Is it wrong to have long hair when you're old?

[Alcemeg]

So this is my hair. I feel lucky that it's not gone grey yet (I'm in my mid 60s), but I remember over the years having it drummed into me that once your'e over a certain age you look like a witch with long hair.

The trouble is, I don't know what else to do with it! I have this vision of "choppy layers" or something, but am not sure if it would work as my hair is very fine. I just don't know what to ask for at the hairdresser's.

Advice welcome!

Exactly, @mynameisnotmichaelcaine - of course a full head of glossy or bushy long hair looks great, whatever your age. But not everyone is lucky enough to have this, so don’t sneer at those who are battling with lank fine strands.

Also it’s fashion. I just found a photo of my sixth-form class from mid-80s. Everyone had a short hair-do. Nowadays it is unusual to find a young girl who chooses short hair. Just as it would have looked odd for older people to have long hair. Give it a few years and our grandchildren will be hooting at our long hair and the Seasalt coastal grandma chic.

Witch in her 50s, checking in.

My hair is halfway down my back and I’ve no intention of cutting it. In fact, it’s longer now than it has been in years. I’m in the process of blending in the grey using highlights.

Absolutely

Your hair is lovely OP. Keep it long!
I’ve had long hair for most of my life - only cut it short twice and regretted it both times. Not as much as I regretted the perm though! I just feel like me with long hair iykwim.
I’m in my sixties and this is my hair both smooth and crunched into curls ..

You have beautiful hair and so lucky not grey , I started having grey hairs in my late twenties! I have long hair at 54 I think I will know when it would look better shorter but not because I have reached a certain age . I think shorter hair can be more severe and less forgiving than long hair .

Thank you!

You are an inspiration to me. I've just turned 58 and actively growing my hair, which is also fine, just about collar length now & turning grey. I've got purple semi-permanent highlights just now, which I'm enjoying, and I don't care about looking witchy (which is a bullshit gendered description anyway). I'm going to see how much longer I can get it!

I think everyone on this thread has inspired me, @IAmTerrible ! And you are giving a whole new meaning to "When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple" 🤩

NancyPickford your hair is beautiful. Mine is the same colour, length & style but I have a problem in getting it so shiny as it’s very prone to dryness.
if you don’t mind, could you tell me please what you do, any conditioner or products you find help? Perhaps you’re just lucky & don’t have a dryness problem but would be grateful to know please.

Of course you can keep it long if you want to.
However, I do also understand why some people don't consider long hair to be desirable for older women. For one thing, it creates a dissonance between how you look from the back and the front and paradoxically draw attention to your age as people expect to see a younger women. Secondly, long hair draws the eyes down and can emphasise sagging as can having your hair in a bun (which was traditionally the answer to worsening condition of the hair). If you watch the Makeover Guy he usually cuts the hair and adds volume to the top (not that I think he gets is right 100% of the time).

I'm 58 and the only reason I've now gone to just on the shoulder length hair, is because it was breaking and getting a strange gap at the back

I love long hair especially on older people. Their is a gorgeous model older lady with long grey hair

My mother used to 'warn' me, throughout my 30s, that the time was coming when I'd 'have to have' my hair cut short.

I think, by the age I am now (54) I was also 'supposed' to have a perm.

I have done neither of those things. And what's worse, I still wear my hair in a ponytail most of the time (oh the horror!)

But I have very few grey hairs (and am quite excited to see them come through tbh- the ones I have are a lovely silvery colour) and my brastrap-length hair is in good nick, so I'm happy to keep it as it is. Might dye it blue or mauve or something when I'm in my 80s...

I think it's more of what you do with the hair around the face than at the back of your head.

When we get older and everything starts to go south, long hair can make you look older still. That's why we get it cut - to give us a lift. That is why people say 'it takes years off you' because it sort of lifts your face if this makes sense.
I am not there yet. My hair is long and parted down the middle and suits me. I dread cutting it but sometimes I think I would like to have layers put in.

Also getting it cut and dried at the hairdressers is such a nice thing to do. After I have had mine cut (trimmed) and dried it looks fantastic !

No. This is mine (I’m 70).

Beautiful 😍

For one thing, it creates a dissonance between how you look from the back and the front and paradoxically draw attention to your age as people expect to see a younger women

Why should we not draw attention to our age? It is something to celebrate not hide.

borntobequiet gorgeous hair. Lovely colour.

Thank you, Claudine!

I'm 48 and have thick curly hair . I recently had it cut from long and big to a long less big bob and it has taken some years off me

I don't prescribe to doing what is expected but that's my experience

Exactly! Why be ashamed of aging?

One exception in the public eye is Helen Mirren. Her hair looks ok up but she definitely suits a shorter style.

Absolutely beautiful, why on earth would you consider cutting it only because of age - that's ridiculous.

That’s so beautiful. You should call yourself borntobegorgeous

@Darklane I just use any old shampoo or conditioner that's in the bathroom, but I occasionally use A Touch of Purple shampoo and conditioner, which brightens it up, you can get it in Boots and other shops. I also occasionally use products from the White Hot Hair range (online). I've always had slightly oily hair, never dry.

Yasmeena Rossi is wonderful.