BellaOnline Forums Beauty and Self Hair long hair for woman after the age of 40

what do you think is it good for a woman still to have log hair after 40
contack me
anton
hcut@lantic.net

Hello Anton,
Many women over 40 look wonderful with long hair. It is important to take an honest look at oneself to see if:

• the hair is shiny and in good condition
• it is in an attractive style and not "dated"
• Does the long hair "pull your face down?" (accentuating wrinkles and sagging skin)
• Are you willing to keep it styled everyday? (It often takes more time)

Those are a few of the things to consider. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The way I see it is simple.

If people were not meant to have long hair it would stop growing. If a man wasn't supposed to have it it wouldn't get long.

If a woman wasn't suppose to have it when older it would stop getting longer.

You cannot listen to a supposed rule like Older women can't have long hair. Who said? Do we know who made that rule?

And if suddenly there was a rule that said that when you turn age 20 you have to tie boards to your arms so they won't bend anymore because bendable elbows are out of style would you do it? Would everyone?

Hair is a personal choice, period. It doesn't matter what anyone else says as long as you like your own hair and your hair isn't harming someone else somehow. Like for example someone with really big spikey hair pokes someone.

I am a guy. I am going on 29 years old. My hair is almost to my waist. Do I care what other people think of it? Only when I ask.

I was born with a birth defect called Cleft palette and cleft lip. If anyone saw the movie Red Dragon then you have seen one similar. I'm 28 years old and my left nostril is slightly shorter than the right one. Am I going to fix it? No. I've been this way for almost 29 years. If I were to change it then that person in the mirror would not be me. The only person I would change it for would be me. If God intended for me to be like everyone else he would have made me that way.

I don't mean to preach but I believe that people should wear their hair the way they want whether it looks good to other people or not. Please yourself before you please others or you'll never find the answers.

I am Pro Hair Choice.

What good is a fresh new hairstyle on a face with a frown? I'd rather see the wrong hair on a smiling face than the right hair on a sad face.

It's good to listen to or give all the options but in the end it should be left up to the owner of the hair.

I apologize if I've been too harsh. I'm just very passionate about this subject.

Anton, I'm writing an article on the pros and cons of long hair for mature women containing some ideas on how to make it workable.
Check back this coming week. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

OK, here it is! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Should Older Women Wear Long Hair

Well sure!
Long hair that's well kept, no matter the style can be very attractive on women over 40!

My maternal grandmother wore her long hair until her death at the age of 84. She had a series of stylish updos most of that time, and endured gentle ribbing over her steady consumption of Final Net from the rest of the family.

Final Net should be in a museum Hall of Fame somewhere! The most used hairspray. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

PS. And the strongest! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

My mom has the most amazing salt and pepper hair that goes half way down her back, she is currently 60. She's currently wondering if she should get bangs tho...
Personally I would love to have her same coloring, but Im sad to say that the 'grey hairs' I'm finding are pure white like my fathers =.

In short, I'd have to agree with Lynne, as long as its well kempt and looks good why bother with conventionalism.

Hey I don't think over 40 is older!! I'm 35 and my hair is halfway down my back. Here's a picture from 2 years ago when I was about to cut it off for Locks of Love. It's all grown back in again and I'm about to cut it off again, it's getting to that annoying strangle-me-in-my-sleep length <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I'm trying to convince my sister to get hers cut off with me too and to get a newspaper reporter to cover it, so we help promote the locks for love program <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Lisa, how long ago was that. I know you posted those pictures in the forum but it doesn't seem that long ago.
Your hair grows really fast! I can't believe its down there again!

And... I don't consider 40 an 'older woman.'It is said that 50 is the new 30! I like the sound of that although it may be pushing it a little. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Lynne - I like the thought of 50 being the new 30 - then 58 doesn't sound so old! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

P.S. As many of you can see my short hair from the pix here taken March, 2004 - that was my first short hairdo since childhood.

