Curly hair and age

I am 46 and also have long curly hair. I tried cutting my hair to my jawline several years ago, and I just had even wilder curly hair--so I'm not going to get a really controlled, preppy look, unless I blow dry and beat my hair into submission. I say, keep it long and curly if it makes you happy! Many people would die to have our curls! It's an old fashioned idea that women over 40 should wear their hair short. I think it was promulgated by hair stylist who wanted women in their salon once a week for a cut and a 'do, so the stylists could keep making money! Cher has long hair, Renu Russo had that great looking shoulder length bob, Shelly Fabrare has great looking long curls.

Yes Michelle some people go through a lot to have hair just you guys.
I have wavy hair but because it is thick and long it barely shows it waves so I went in the salon to get my hair permed into a spiral. Four hours later and so many hairdressers I finally got what I wanted. But there is a price. It was hard on the neck to bend backward so they made me stand up to rinse. Then of course it was expensive and will only last about six months or a year.
When I showned my hair to a couple of women who had natural spiral hair they were shock that someone would actually spend money to have that look. Personally I think that look is sexy and so easy to take care of. I just dampen my hair before going to work and I have received lots of compliments. I can imagine at times how frustrating it is to not be able to fully comb out your hair like a friend of mine who hates her naturally spiral hair and cut it short once to only dread the results of wild puffy hair. Her length is back to her waist.
Sometimes I think we all think that it is greener on the other side of the fence.

I think the short hair over 40 stuff is tres passe!. I am 50 and wear my naturally curly hair to my shoulders. I am 6` tall and very strong shouldered so shorter hair makes me look like a professional wrestler ( someone has actually asked me that recenlty...I told them that it was my retirement job!).

I think our generation has changed lots of things, and this is just one of them.. Follow what your hiar and your body type tell you is best and you really can`t miss!