Few women with hair over 45?

[Hoosebag]

I'm 45 and my dark brown hair is long (mid back) and thick. I haven't dyed it since my 20s so it's all in good condition although I'm starting to get grey hairs in it now at my parting.

I spoke to my hair dresser who told me that if I want to start colouring it I'd need to switch to a shorter length in the next few years as the processing would damage my hair so that the lengths of it would no longer look nice after a few years. She then went on to say that few women have hair my length over 40ish because years of colouring, heat treatment and hormonal changes mean it only looks good to about shoulder length or even shorter.

I must admit I've never thought about it but looking around I do see very few women my age and older with long hair. I know some of that will be a style related choice but I suppose it must be in some cases due to the damage from colouring and possibly menopause.

So I'm just curious, did chemically colouring your hair cause damage to your hair and did you end up going for a shorter length than you'd have preferred or would your hair still look good if you decided to grow it long?

Just wanting to make an informed choice about my luxurious greying locks 😆

I was walking behind a woman the other day who had long bleached blonde hair, was thin, and wearing tight fitting clothes.

Would it have suited had the hair been an alternative colour, and glossy, to bleached blonde, or would that have still been too youthful because of the length? Obviously her clothes, or weight, weren't deemed appropriate for her age by you either.

Horrible post @MidnightMeltdown

I think you need to find a new hairdresser.
I'm over 50 with dark long hair , get the roots done. My hair is fine , people comment what good condition it's in.

Sorry I think she's talking bollocks - I am 52 and have long thick brown hair - everytime I go to the hairdresser they comment positively about my hair and I have been colouring my greys for at least 10 years.
I think the thing is look for a hairdresser who will just do your hairline and parting roots so ie not the whole head. Some hairdressers insist on doing whole roots over whole head even if not grey on most of it - avoid those as its better for your hair to have min dye. And its much cheaper. I now get my whole roots done every second to third dye but still only need a top up on roots near parting and hairline most of the time.

In my 50s with long dyed hair. Not thinning yet.

I am over 45 and have hair past my shoulders. There's very little grey but I do get highlights to blend the few in. You can always see how your hair goes and change if it becomes necessary. I don't plan to cut my hair short just because I'm getting older.

I am in my 50's, and my hair is gloriously long and thick with some bleached highlights to blend a few greys.
It's in great condition and attracts a lot of compliments.
What your hairdresser says isn't a foregone conclusion at all.
I don't use expensive products, but I also very rarely use heat, and I'm sure that's a big factor.

@LivesinLondon2000 and any others who have conditioning treatments at the hairdressers, or use serums etc at home - what do you use please?
I intend to keep my crowning glory and would love recommendations.

I have long thick hair approaching 50. I don't do anything special at all. I use supermarket shampoo and conditioner. That's it. It's genetic.

A colleague has the most beautiful and shiny dark brown hair, she will turn 66 in March, we're arranging her retirement party.
She keeps her hair trimmed, with a fringe, and to bra strap length. It's as close to her natural colour as can be. She uses a semi permanent colour on it monthly, so no bleach.
She visits the Canary Islands quite often so her skin has a healthy glow (not tan) all year round, therefore the paleness that occurs as you get older, and which looks awful with too dark hair, isn't an issue.

My hair is down the middle of my back. Dyed it for years but has grown out now, I use a plant based colour for the tiny sliver bits coming through.

Up unti l recently I had bra length hair. It's very dark brown with no greys as yet, I'm 63. ( thanks mum for the good genes 😁). It's quite fine but a lot of it and I haven't noticed it thinning as I get older. It's the one thing I'm fussy about and have regular trims and wash/condition almost every day. I don't feel right if my hairs not freshly washed. I've lost quite a bit of weight (much needed! ) and my face is a lot thinner. The length of my hair and the style...poker straight seemed to accentuate that and I looked a bit gaunt. I got it cut into a just below chin length bob and it frames my face....makes it look fuller. Added bonus is that friends/family say I look a lot younger so I'll take that!

I tend to agree.

Another one who thinks your hairdresser's talking rubbish... I'm nearly 60, black/brown hair - been colouring/bleaching bits for 40 years with no detriment or special treatment. Intend to carry on covering some grey bits & experimenting with jade green/platinum highlights now and then💃🏻

I think she's right to an extent but she's failing to take into account other things that make lovely long hair difficult in older age, such as slowed down growth cycle, reduced oil production, reduced eostrogen. I also think she's got the age wrong. The real difference to hair doesn't usually happen as early as 45.

I'm 65 ( almost) and I have long hair in fabulous condition. It all grew back just as lustrous after losing every single hair in my body through chemotherapy 10 years ago. I've also been through menopause. It depends on your body

DM is in her 60s and has enviably thick hair that's always been bleached. She uses drugstore shampoo and when I last checked, no conditioner!

Meanwhile I have taken after DF and have very fine hair that's easily damaged with colour and heat. Currently trying my best to keep it long (bra strap length) with treatments and low/no heat, but I'll inevitably need a few inches chopped off once split ends appear.

So a lot is down to hair type.

@FindingMeno
I use Olaplex 3 every couple of weeks. Sometimes use Olaplex 6 after I’ve washed my hair too - my hair can get frizzy (always has done even before I started dying it) in humidity and that helps a lot

I know someone with very long hair, and she's late 50s, early 60s. Looked at it closely last time and she does dye it, so it's not true what your hairdresser says.
I have dyed hair and I wouldn't say it's damaged. Its shoulder length. I definitely would not go for short hair- it doesn't suit me.

I am in my 40s with waist length henna’d hair. I’m probably 75% grey (maybe more). I started going grey in my 20s. I regularly get compliments on the condition. I use Lush red/brown henna. It looks red/ ginger which I like. So it’s darker than my original light brown. The grey is covered and it looks like I have highlights.

The good thing is I don’t go to a hairdresser as I henna at home and it’s easy to get my sister to trim (not a hairdresser), so it’s low maintenance!