# Ladies: age and hair length? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 3, 2005, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941 "2005-09-03T22:38:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/41 "2005-09-04T11:34:21Z")
> [@Shana](#): > > To my mind, a good example would be the mother on the show “Six Feet Under” (sorry, don’t know her real name). She would be ravishing if they would just cut her hair and change her wardrobe a little! Agreed on the wardrobe, and on the style of hair (she looked FABULOUS all hippie-fied in the series finale). But I can’t agree that it’s the length of hair. It’s the unkemptness of it. Check out [this hairdo](http://us.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/2413/Events/2413/FrancesCon_Grani_2274613_400.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Conroy,%20Frances) or [this one.](http://us.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/1926/Events/1926/FrancesCon_Grani_946926_400.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Conroy,%20Frances) ---
**Author:** ![Shana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Shana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shana)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/42 "2005-09-04T11:59:11Z")
Thanks **WhyNot** …I couldn’t think of her name! Frances Conroy…that’s it! Well, I think she looks stunning in both shots. Although I have to say I like the first picture better. In the second her ends look a bit shot - she’d look better if she had a couple of inches cut off…Still, she can carry it. She looks fabulous! ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/43 "2005-09-04T12:18:59Z")
I am 50 and have very thick layered wavy dark blonde hair, a few greys in my center part, the length just barely reaching down to my shoulders. I am a former hippie and had long hair most of my life. At 40something, I began wearing it shorter. Then shorter. There was no conscious ‘oh my gawd I must now be more matronly’ type epiphany. It just felt better to me. Yes, ponytails are easy, but so is my wash-and-wear layered hairdo. With the heaviness of my hair, layers look much better, more balanced. I know women my age who have very long hair. Some carry it off, some don’t. **Shana’s** comments, to me, are spot on. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/44 "2005-09-04T14:06:13Z")
> [@Shana](#): > > Thanks **WhyNot** > Well, I think she looks stunning in both shots. Darn, I worded my post clumsily. I think she looks fabulous in both shots as well, as contrasted with her [“Ruth” look.](http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/movie/six_feet_under/03.jpg) And looking at the picture, lots of it is simple facial expressions and body language, as well. She is one damn fine actress. I find it just amazing that she pulled off “weary housewife and mother with no life of her own” so well, considering she herself is a vibrant, world-moving theater dame with no children of her own! But, of course, that tells us that lots of us “weary housewifes and mothers with no life of our own” could look tons better with an attitude and posture adjustment! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Pixisis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Pixisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixisis)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/45 "2005-09-04T14:13:40Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > My mother told me once you have babies, you should wear your hair shorter because they grab your hair with those chubby little fists and don’t let go… yeah. but if your hair is braided it doesn’t hurt, and it keeps 'em entertained. well, at least my friends’ babies have always loved to pull on my braid. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/46 "2005-09-04T15:25:15Z")
> [@MaddyStrut](#): > > I don’t think there’s anything wrong with older women having long hair. However, I have noticed that as I’ve gotten into my _ahem_ late thirties, my hair is much thinner than it was in my youth. I can’t do long hair anymore. It just looks scraggly and nasty. So short it is. > > Many of my female family members and friends have said the same thing. It’s not like we’re going bald or anything. But our hair just isn’t as thick as it was and it looks much better short these days! I think you nailed it. Thick hair worn at shoulder length or a bit longer still looks good on older women. But thin hair worn long doesn’t look good on anyone, IMHO. I’d like to see Frances Conroy with shorter hair, just to see if it would take some of the drawn-ness out of her face. Maybe it wouldn’t. I’m 60. I look best when my hair just reaches my neck, and I can tuck the sides behind my ears. At my last class reunion, we shared the country club with a classes having their 50th and 60th. All the women had the same hairstyle – short and slightly permed – and you could hardly tell them apart. I can understand why some women would want to keep their hair long, just to keep some appearance-individuality. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/47 "2005-09-04T15:37:08Z")
Inappropriate, no. People are free to do what they want with their bodies. It sort of depends on the “total look” as to if it looks strange. I do think that some women with long hair look like they are trying too hard to hang onto youth. Others manage to pull off long hair and still look like they are aging gracefully. Not sure what makes the difference - whether it is clothing and makeup choices or more of a matter of carriage. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/48 "2005-09-04T19:52:50Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > Any age can wear any length of hair, but grannies with purple-and-orange mohawks might be pushing it a bit. 😉 Well, it’s that or just completely bald…when I get old I plan to go slap crazy. Till then, it’s going to be long. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2005, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/49 "2005-09-04T20:30:44Z")
> [@AugestWest](#): > > Personally, I’m finding that I have a growing fetish for long curly hair. Man, give me 6 months and you may have a growing fetish for me. -foxy Shoulder length curly hair, but I’ve managed the curls so they are totally sexy now. ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/50 "2005-09-05T01:31:46Z")
