Hair is an ageist issue

[Beeinalily]

In this area there are two looks for ladies over about 50. Either long unstyled hair, or a graduated bob. The reason being, whatever you ask for, you get the bob. Last time I went, I did my research and downloaded a photo of what I wanted, booked the salon owner (rather expensively), and came out with - the bob. And actually the bob in question wasn't as good as the usual one from the trainee! So now I have the long unstyled (and unkempt) look, and it's driving me crazy. The dreaded bob is probably better, but all the older ladies here look like clones! Does anyone else find this?

I went to a hairdresser and asked for a “modern mullet” type style, She said “Oh, you want a Suzi Quatro”. It looks great, gets lots of compliments. (I’m 71.)

I do the long unstyled version. I have wavy/loose curl hair and if I try to style it it tends to be a sea of frizz. I do put it up in a ponytail if it's windy

I'm planning to grow my pixie out into a wolf cut next year actually, my hair's so thick and wavy I can't manage it long. I've dug out a teenage photo with my 80s mullet for comparison

I've had a load of short haircuts these last few years and think a) hairdressers prefer bobs as there's less skill needed and less to go wrong. Same with cutting long hair. It takes a lot of skill to do a modern pixie cut. And b) at a certain point, and quite easily, every short haircut that's isn't a bob and isn't a pixie (Bixie is a thing apparently) becomes a bob on its own accord.

I told my hairdresser that if he didn't give me a No. 5 blade I'd simply go home and do it myself! The cut took five minutes, the colour two hours and we hugged at the end of it.

I really like it and my hair is in better condition now compared to using a cheaper hairdryer. I find the flyaway attachment really good for smoothing my hair without straightening it.

Clever and skillful?

I get why people shy away from saying at the time that they don’t like a haircut, but why keep going back?!

I’m a hairdresser and I can’t imagine how you got from showing that picture, to being given a bob! I discuss in detail with my clients what they want, check several times while going along “is that the sort of length you were thinking?” “Do you want the fringe swept to one side or straight down?”, etc etc. Your hairdresser sounds rubbish.

Find a better hairdresser.

I thought my hair was OK. Hairdresser moved away and I started going to a salon. I only notice the changes to my hair when I look at old photos. The change was very gradual but I now look so much better.

Don't put up with rubbish hairdressers. Break out, there are really great ones out there.

Start by asking anyone whose hair you admire where they go and how much effort they put in at home in their own, to make sure you get a good match for you.

Have you asked for that?

I'm 65. That style looks like generic older woman haircut. I think I'd cry if my hairdresser did that to me.

No. It's terrible.

The thing with Toni and Guy is they have a few hair cuts for each season and everyone gets a version! They don't fully tailor to each client.

@Beeinalily have reminded me of the town where I grew up which had one barber's shop run by a chap called Healy who could only do one style. It was locally known as the Healy Hedgehog

I often wonder why women of a certain age have short hair all the same style, it seems it's the hairdressers doing it!

I have just below shoulder length hair and hope to always have it that length including when I'm in my 60s. I saw a TV show where Meryl Streep was rocking two plaits and I thought yay that's great if she can do it so will I when I reach that age! (Obviously I'm not Meryl Streep but still)

I often wonder why women of a certain age...

Lo! Gregg Wallace is here.

Hair has a tendency to get thinner and more brittle post menopause. I've known a number of women who swore at age 40 that they'd keep it long forever, only to get to 50+ and discover there just wasn't enough of it to maintain the same style.

I can't comment on hairdressers in general as I've the same one since I was in my 30s and he's been superb. He understands my hair (wavy and wilful) and he also understands that I'm a lazy bugger who expects my hair to work for me rather than the other way round..

Ohh, did you use your online dictionary?

Also to mean right & correct.

An adroit comment is exactly the 'right' comment.

Here endeth the lesson.

Yes because I hadn’t heard of it before. Thanks, I think 😅

😂

Haha my mum and her mates are 60s/70s/80s and live semi-rurally and all have pixies or bobs!

I have long hair, no fringe, greying. It''s thick & wavy and it always sticks out on one side when short. I can't be arsed with the maintenance of a shorter cut, tbh. I keep it healthy with protection spray and minimal styling. It goes up in a bun, ponytail or clip to keep off my face. I find it easier that way.

I get my hair cut twice a year. (I see salons as a necessary evil, to be endured). Hairdressers will ask me if I want it cut to a bob too. Why? My dad asked me why I don't cut my hair off too! For all the above reasons, but I think he hangs out with my mum's friends a lot and assumed That's What You Do When You Get To Middle Age. No!

I have the opposite problem... nearing 60 and I WANT a long bob.. (ok it's now the 'highighted to blend grey' colour, but it's thick and grows fast... but my hairdresser took the thinning scissors to me and also gave me some choppy layers... it was a new hairdresser so didn't think to say don't! until the first few chops happened.
Now unless it's straightened it's going to be a ball of frizz... I need the weight!

Ha! I thought you were being a sarky fucker!

It's my pleasure! (Meant genuinely).

Not this time 😉

I always use the online dictionary when I see a new word, it’s the smart thing to do!

I have a hairdresser like that. Brilliant with colouring but always cuts the same style no matter what I ask for or what pictures I show her. I'm trying a different hairdresser next time 🤞