Long Hair at 50

[Wantchocolate]

I'm 50 and I've had shoulder length hair for a long time but during lockdown it's grown quite long.

It looks nice when it has been curled or blow dried by the hairdresser but it sometimes look a a mess if I don't straighten it or using a styling brush. I work from home and tie it back a lot.

Anyone got any thoughts about women in their 50s with long hair or any styling tips. I've got dark hair by the way.

I am 52 and I have long, beautiful (seriously, the rest of me isn’t up to much, but my hair spectacular), thick, shiny wavy hair. I leave it alone most of the time. I’ll twizzle it into a bun when it’s wet so it dries in big looser waves sometimes, but that’s about it. Be proud of your hair, and don’t let society tell you how you should wear it.

Courtney cox is 56 & Jennifer Anniston is 51, the only thoughts I have about women in their 50’s with long hair are that I wish my hair was as nice looking. I do know what you mean about it if it’s unstyled though but I have no tips, mine always looks a mess!

www.instagram.com/p/CEHtOZqj5xt/?igshid=ntfaws361vzz

At one time it was generally said that as you get older you should have your hair short but I think that has long gone! It is not an age thing but down to what suits you and if your long hair is your crowning glory you should definitely keep it long. I am nearly 61 and have long hair, it is one of my good points and I'm not having it cut short! Like you, if I'm busy and not going out I tie it back or put it up but when I can I take more time with it and wear it down. I've had a lot of compliments on it over lockdown!

MIL is 75 and her hair still looks great.

don't think it has anything to do with age. But I would not want to have long hair that only looks halfway decent if properly styled.

Maybe you needs to cut after all.

I'm in my mind 50s (ouch) and my hair has never liked better. I've spent most of my adult life fighting fr I as but it's now under control. I'm luck that the few greys I do have are silver and I already have the odd copper hair so it looks ultra shiny and light auburn in sunlight but a light brown with hints of red indoors.

I'm only in my thirties but I love long hair and want to keep mine long as long as possible. As long as it is styled/ coloured nice amd compliments the person it can look lovely. I actually hate the thought of any woman thinking she needs to cut her hair short because of her age.

Oops sorry about the repetition of 'long' but maybe apt

I'm in my 50s and my hair is long thick and wavy. I'll keep it as long as it continues to look good.

I think I will get an inch cut off and see how I feel.

Thanks for your replies

'Of course older women can have long hair but the problem I see with many women is that they grow it straggly and everyday just scrape it back in a ponytail, plait or bun etc.'

^ surely straggly hair affects younger woman too and isn't exclusive to older...

It needs to be cut regularly, styled and suit the shape face for it to look good.

Bollocks to this. Nothing wrong with straggly, in my view. I like the romantic, bohemian, Wuthering Heights, wind-whipped, post-punk, you name it, look.

Not everyone wants to look 'polished'. Or 'sleek'. And the thought that one must conform to some sort of pre-ordained look because of one's age is just so irritating.

Long hair is fine at any age, but only if you have the sort of hair which looks good long (in my opinion, I know others will disagree). It doesn't have to look polished, but thin straggly hair is never a good look, even on little girls.

Straggly hair looks awful.

I had a blunt bob done in January & I have never had so many compliments on a hair cut off other women. I haven’t had it cut since due to covid & it’s still looking good.

There was a similar thread about long hair/age a few weeks ago, and I posted that at 51 my hair is nearly back to shoulder length, after a short cut 18 months ago. I feel so much better now that I have more hair again and my short cut made me look like Nicola Sturgeon!

I have long hair in my 40s and no intention of changing when l hit the next big birthday.

For easy styling of long hair I've just discovered the dressing gown tie method for soft curls. You just braid a dressing gown tie into your hair overnight. lots of videos on youtube. I'm ridiculously excited that my hair looks lovely down without having to spend lots of time/ use heat on it.

I had a bob in my 30s and looking back at photos I think it made me look mumsy.

I do think bobs can look stunning on some people though like Melanie Sykes.

Good hair is good hair regardless of age. If your hair isnt good long cut it shorter or dont give a feck.

@cbt944 yes! I'm nearly 50, i can make my very long hair look 'polished' if i want, but day to day i put, plaits, beads colours in it or let it do its own thing!

Long hair always looks better than short (in my opinion). Even when I've thought someone looked fantastic with short hair, if they've grown it longer I've always thought it looked better longer.
There is no age limit for looking any way.

@cbt944

It needs to be cut regularly, styled and suit the shape face for it to look good.

Bollocks to this. Nothing wrong with straggly, in my view. I like the romantic, bohemian, Wuthering Heights, wind-whipped, post-punk, you name it, look.

Not everyone wants to look 'polished'. Or 'sleek'. And the thought that one must conform to some sort of pre-ordained look because of one's age is just so irritating.

So agree. It seems older women are allowed long hair only if it looks "perfect". It has to look like they're 20 or something.

Give me wind-swept and bohemian any day! The older I get the less I care about having perfect hair, I just want it long, flowing and easy to care for. So what if it's frizzy, it was frizzy when I was a teenager too! And a few greys just add character IMO.

I think long hair can drag your face down a bit but then I’ve always had shirt hair. Depends on the person I suppose.