To update ya'll - I am growing it in long again because my neck got too cold without long hair insulating it - funny, huh. So... I will keep it at least shoulder length when it gets that long again! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I've also stopped coloring it and actually like the natural streaks of white. My hubby (being kind, perhaps) says my hair has more character now.

Totally depends on the person I think. Too many women try to pull it off when their hair is unhealthy but if you have nice hair and keeping it longer fits your personality and makes you more confident - I say go for it! There is no reason we all need to fit some cookie cutter style.

As far as i am concerned long hair is goergous at any age. Think bad when woman worked on the farm along with thier mates and all woman had long hair! .... remember little house on the prarie, all the woman, no matter what age wore thier hair long, and they wre al beautiful!!!!

So ladies, of all ages...LET IT GROW!!!!!

Lynne - that was two summers ago. It turns out my sister already cut her hair off to send to Locks of Love. Figures <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> So I'll have to do mine on its own. I'll take before and after photos and post them <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> They had an address on the locks of love site about wanting volunteers for a documentary, so I wrote them offering myself. I'll give them a little while to respond before going to cut it.

For ages i thought that i should have my hair cut off as the big '40' dawned, then a friend died who was younger than me and i thought stuff it, I could be dead tomorrow and who cares how long my hair is. So now at 43 its waistlength and, ahem, 'natural dark burgundy brown'! Well it says natural on the packet!!! I like it and thats all that counts!

Thats right. How you feel about it should be your first consideration!

Some folks in my spirituality group recently brought up a discussion about hair and spirituality. Native Americans and other cultural groups believe that the spirit, soul or power resides in the hair. We live in Cherokee National Headquarters and I don't believe I've ever seen a Native American in this area with short hair, male or female, young or old.

It's an interesting thought. I know that for me, my hair is a large part of my self-esteem. I grew up in the 60's and had an aunt who was a hairdresser. She convinced my mother that keeping hair very short in childhood would lead to thick hair as an adult. So we got these awful pixie cuts, and since we had baby fine hair, we woke up with it sticking up all over and refusing to lie down. It shows in our school pictures. I wanted long hair, and every haircut was a major trauma. And I grew up with hair that continued to be baby fine until menopause, when it suddenly thickened. So if it did work, I'd rather it had done so when I was in my teens, 20's and 30's!

I'm growing it out now mainly because my husband likes it long. I'm not happy with it at its current stage but if I can get it past my shoulders without lopping it off, I think I'll keep it. I know several 40+ women with hair to their waists and I think they're beautiful.

Good for you Parthena! I'm growing it out now also (I'm 58). The back ends go over my collar now, so I'm on my way. My hair changed from straight to curly at age 40 - go figure?! The hairdresser said it was hormones?

Several of my clients have developed curly hair as adults. - More at the age of mid-fifties and up though. Its very disconcerting for them to figure out how to deal with the curl - usually uneven - after all these years with straight hair.

I do think that it has to do with hormones. My hair became curly at about puberty time <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> , got curlier with the birth of my daughter and is loosening a little now that I'm at the other end of the spectrum in the hormone world. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I agree! Let it grow! At the ripe old age of 49, I am of the personal opinion that long hair on *most* "older" women makes them look younger! With short hair, I had a bad hair day *every* day. Now that I've let it grow out, including my bangs for the first time in my life, I can pull it up for work (and get compliments that it looks very classy) or roll it in those large self-stick rollers when I want to wear it down. I personally find my longer hair a lot easier to deal with and less time-consuming.

It's funny I should come across this topic. When I chopped off all my hair in May of last year (there was less than an inch left) a friend of my had a similar discussion. Her thought was that anyone after 30 shouldn't have their hair longer than their shoulders. This made me feel uncomfortable. I've had long hair most of my life except for the odd time like last May when I chopped it off. I've always grown it back long. I'm already growing it out.

