long hair at age 50

AnnaT wrote: A long face will never look nice with long hair, no matter what age. ? I knew it ! All those people - they were doing nothing but paying false compliments towards me on this exact subject (face shape and long hair) all this time. It's a conspiracy I tell you ! From talking to SOME older women - I've found that they believe that short hair is easier to take care of than long hair. Hence the short hair. Though I'm a couple decades from the big 50 - I put my long hair up quite often. Why - you may ask ? Well, it's not "sagging jowls" "the effects of gravity" or anything like that. I'm an engineer that doesn't want to risk being scalped by various machinery ! Well - even when I'm not at work - I put my hair up. I love how elegant the hair looks in various updo's. There are so many beautiful variations I have heard that there is a correlation between "good looks" and higher pay. Even though it is cute, trendy etc - I wouldn't be happy with short hair. Sad looking people of any length of hair are probably not as attractive as people who are happy with themselves and with what they consider beautiful. Thankfully, I work in an industry in which we are judged on the results that we produce - not on some abstract concept of what beauty is. I remember reading on another board that the idea that older women "should" cut their long hair is just a way to try to deny their sexuality. Food for thought. Peace !

true dat

eKatherine wrote: Amaaaazzzing. If you keep telling yourself that your hormones aren't decreasing, HD, maybe you'll start to believe it.

Sing Hallelujaaah! eKatherine has found the way to beat biology! Don't ever take a medecine - your doc is wrong, eKatherine is right! Mind over matter!

eKatherine wrote: You may feel that older women are worthless hags who should shave their heads in order to be subservient to the wishes of Mother Nature as you are channeling them.

Well eKatherine, is that how you feel of older women "worthless hags"? Then shouting the opposite to try to get that thought to go away?
Because it CERTAINLY is not the way I look at older women. And should you read my post instead of beginning to fulminate if you read something that differs from your point of view!

eKatherine wrote: I just know that when I let my hair down at the end of a workday. A bad hair day is when the ends pop out of my bun and it looks like I did it on purpose.

Oh my God, could it be that eKatherine does something to look more attractive (as I've suggested too?) ... could she be human after all?

eKatherine wrote: ... perhaps you remember the pop psychology book I'm OK, You're OK. I just think this is a situation of "I'm OK, you need to mind your own business".

Well that's our eKatherine again: she's OK, knows it all and the rest needs to keep their mouth, if they don't agree with her that is. Praise her and your OK, otherwise beware... Here she prooves one thing is not accurate all the time: the older, the wiser. Yep - eKatherine beats the facts of life, yet again!

eKatherine wrote: Maybe I'm intimidating?

Wishfull thinking??? The words stuborn and closed-minded seem to pop to my mind. Try to respect someone elses opinion for once ... could be refreshing!

Susan W wrote: Ya know, this whole face shape thing is just meant to disguise. ... Why? To make your face look less square. Likewise, long hair does not make a long face look less long. Why should we disguise our features to try to get everyone to look the same?

Dear Susan, check out some research on that area: people that have a regular symmetrical oval face (3x1/3 in length - forehead, nose, lips and chin- and 2x1/3 in width) are generally regarded as 'beautiful'. I can't change that. As you might know (how unfair it is), 'beautiful' people get a better salary than more capable persons that don't conform to this ideal. The 'beautiful' people get more things done than others. Just a general fact of life. That's why hairdressers advice to make your look more balanced. Not because they are maniacs (exceptions always possible in both directions - read eKatherine's post as a good example), but because a better looking person (according to the general idea) gets more done.

As hairdressers should give advice (without pushing you), you are always free to do what you like. When you don't like yourself with shorter hair, then have it long! Even the best looking persons will look bad when they're unhappy. So in your case - you'll look better (because happier) with long hair than short.

Indeed, Chrissy, you are more polite than I. I just know that when I let my hair down at the end of a workday I enjoy looking like a gentlewoman on an antique postcard. I feel such a sense of continuity with our ancestors.

Guys look at my hair and think I'm ten years younger than I am.

A bad hair day is when the ends pop out of my bun and it looks like I did it on purpose.

So many people feel threatened when women, older women in particular, refuse to fall in line with their stereotypes and preconceived notions of what older women can or cannot be or do.

