar length hair but it's so thick, I can't resist temptation to tie it back. So I'm a 50 year old with a pony tail. I might as well get a short cut. But it would stick up and stick out and It would look less 'groomed'. A low pony tail can look ok on an older woman, can't it? I hope.