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Original poster

When is long hair too long?

29 replies

StillMedusa · 03/10/2021 21:33

I've varied from properly short to round about shoulder level for most of my adult life. It was just past shoulder level when the first lockdown hit..due a cut. 18m and a few trims ..later it's half way down my back.
For the first time ever I have definitely long hair!
But I'm also nearly 54...
It is in good condition, thick and healthy (albeit streaked with grey) and generally just in a plait for work (with kids) but I do wonder whether I'm judged as being too old for long hair?

OP posts:
FindingMeno · 03/10/2021 21:35

There is no age or length limit for hair.
If you are happy and feel good then that's all there is to consider.

Luzina · 03/10/2021 21:36

Do you like it? If so then it’s the right length.

My hair is waist length, I’m 45.

TakeMe2Insanity · 03/10/2021 21:36

As long as you are enjoying it and it is not a chore then keep it!

Cazzovuoi · 03/10/2021 21:37

I am 42 with waist length hair. I’ll never do the old lady crop!!!

SparePantsAndLego · 03/10/2021 21:37

I don’t think you can be to old for long hair...
If this is a rule, I want a word with the person who made it.
Do you feel good? If so, then it’s fine.

AgnesNaismith · 03/10/2021 21:38

NEVER - mermaids don’t cut their hair as they age.

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 03/10/2021 21:38

I think whether you should have long hair depends on the condition of your hair and whether the style suits you. If it's healthy and doesn't look thin and straggly then great. I do think it's horrible once the condition deteriorates, but this isn't an age thing. Some people just have nicer hair than others

Original poster
StillMedusa · 03/10/2021 23:05

Thank you for replying! And yay for the answers! I genuinely feel I look better with my long hair than I have for years.. I even love the white streaks that swirl through my hair (I gave up colouring 5 years ago and it's so much healthier now) but the sheer number of 'gosh when did your hair get so LONG?!' comments I've had just made me wonder if that actually meant ' gosh you are way too old for that hair, cut it off!' Grin

OP posts:
WouldBeGood · 03/10/2021 23:10

I’m 52 and my hair is the longest it’s ever been, though i colour mine. I love it but make sure I get it trimmed so it doesn’t go witchy. Planning to see how long I can get it 😃

drum123 · 03/10/2021 23:11

I'm 66, and my hair is now as long as it was when I was 16, just past my boobs. I love it! I also stopped colouring it about 10 years ago and it's a really lovely white (almost platinum blonde). It is coarser now, but looks great when it's straightened and is so much easier to look after than short hair. I use a lot of bar conditioner, though! My advice - keep it as long as you want it, for as long as you want!

ManifestingJoy · 03/10/2021 23:13

It depends how glamorous the rest if you is!

If you are all "styled" then keep your long hair. I went shorter at 51 and was v happy with it. Brings out the curl ive been straightening for decades

HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 03/10/2021 23:14

As long as it's regularly trimmed and not gone thin and split at the ends I don't think it can be too long.

borntobequiet · 04/10/2021 06:36

When you’re fed up with it and run out of things to do with it. Your age is irrelevant.

HelloDulling · 04/10/2021 06:45

There is no ‘too old’. I think very long hair on little girls or teens can look horrible, but as long as yours is in good condition, and is clean, I bet it looks great.

DukeofEarlGrey · 04/10/2021 06:54

I agree that it’s not about age - it’s about condition of hair, personal style and imo proportion as well. I think waist length and longer is hard to pull off but works better if you have a bit of height because it balances out, iyswim.

ofwarren · 04/10/2021 06:57

My mum is 62 and has hair up to her waist. It's in excellent condition though and she doesn't let it get straggly.
As long as it's in good condition, long is lovely!

SavageDetective · 04/10/2021 07:03

My mother had always kept my hair short and hot brushed into a choirboy bowl style to try and tame my unruly curls, so I grew it really long as soon as I could when I was a teenager and have resisted going shorter than shoulders ever since.

It was down to the small of my back when I had it cut once when I was in my late twenties. The hairdresser stood back after cutting about 8 inches off said:

“There, how’s that? It’s still long but y’know, not gypsy-long.” Shock

RockinHorseShit · 04/10/2021 07:04

My hair is waist length & wild curls & was pink & straight ish until I gave up on it during lockdown... now dark brown with the odd silver highlights. I'm 60
There is no age restriction to anything you don't put on yourself by listening to nonsense.

Kanaloa · 04/10/2021 07:06

@HelloDulling

There is no ‘too old’. I think very long hair on little girls or teens can look horrible, but as long as yours is in good condition, and is clean, I bet it looks great.
Why would it look horrible on a teen then suddenly lovey on a woman in her 50s Confused

I think it’s your style and the condition that matters most. My hair is too thin to look nice long but dd’s is thick so it looks nice. My younger daughter and mil are like me and wouldn’t suit long hair as much. Just depends on how it looks on the specific person. But as you love it I imagine it suits you!

Youcancallmeval · 04/10/2021 07:07

I'm late 40s.Mine is v long at the moment, but I always donate it when I cut it and they have now said it must be 9" rather than the previous 7" minimum - I can't go too short, I look dreadful as my face is too fat, so need to leave a good length.

Bluntness100 · 04/10/2021 07:13

Gosh, I’m fifty two and my hair is down to my tummy button. The days of reaching forty and needing to cut it short , ditch the dye and getting a bubble perm are long gone.😂

ManifestingJoy · 04/10/2021 07:32

It's funny, when i got my hair cut it did spring in to curls, and i wondered if i had a natural bubble perm! Lucky me 😬 so im v nervous having my haircut by somebody new now. I said "i know i said bring out the curl, but don't leave me looking like hilda ogden". Luckily hairdresser knew who that was. Luckily big hoop earrings make shorter curlier hair look less Hilda. I think. I hope.

ManifestingJoy · 04/10/2021 07:36

Ps i only went short because it"s so thick and I wanted a change. Not because Im 51.

I think longer hair on older women usually fallscin to two camps. 1) very very natural. No make up. Classic good clothes from decades ago but still 'smart'. Hair can be pinned in to a bun 'easily' and then 2) why stop, still dying, styling, loving make up etc

DiamondBright · 04/10/2021 07:45

Definitely the days of being issued a short cut with a perm at 45 are long gone, go with what you like and what suits you. Classic, older lady, short hairstyles can be very ageing on some women, depends on your overall style.

ManifestingJoy · 04/10/2021 07:50

My mum is delighted i got my hair cut which upsets me. I had to say to her once 'im not bothered about the approval of 70 something women" which sounds ageist, but she thought i ought to feel shamed in to getting it cut shorr because of what she and her friends thought. Im gen x and if i am subconsciously looking for approval i guess id like my own age group and millenials to think i looked ok.
But my mum really believed i should feel ashamed in front of her generation. We had a few heated discussions.