Which is less ageing long hair or LOB?

[Beachlovingirl]

I have a hair appointment tomorrow and right now I just feel really old and dowdy. I am 41.

I have grown out blonde highlights and my hair is long, a few inches short of elbow length. My hair is fine. I have a square face. I usually style my hair with the revlon one step or curl with straighteners (if I have time - I have 3 children)

In order for me to feel better about myself I want to go for the right haircut. I feel like I’ve narrowed this down to keeping long or going for a LOB. I will be having highlights re-done.

I would love to hear your personal opinions on either hair cut to help me decide what to go for.

What is a LOB?

A long Bob :)

LOB = long bob.

I always think long hair is less ageing, depending on the condition/cut. Perhaps just a couple of inches off and some layers?

A Lob is a very "sensible" choice, aka boring and middle aged IMO

Long, thick, lushcious hair looks good at every age. LOB and other short styles are more ageing imo.

I wish my hair was thicker though the highlights help a lot, thankfully. Probably not enough to be luscious though

Pictures of when a lob is perfectly styled it does look really nice but I do agree- on me, it may not look like that at all.

I always think a lob only looks youthful on those who are already under 25 - i tried it once, age about thirty, and my hair screamed ‘nice and sensible for the rotary club dinner’ personally, I love long hair on older women and plan to keep mine long for ever.

Your hair sounds quite similar to mine - i currently wear it in long beachy waves with blonde highlights and much prefer it to my venture into lob territory!

I’ve been wondering the same. I’d been getting a LOB and thinking I looked edgy but actually I think it looks better a bit longer. Not too long and scrappy. So an inch or so below shoulders. Too long looks a bit unkempt I think. It needs to look thick and healthy too.

I think long hair is more ageing. Unless it's really thick but smooth and silky. If fine hair then I think it draws the face in an ageing way.

If I were you, I would shorten it to bra length, add some long layers for fullness and movement, and even consider some long curtain bangs. See how that works and take it from there. You can always go shorter, not longer if you chop it all off.

I think too long is ageing though, elbow length is very long. I think bra length is the max that looks good on anyone.

I would also go about bra length. But, I love long hair, (despite having short-ish hair myself), so I probably wouldn't go as short as a LOB.

Some of these replies are really pretty offensive! LOBs aren't ageing at all. The important thing is to pick a style that works with your hair type. My hair is fine and thin so a short, jaw length, blunt bob works best for me. Any longer and it looks likes rats tails.

If you fancy a change then go for a chop. Try a few inches first. I think getting some length off might make it feel fuller and give you some.bounce back.

Long hair looks great as long as it’s good condition, mines grown out over lockdown and to be honest I don’t think I’ll go back to short. I don’t think it’s aging unless it’s in bad condition or badly styled, but the same is also true for short hair and at least with long hair you always have the option of a messy bun/ ponytail!

Castor oil is great as a pre shampoo treatment for long hair, as an aside - mines looking much thicker and healthier since I started using 2x a week.

@KnitFastDieWarm

I always think a lob only looks youthful on those who are already under 25 - i tried it once, age about thirty, and my hair screamed ‘nice and sensible for the rotary club dinner’ personally, I love long hair on older women and plan to keep mine long for ever.

Same here. It was the worst mistake I ever made. Passable only with lots of styling, otherwise just sat on my head whispering 'She's getting on a bit' to anyone who might not have noticed. It's now very long again and takes years off me.

When you say bra length what does that mean?

@Badgershy I think lobs can look really good when I’ve seen them on celebs etc but I’m worried that cut would look more sensible than sassy on me - even though I do think that cut is very suitable for my fine hair. I would like a above shoulder blunt cut, even with a little bit of texture curl with the ghds - but - I also have a small forehead and, looking at picture online, all the gorgeous women with the lobs and bobs also seem to have a nicely sized forehead too. Saying all that I do think it would make my hair look nice and thick.

Maybe the decision is above shoulder blunt cut Bob or long?

I have long hair (elbow length) and have always done. One of the main reasons is that I don't know how to style hair and also can't be bothered. And given that most shorter cuts need to be styled in order to look good, I'd rather stick to long hair and have the option to simply straighten it after washing it and putting it up in a quick half-pony tail which looks OK. Not great but certainly better than shorter cuts which, while great looking when styled, look pretty awful if left to their own devices, in my opinion.

Too long is ageing.
A bit of layering can take years off.
Only young girls look really nice with very long hair.
Their faces have the plumpness of youth to counteract the dragging down effect that very long hair causes.

So long as your hair isn't ridiculously long, it's not long hair that's ageing, it's the condition of your hair.

It depends on your hair type and face shape. Very few of my friends, early 40s, can pull off long hair. Tho I love the highlighted beach waves mentioned. My own hair is to fine and flat for long, my friend's luscious, thick hair looks wrong with her tiny face. Look up some pics of what you do like, including colour if you're not 100% and after that ask hairdresser's advice. Enjoy!!

Watching with interest.

I’m in 50s with massive coarse hair (almost black).

Was never interested in dying hair (about 15% grey but not sure if silver or white), but my hair now way past shoulders and people say I look old and need to do something.

I’d rather not but my hair so coarse, big and thick I’ll be dead before I’m completely grey🙄

@howrudeforme

Watching with interest.

I’m in 50s with massive coarse hair (almost black).

Was never interested in dying hair (about 15% grey but not sure if silver or white), but my hair now way past shoulders and people say I look old and need to do something.

I’d rather not but my hair so coarse, big and thick I’ll be dead before I’m completely grey🙄

You could try a brazillian or keratin blow dry

@howrudeforme

Watching with interest.

I’m in 50s with massive coarse hair (almost black).

Was never interested in dying hair (about 15% grey but not sure if silver or white), but my hair now way past shoulders and people say I look old and need to do something.

I’d rather not but my hair so coarse, big and thick I’ll be dead before I’m completely grey🙄

Your hair sounds amazing! I'm envious. You can always get rid of some when its huge, it's when its thin you get a bit stuck.

@5128gap - ha ha - you haven’t seen my fave🤣🤣🤣

I looked at hair dyes today but found it stressy. Left it.

@howrudeforme I’m quite jealous of your hair actually!

If I was able to style my hair every day I think the above shoulder blunt cut would be really nice - although apparently can make a square face took wider - oh well. But if I just do it with the one step will I just end up with a “curled under” bob....?

Thankfully my hair is in good condition so I’m not worried about that so much as my hairstyle just looking very basic, if I haven’t added texture with styling tools.

Maybe the highlights and taking a few inches off are the way to start and think more about the choppy bob?