Long Hair over 40

Hello Everyone!  I'm 45, and started growing mine out at 42.  Haven't had it this length since I was a teenager.  It seems to take forever to grow, but actually I think it's growing as fast as it ever did.

I don't intend to make my age be a factor in this.  I've always loved long hair, and I'm going to have it before I'm dead.

 

UP Lisa, how long is your hair? How long did it take to grow (from what original length)? Just curious, as I am 41 and starting to grow mine. Also, what type of hair do you have? Thanks!!

Hi.  My hair is past BSL, heading for waist!!!  It is baby-fine and slightly wavy.  It is a dark golden blond that looks red in outdoor photos.

Wow! I missed this topic! I hijacked one of Bob's postings earlier to ask this very question. I've had long and short hair. The past few years it's been around shoulder length. Last year I decided to grow it longer again. It's almost BSL and I'm 45. Every once in awhile it creeps into my mind that I "shouldn't have long hair." But as I said before, with age comes self assurance and I really don't care what anyone else thinks. I was watching some after-awards show where stylists were critiquing the stars at the show...someone who had their hair up was too severe, someone that had their hair down was too overwhelmed by hair...These women looked stunning to me. You know, it's only someone's opinion. It doesn't make it right. Don't you love makeovers? The first thing they go for is to chop off the hair. I must admit I'm still having a hard time with the gray issue. I do dye my hair right now. I don't have much gray but my hair is very dark so those little grays just pop right out! I just dye it my natural color. It's nice to know all you 40 and 50-something folks are out there! We can always come here for support.

I'm lucky, I guess.  I really don't have any gray, yet.  And when I do, it won't show very much with my hair color.

Alisa06 wrote: I have really dark hair, and it is coming in silvery so you can see it really well. I guess I figure that I have earned them.

Well, I am definitely over 40 (not stating how much over 40), and I have been growing my hair out for about 6 years. It was in layers, but I have been trying to achieve a more single-layer look for about 1 year. I recently decided I had to make a decision where I was going with my hair. At the longest layer, I was past BSL and on my way to waist length. I have tried numerous updos on several long hair sites, but I have finally come to the conclusion that I don't have the same type of hair used in most of those styles. No matter how I dry, style, oil or condition, I have thick, heavy hair. Lately, I have been extremely dissatified with how my hair looks in the mirror. I have been pondering for weeks about getting a cut. My husband actually told me to ponder it longer just to make sure. Today, I actually took the long step forward. I had about 6 inches cut from the length. It is close to one length now, and it is still a good length to work with.
I definitely think long hair on over 40 is okay, but it has to work with your lifestyle and of course with your hairtype. Extreme long hair is not for me in this stage of my life. I am satisfied with this length.

I wonder why gray hair is viewed the way it is - why does everyone think they absolutely have no choice but to cover it?  I can think of things I heard when I was little on television, a movie where someone went gray and their daughter said "aren't you going to do something about that?" and tons of commercials that told you that you absolutely had to hide it and made life look good for you if you did (but those shouldn't count, they are only trying to sell hair dye!). 

Gray is a natural part of all of our lives, and I don't see why something that happens to everyone should be viewed as so unacceptable.  I think its another case of companies trying to force their views on us to make us buy their product, the same as those makeover shows' stylists telling us we need short hair so we frequent salons and give them business.  I think the way gray is negatively viewed is sad really.  Gray should be viewed as the earned experience and wisdom it truly represents.

Edited to add:  I don't mean to be harsh on anyone's choice to cover them, if you want to, go for it!  I just mean so many people here seem to want to stop covering them but feel they can't or shouldn't, and that's what I think is a problem.  I know mine will grow in a zig zaggy texture just like my brothers, so they will look different than the rest of my hair too.  So, even if I change their color, they will still effect my appearance, so I may as well leave them.

 


Edited by Susan W - February 07 2007 at 6:56am

Susan, I was just thinking that same thing when I saw a commercial last night for men's hair color. It put life in black and white for  a man who had gray hair, and was talking about the gray getting in the way of who you are.The suddenly, when he colored his hair, the world became color again.

Oh, don't get me wrong Bob--I love long hair on any age person. I'm just realized with my type hair (thick, heavy, wavy) that extreme long hair is not for me. I certainly don't preach one way or another. It just finally hit me I wasn't going to be able to do the things with my hair that I wanted to do. I can never just walk into a store and buy a cute, little hair accessory because it just won't work in my hair. In fact I probably should be some kind of quality control employee for a hair accessory company--"if it will work in my hair, it will work for anyone!"--slogan.

I certainly wasn't attempting to "fool" anyone with my hair length; at least, I don't think I was. To be honest, I can't really remember what I was thinking about 6 years ago when I start growing it out. I do know that trimming off 6 inches will be "easier" for me to secure in updos. In most categories, my hair would still be considered long; it just won't be considered extremely long. I'm okay with this fact since that is the most important fact in all of this discussion. BE HAPPY WITH YOURSELF!!!

I really don't think propaganda is directed at long-haired people. Most commercializing is directed to the youngster in all of us: "drink this beer to feel, act, and look young," "cover your gray hair to feel and look younger," "take this pill to loose your excess weight and look and feel young." Sorry to point this out to the rest of you guys, but the whole world is directed to the 20-30 something age group. I don't necessarily feel old, but I don't see too many people lining up to get gray highlights in their hair.