I’m going to keep my hair long when I get older. I saw an older lady once who had hair that fell about halfway down her back. It was completely silver, very healthy, and it didn’t make her look witchy or anything; on the contrary, she looked absolutely radiant. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/51 "2005-09-05T01:38:29Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > I’m 48 and have collarbone-length hair. I rarely wear it down, as it gives me that “cackling old hag” look. This is exactly what I thought of when it was mentioned that the “older generation” believes in short hair for “old” ladies. Maybe they noticed that witches have traditionally been portrayed as old ladies with long, gray hair, and they don’t want to be seen that way. > [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Personally, I think every woman should revise their hair style every five years. Nothing is sadder than a woman with an extremely dated hair style ( or lack there of) that tells you almost the exact moment when they ‘peaked’ and stopped caring or became more afraid of change. I concur. For my age group, I can’t tell you how tired I was getting of Farrah Fawcett hair fifteen years after Charlie’s Angels went off the air. Same thing for men, too. Guys in your late-thirties/early-forties: **It’s time for the mullet to go!** I’m also convinced that the men of the WWII generation are the only reason Bryl Creem is still being produced. Men and women both: if you wore a trendy hairstyle in high school/college, and you finished high school/college more than ten years ago, it’s time for a new hairstyle. [sub]My mother is sixty-one and I’ve never seen her hair longer than the nape of her neck.\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/52 "2005-09-05T06:49:54Z")
I’ll have to be one of the voices of dissent here - I think older ladies look much better in shorter hair. Of course anyone can have their hair any length they like, but like someone else mentioned, older ladies in long, trendy styles look like they’re trying too hard. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/53 "2005-09-05T14:18:24Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > I’ll have to be one of the voices of dissent here - I think older ladies look much better in shorter hair. Of course anyone can have their hair any length they like, but like someone else mentioned, older ladies in long, trendy styles look like they’re trying too hard. See, that seems odd to me. Why are older ladies with long, trendy styles trying too hard, but ladies in their 20s, 30s, 40s who have long, trendy styles _not_ trying too hard? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/54 "2005-09-05T15:05:40Z")
How is long hair trendy? You can’t have (real) long hair tomorrow; that takes time. Time isn’t conducive to being on the edge of fashion, unless it happens by sheer luck to loop back around on you. ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/55 "2005-09-05T15:14:55Z")
I’m 47 and always had long hair, waist length in high school, now bra strap lenghth in layers. I have these little moles and freckles on the back of my neck that I hate, so I always covered them with my hair. (Conditioner is great for keeping it tangle free.) I think older women look great with long hair if it’s taken care of and not scraggly. I like the earth mother look with a long braid down the back. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/56 "2005-09-05T16:01:36Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > I’ll have to be one of the voices of dissent here - I think older ladies look much better in shorter hair. Of course anyone can have their hair any length they like, but like someone else mentioned, older ladies in long, trendy styles look like they’re trying too hard. It doesn’t have to be a trendy style on an older lady. There are some classic styles that transcend “trendy” and always look good - like simple, long, straight hair. And to me, “long” doesn’t have to mean bra-strap-length or butt-length. To me it can simply mean shoulder-length. This is all, of course, personal preference on my part. I simply think that most women look their best with longer hair. It’s hairstyles like these or this that I think only a relatively few women can get away with. However, if the lady’s hair is thinning, then she should do what she needs to do to keep it looking good. Just like men. I used to have thick, shoulder-length hair (same length all around - no mullet!). But one day I had a friend taking pictures of me so that I could put one on my Web site, and he took one picture from behind when I wasn’t looking. When I saw the photo, I discovered that I had a big bald spot in the middle of all that hair. So I fixed it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/57 "2005-09-05T16:06:46Z")
> [@The Sausage Creature](#): > > How is long hair trendy? You can’t have (real) long hair tomorrow; that takes time. I love it when the June _Vogue_ says, “Short Hair is In! Cut Your Hair Now!” and then in July they go, “_Ha_-ha! Now Long Hair is In! _Suckers!_” ---
**Author:** ![Flipstrip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f6c823/32.png) [@Flipstrip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flipstrip)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/58 "2005-09-05T16:43:27Z")
Just turned 37, and my hair is bra strap length. It used to be to my waist, but it’s a lot easier to take care of now that it’s shorter. But I don’t know if I’ll ever go really short (even though I look good in short hair), because my husband loves my long hair. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/59 "2005-09-05T17:19:03Z")
I call it the “Sandi Rinaldo Effect” - Canadians will know what I’m talking about. She’s a national newscaster who has been on the news for about 50 years now, so you know she’s no spring chicken, but she keeps on trying to have the latest, trendiest look, and it just looks sad and desperate to me. But hey, it’s just my opinion. If old ladies want to have any trendy hair cut they want, go nuts. They can wear belly shirts and pierced belly buttons and low-riders and lumbar tattoos, too, and I’ll think that all looks ridiculous, too. ---
**Author:** ![Arianne\_aka\_Hey\_You](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Arianne\_aka\_Hey\_You](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arianne_aka_Hey_You)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941/60 "2005-09-05T22:03:26Z")
[QUOTE=Pixisis] with my hair, it’s actually less work to comb, wash, and braid than to maintain a short “fashionable” hairstyle. i’d have to use blow dryer, funky round brushe, curling iron, hair spray … ugh. \ I’m right there with you. I’ll be 38 next month, and my hair is down to my hips. I do need a trim, but I find that my hair is less hassle when it’s long than when it’s shorter. Back when I had shoulder length hair, I was constantly fussing with curlers, curling irons, blow dryers, hair spray, mousse, etc. Now, it’s really no muss, no fuss. I wash it, let it dry overnight, brush it out and braid it or throw a barrette in it and off I go. People keep telling me I should cut and donate it, but that would mean I’d have to give it up! It’s taken me over 16 years to get to this length and I intend to enjoy it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-age-and-hair-length/319941.md?page=4)