I think it depends on personal preference of course but there is nothing worse than long hair that isn't maintained on an older. Frizzy, split ends and two tone colours from growing out. It just isn't flattering. But long hair that is maintained on an older woman can look gorgeous.

Short hair, long hair; either can look wonderful at any age if it's the right style and is well kept.

I think it's obvious that the man who originally posted this topic had a cultural hair bias and was looking for back-up. However, I think at this point especially in Western culture, a woman can have just about any hair style she wants.

As a little girl, I had no patience for having my hair fussed with, so my mom kept it short. In high school, doing my straight-edge punk thing, it got down to about 1/2". My own hair has been getting curlier as I get older. Now in my later 30s, I'm trying to see how long I can grow it before I decide it's making me crazy. I have slow-growing hair, so it's taken most of the last few years for it to get to just below my shoulders. Then again the increasing curl hides a few inches of the length.

Recently I've met several women in their 40s or older who've decided they'd had it with their hair, and who have shaved their heads bald to see how that works for them. Several let it grow back and kept it short, and several have just decided it was the best thing they ever did and have continued to shave it all off.

I keep my hair about collar bone length now. But when I was younger I always had long hair, except for a time when I was very young when my mom, sisters and I all had little pixie cuts...lol


For years I struggled with a scalp problem..sores and then I would lose my hair in that area...it has now grown in mostly in the areas affected, but the hair is curly and a different texture than the rest. Wierd. I turn 41 this year...on the 15th...and I like having hair to mess with...makes me FEEL younger... I'll probably never go short.

Well this is a very interesting topic for me as I'm not far from 40 and have long hair.

I'd love to be able to shave my head (maybe the hair will come back in thicker!), but I'm afraid it'd be grounds for divorce (not quite, but he sure wouldn't like it!) Hubby complains that my hair's too short as it is - I wear it in a Louise Brooks-style bob. Perfect for my straight, fine, limp hair! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I was told by my sister that 35 was too old for long hair. I was always the lady with the long hair, but I did cut it last year in September and really liked it short. I donated 22 inches of braid to Locks of Love. It kind of looked like a serial killer trophy in the envelope! Anyway, the lure of long hair has me again and I 've already been growing it out. I think the key is have a little style to your long hair and keep it in good condition. That's my 2 cents...back to cooking ,Michelle Personal Chef editor

Hmmm,
If I would know for sure that shaving my hair would make it thicker afterwards, I would rush to the barber shop!
I have thin hair and always feel a bit dissapointed when I see other girls with thick hair.

Oh well, I did neglect to follow the advice to never color my hair. The professional colors my hair now, and I'm looking fine with darkblond/brown hair for about 10 months now.

EEK! <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Before anyone believes that about shaving your head making your hair come back in thicker, It aint so!!
We have a certain number of hair folicles, sometimes, some of them die and go away <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> but you never get new ones that you never had before.

I've colored my hair off and on for years, and it does seem to give it more texture, and make it less greasy. I have oily skin and scalp, and my bangs will look stringy because of the oil from my forehead. It isn't so bad with bleached hair. I'll be coloring it again over spring break next week!


[/quote]
Hmmm,
If I would know for sure that shaving my hair would make it thicker afterwards, I would rush to the barber shop!
I have thin hair and always feel a bit dissapointed when I see other girls with thick hair.

Oh well, I did neglect to follow the advice to never color my hair. The professional colors my hair now, and I'm looking fine with darkblond/brown hair for about 10 months now. [/quote]

You're right, unfortunately. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I think that rumor comes from the fact that hair on your legs and underarms appears to grow back thicker after you've shaved it.

Believe me, I know....I think I told you about the pixie trauma of my childhood.....

But could chemotherapy be an exception? I know more than one person who recovered with a completely different head of hair - texture, curls - even color!

You're right about chemo. That changes your body. However, the clients that I've had who have grown curly hair after chemo have eventually gotten their 'old' pre-cancer hair back.

Why would it be bad?