Oh, well.

If you're the same age as I am, perhaps you remember the pop psychology book I'm OK, You're OK. I just think this is a situation of "I'm OK, you need to mind your own business".

People never try to get me to cut my hair. Maybe I'm intimidating?

I'm planning a cut in about five years, but only if I need it.

Amaaaazzzing. If you keep telling yourself that your hormones aren't decreasing, HD, maybe you'll start to believe it. You may feel that older women are worthless hags who should shave their heads in order to be subservient to the wishes of Mother Nature as you are channeling them. It's a good thing that older women realize that you're full of c**p and find your self-described "wisdom" to be utterly valueless.

Well, the length of the hair depends on the wishes of the customer. But always take in mind the hairstyle should fit your face shape. E.g. a long face will never look nice with long hair, no matter what age.

A factor to take into consideration is the inevitable drag of mother earth on your face. Elderly will have more hanging down than youngsters. Elasticity is gone, in the face too. This is why most elderly women prefer short hair - it takes the emphasis away from it. And most elderly (still long haired) women realise it too - the put up their hair most of the time.

And finally, as women get older, the production of female hormones diminuishes, whilst the male hormones (yes ladies, do have them too!) are produced at the same speed. This means less hair than in your young days. Making long hair (especially loose) look less attractive. I guess Phil tried to explained this last point a bit clumsily.

This said - you have the completely liberty to do as you please. If the length of your hair is more important than making the best of what mother nature gave you, who am I to argue? All we're allowed to do is offer advise and the experience of years. The choice will always be up to you!

I started growing my hair long when I was a teen. Not really because I wanted long hair, but because my mother always took me to a barber with my brothers where they always cut my hair too short and I would cry after each visit for days. My brothers got crewcuts, I got a pixie. Well as I was in college and not seeing a barber, my hair grew over time and I did not want anyone to cut my hair period. It was below my shoulders when a friend, who also had long hair helped me with my ends. As it grew long, I really began to enjoy it and how people reacted to me with my longer hair. It is silky, shiny and strawberry blonde in color. It has been long now for a good number of years, and I assure you as I get older, even as gray appears, I am not ever going to chop it off. It is a part of me, and I would no longer chop it off than I would a hand or foot.

phil wrote: Can I ask: Do you wear your hair long to be noticed, or just because that's the way you like it and never mind what anyone thinks? If the latter then there's nothing more to be said. If the former, then may I just point out certain public perceptions? One, you may get away with it at 50, but what about 60 or 70+? There has to be (literally!) a cut-off point. Two, is your hair graying - if so wearing it long will be looked upon even less favorably. Tramps spring to mind. Three, given the lessening "flexiblity" of hair in middle to late age, their long hair just cannot be brought into style in the same way that a younger person's can. The only answer is the chop, which can still look stylish on the older person. I've seen women in their 50s with wickedly short hair. I've also seen the same with long hair and the older they are the more straggly it looks. Sadly, one cannot outwit nature.

I have to disagree with most of what you said, phil. First, long hair is nice to have. It's easier to take care of and never gives you a bad hair day.

Most long haired ladies are well aware of negative public perceptions. People are always telling them they should cut it. Frankly, it takes a pretty strong and willful woman to keep fighting this and keep her hair the way she wants it. What's wrong with a woman at 60+ or 70+ wearing an elegant bun?

How many tramps have you seen with long gray hair? I've only seen long gray hair on ladies who wore it in beautifully elegant buns.

I also disagree that gray hair's lessening flexibilty limits its styling capability. Styles don't bend hair so much that this should really matter. Even buns and braids do very little real bending to the hair.

It will only look straggly if they don't get regular trims, at any age, which is what the original poster said.

Not trying to pick a fight with you phil, but I feel that saying things like this only increases the abundant negativity that long haired women have to deal with by causing those who had not yet formed opinions on the subject to think such things are true.

you go carolyn!

I am a fifty one year old man,who admires the courage and
determination of ladies,who are over forty years old to
have waist length long hair. Long hair for ladies over
forty years of age,can be a brilliant,beautiful and pretty
enhancement of the female identity,and can be also be an
positive artistic enhancement.