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?

I'd day it's time to quit when you can't be arsed looking after it or doing anything with it.

I have curly hair and am 40. I've reached the stage now where I have to stick to shoulder length hair. Any longer and I just can't be arsed with how long it takes to dry it, the ends get tatty and it falls in my face constantly, which is very annoying!

I know it's time to chop it when I'm permanently wearing it in a messy bun.

My DIL bought me a curly thing for xmas, I wash and leave wavy hair, then on a night out have a bit of fun with the curly thing. There are days where I twist and stick a big clip in messy bun. My friends with shorter hair fight with gadgets daily, curling, straightening, washing, drying. Sheesh too much work to be honest.

@WinnieLo, did I heck!

Am late forties and started to think is it time to go shorter, went to see Fleetwood Mac last year and after seeing Stevie Nicks looking glorious realised I’d be doing it because of what others think, sod em! Long hair all the way

I stayed up late last night to watch Dangerous Liaisons, not a pixie cut in sight no even on the men

Pixie cuts are great, if you have the bone structure it. I don't.
My hair in a bob or a lob would be hard work.

I've been glad of my 'OP photo 2' hair during the lockdown.

All of the posters with long thick luscious hair regardless of age, it's really great you don't want to cut it off. If you can channel Stevie Nicks go for it!
But there are a lot of woman - of all ages, but hormonal changes can make it worse as you age - who look shite with frankly flat lanky longer hair.
You see people who look fabulous with long hair, and you see those who just don't. But there's a stigma against cutting your hair off, and it's kind of sad because honestly some women would just look better chopping it - be it pixie, chin length, of shoulder length. But it's up to them. As an example, a friend had hers shaved off for medical reasons, she looked so so fabulous as it grew back into a pixie, but she desperately wanted her long hair back, it's now down to past her chin but it really doesn't look as healthy and thick as it did shorter. But her hair, her choice 🤷‍♀️

I think in those last two photos op that the lady just didn't suit the shoulder length scraggly look. The 2nd pic looks better because it's smooth and blunt. I actually think she'd suit a much longer style with longer layers and a decent blow dry.

Never! I saw a lady wandering around a National Trust property last week with waist length grey hair in a French plait. She had on birkenstocks, a khaki dress, a big colourful shawl and a little leather back pack and she looked fucking awesome. I hope I look that cool and elegant in 20 years. I actually tried to get a picture of her by making the dc stand in the foreground but they wouldn't comply! She was mid to late 50s I'd say.

I agree there's actually now an unspoken rule to have long probably caramel highlighted hair amongst women in their 40s to 60s. Not everyone obviously follows it but women, even middle aged ones, feel a degree of social pressure to look attractive, feminine, youthful and long hair seemingly represents this. You actually see very few middle aged women with short cropped hair pretty much the same with teenagers and young adults.

It really boils down to personal choice, doesn’t it? I see a lady, dog walking around the park each afternoon. She has essentially a short back and sides... may be a little older than I am. I really envy her because it looks totally amazing on her. Her clothes and personality “fit” that hairdo iykwim.

I do take hair vits. I buy Olaplex 3. Rarely use my hair heat brush thing and only on a cool setting when my hair’s pretty much dry. But... menopause has affected it, for sure. It’s lost its lustre. Not sure what else I can do.

Me, at 18 (very very old photo) but you can see... it has a tendency to look a bit “Cousin It”! 😂. And although it’s never much bothered me in the past, I have a very high forehead so, as I age, I feel like my face has gotten longer and longer.

My hair now is in the same style as that 18yr old, just shorter. Time for a change, much?

Now bob... and short...

You have lovely hair now!!

I have a picture of my hair somewhere, grey growing out so balliage. But now cannot find it sheesh.

That's lovely.

My hair is so frizzy that going that short would be hard to pull off.

This mop. I havent straightened it for days now but as is prob obvious, it wouldn't be easier to control short. Shoulder length at 50 something is acceptable though 🍷🤞

Surely just have the hairstyle/length that suits you - same as at any age really.

Personally, I think you have to work with your hair type and what suits it and your face shape etc no matter what your age. But it’s even more important as we age to avoid looking ‘frumpy’ (sorry!). It’s really not a case of long versus short. I have always had masses of fine hair, so I think despite being fifty, longer hair works best for me. It’s really too voluminous for a bob, and I’d be rocking the Princess Di look if it were short! Peri menopause has brought some changes though - I no longer colour my hair because for me my natural light brown with grey ‘highlights’ is much better than the flat, brassiness my salon coloured hair would revert to after only a few washes (no matter how expensive the colour). If after this menopause malarkey I find myself with completely different hair then I won’t hesitate to cut or change it. My advice OP is do some research and find a really good stylist who will work with your hair type.

@CharlottesComplicatedWeb

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.

I had my hair cut a bit shorter than this picture a couple of years ago (early 40s) and will never go back to long hair now. It grew quite quickly during lockdown and just felt awful, I was desperate to have it cut off again.

I'm a fairly low maintenance person but long hair just doesn't work for me anymore.

@L8Bloomer... I know what you mean! If I do nothing with mine, it has to live off my face, simply cannot stand it lurking around my ears. Yours is a lovely colour 😊

@Maisiecow... I e no grey yet but hope it starts to move that way soon. Have friends with fab grey hair.

I have had long hair all my life, I'm 59, when I became a young grandmother at 37 I decided to have my hair cut short, don't ask me why silly mistake I hated it, everyone did say they liked it but I didn't, so I grew it back and have similar style to Jennifer aniston, a little shorter, I will never go short again, I keep my layers long and trim my own hair following YouTube bloggers.

Mines long and I’m in my 50s ,, there’s no age limit

Love the bob, OP! You look great.

I have found that my hair has changed texture and got more wiry as I've got older. Hairdressers comment on the good condition so it's not dry - it's just a change in texture.

I love that bob on the grey hair, but the layered ends would definitely do a Crystal Tips triangle on me unfortunately!

I wouldn't say there is an age limit for long hair, but it can drag your face down - straight curtains of hair are not universally flattering. Long hair is not automatically glamorous IMO.