psychology and hair

Usually 40 is the age that many believe to be the magical number to cut your hair. This is generally thought to be the age that your body starts its decline and gravity takes over. The shorter hair is suppose to "uplift" your look. As we all know, everybody is different and some need it earlier and some can go much later. I am sure there is a psychology behind the cutting of your hair at that age - the end of your youth, the start of your maturity, or whatever. Personally, I do find that as women get older they look better in shorter hair - which I contribute to the change in face and body. Some women will cut their hair after a divorce to signify the "letting go" or the "freedom". Of course I know of a recently divorced lady who is now growing her hair out. There are many reasons women cut their hair - some of which are social pressure.
Has a haircut changed anyone`s life - I`m sure it has. I remember a girl in high school that had long (knee length) hair. She was not popular and to tell you the truth I never thought she was very cute. One day, she walked in with chin length hair. She looked great - I took an interest in her immediately. Unfortunately, so did everyone else! She became very popular and she
ended up marrying the star basketball player.

My experience with that....I had long hair as an undergrad and loved it, and got lots of attention for it; at it`s longest it was to my waste. It was very healthy, so I had no problem with it. However, friends were always telling me to cut my hair to make me look older (I`ve always looked young for my age - I know, I`ll be happy about that one day, but not now!). I gave in and took the dive - got a bob that was just above my chin. I admit, it made me look older, but when I went out, I noticed that men didn`t hit on me anymore. That, combined with the fact that I liked it longer, made me grow it back out.
Then I start grad school, and it was deja vu...though my hair was only to my midback this time, people hassled me to cut it to look older and more "professional"; I work in the university`s School of Business. Because of the professional aspect, I had it cut again, to just above my shoulders, and I plan to keep it that length through grad school. Yes, I look older and more professional, and people do seem to treat me with a little more respect and courtesy, but I miss my long hair a lot.
Moral of the story - peer pressure sucks!

I feel that if there is social pressure of this kind, then it is the woman herself who makes it so. After all at 40+ one should be adult enough to make one`s own decisions at that age. I agree with all that`s been said about peer pressure and making up your own mind - the point is don`t let anyone pressure you! My friend Tracey cut her lovely blonde hair and dyed it dark because she said she way "getting too old for it", and she`s only 30 - and so I wondered, "Why?"