Long hair does not look good on me. But then, short hair doesn’t look good on me, either . . . I have thin, straight hair that will not take a curl.
I’m 48 and have collarbone-length hair. I rarely wear it down, as it gives me that “cackling old hag” look. Less “Rita Hayworth” than “Edith Massey.” I usually wear it up in what I fondly imagine to be a Gibson Girl look, but I’m afraid “aging hippie librarian” is more to the point. Every few years I get it cut short, hoping for a sophisticated Audrey Hepburn look . . . But Alfalfa is more like it.
Wigs. That’s the way to go. Gotta start wig-shopping.
Don’t be too sure of that. I’ve had catty acquaintances who told me that I should let my hair “go natural.” I can’t help it if nature has given me only four or five grey hairs. This auburn mop is what grows outta my scalp, folks. If you want grey, I’d have to get it from Clairol. :rolleyes:
I think when I get older, I’ll grow my hair out just for kicks, since it’s short now. As long as your hair looks good and you take care of it, the length doesn’t matter. I only ask that you trim your scraggly ends a bit.
Seriously, though. I saw a woman a few days ago who had lovely, long, brown hair, which she wore loose–no pins or ponytail holders anywhere. It looked great except that the ends were all uneven.
Hee. looks embarrassed Change the colour to red and it could have been me. Long, shiny, waves… ends all berserk. I just keep forgetting to make that appointment.
IMHO: I think the best-looking long hair ends just slightly above waist-level–anything else is kind of freaky, needs way too much attention, and has to constantly be put up or styled all the time. It’s just not worth the hassle.
Any age can wear any length of hair, but grannies with purple-and-orange mohawks might be pushing it a bit.
41 next month, hair currently down to the waistband of my jeans, which is when I usually get it thwacked off to about bra-strap length (hey, it makes it easy to explain to the hairdresser!) Last got it cut…jeeze, November, in the farthest reached of India (a culture that appreciates a good head o’hair on a dame I tellya…)
Right now it’s getting too long to effectively brush, I have to pin half of it back at a time to to a good job. Thanks for the reminder to get a trim.
I’m 42 with strawberry-blonde (mixed with gray), curly, almost waist-length hair. It’s very fine in texture so if it wasn’t curly, there’s no way in hell it’d be this long. It’s very easy to take care of but I admit there are times when I think I may be getting too old to wear it this long.? (Where do we come up with these notions anyway??) But my husband likes it and I like most of the time so it’s staying…for now.
This has been what I’ve always heard about it too. As long as you still look young enough in the face to pull it off, why not? When it starts dragging my face down, I’ll get it cut.
I’m 46 and I still have fairly long hair. I’ve had it as long as too the middle of my back, but lately it’s about shoulder length, I’m still growing it out from a shorter cut a few years ago.
But, I’ve been thinking about getting it cut in a shorter length, I don’t have a boyfriend right now, and for some bizarre reason THEY seem to care more about the length of my hair than I do. I do look better with long hair, but I don’t want to cut my chances of maybe someday finding another one short (heh), so to cut, or not to cut?
PS, my hair is a dark blonde, hasn’t changed much in texture (it’s fine, but has been since I had my daughter at 21 and it’s stil very silky and shiny) or gotten thinner and has not a trace of grey or that “grizzled” texture that women my age sometimes have in their hair. That would definitely change my mind and make me go shorter I think.
I’m 36 and I’m in the process of growing it out from nape-of-the-neck short to about bra strap length. It’s just about shoulder blade length now. My hair grows really slow and I get it trimmed often to keep it healthy and even. I expect it to be at my goal length by this time next year. It will have taken 3 years. I’m not sure I will even cut my hair that short again.
I am 19 and my hair is halfway down my back, but I’m not the demographic you are asking about.
Anywho, I think that really long (IE small of the back, ass length, or longer) is unflattering on the vast majority of people- young or old. It’s rare that you see long hair that doesn’t look scraggly, ratty, or split at the ends (one of the few exceptions was my friend from India…that girl had GLORIOUS hair. I was so, so jealous!).
But should someone cut their hair off at a certain age? Why? If you like how it feels and looks, why not keep it? If it gets in the way, becomes really unhealthy, or becomes unmanagable, then yeah- lop it off. It is up to the individual- we all have our own tastes, yadda yadda.
I’m 24 with waist-length very thick & curly hair. It used to be butt-length but I decided to go “blunt”, take off 10" and have it at all one nice, even length.
If it ever goes thin/scraggly (unlikely, considering genetics) I’ll cut it off. But, I’ve tried the short hair thing and it had the “Afro Effect”. I’ve also tried the straightening thing and it made my hair scraggly & fall out.
It sucks not having the option of switching to a cute bob when I turn older. Plus, I’m starting to get a little gray… even though my family has long, thick and healthy hair, it goes gray very early. I’m afraid of “racing stripes” as well because coloring my hair makes it fall out as well. It’ll likely be buns full-time in a few years, prolly.
I have a LOT of hair. Probably 1/3 of my body weight is my insanely thick, very long hair. But I spend maybe 15-20 minutes on it per day and that includes shampooing, conditioning and braiding. People think it takes a lot of work and that I’m really proud of it, but it’s only this way because I am lazy and cheap. One of these days I will get off of my ass and have it cut.
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.
for a while, i did have a buzz cut. that was fun and really easy. it got boring after a while, 'cause i couldn’t do anything with it. with long hair there are always choices.
I haven’t had short hair since I was a little kid and the “Sassoon” cut was in fashion. 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. They do, but I left my hair long anyway.
Due to age, mine has stopped growing, so it will never be what it was, but I’m afraid to go real short, so I’ll keep it at this length (just below the shoulders) for a while.
I’m sure some women can pull off long hair when they’re past 40 and it suits them…However, I tend to think that a flattering, current hair style makes any woman look more attractive - and if you’re getting on in years the long hair tends to draw attention to sagging skin and lines.
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! She looks as though she’s permanently stuck in the 1970s - but then, that’s obviously what they’re going for with her character. Still, she’s pretty and has a nice figure. She could look amazing! It makes me nuts!
