Okay PS sisters... Please weigh in. During lunch the other day a great debate was unleashed: Middle-aged women should have short hair vs. middle-aged women with long lovely locks. I was reminded, at a party once upon a time, when I was not middle-aged, I was sitting with "the kids" and the youngest leaned over to me and asked "why do all the ladies have the same haircut". I looked around and by darn, if everyone wasn't sporting "the bob". Snicker. As the years went by, I too had The Chin/Shoulder Bob, now on and off over the past 10 years myself. It was "professional". But now, the locks are lengthy. Opinions please before a fellow peri-sister, with long locks, considers a visit to the hairdresser and asks to have those long, lovely locks cut short. Chatty. (P.S. Danger: Never cut or color your hair during PMS)

If you think your long locks are lovely, then don't cut them.

But my 23 year old daughter says that any woman over 45 with long hair looks like a witch.
Needless to say, at 54, my hair is short, but just long enough to cover most of my face.
I wouldn't want to embarrass myself in front of the younger generation.

I have had long hair for 25 years. My husband loves it and doesn't want me to cut it. I too, have debated whether or not an 'older' (geez, when did I become 'older'?? ) woman should have long hair.

All my aunts plus my mother have short hair. When they were younger, they all had longer hair.

I recently cut 5 inches off the bottom; it was really long (almost down to my waist) and getting just ridiculous to take care of (half a bottle of conditioner every time I shampooed it.)

This may not come out right, but I feel like my personality fits with my long hair....I've always been a bit of a hippie (an aging one, now) and "earth mother"-type. And I can sport a variety of styles; I often wear it in a one long french braid, or a soft bun. On the weekends, I wear a pony tail. I guess for now, the long hair is going to stay. Now...the big decision...do I let it go gray? I'm naturally about 1/3 gray, but I color with a medium brown that is very close to my own natural color (in the summer, my hair gets a lot of blonde streaks in it from being outside so much...especially gardening, and the gray isn't as apparent.) In the winter, I tell myself every 2 months or so that I'm going to just let the color do it's own thing. Then I'll end up freaking out and running for the bottle of Clairol.

I have a friend who has been a sort of business mentor for me...she is in her seventies (well, I'm guessing she is in her seventies...)...she has really long, wavy hair that she wears with pride. She's naturally a blonde, so her hair is kind of a silvery-blondish color. I don't think she looks bad at all.

Just my 2 cents..



Now that I think of it, didn't all women in the 'olden days' have long hair, but where it up most of the time. Remember Aunt Bea from the old Andy Griffin show? I saw a re-run the other night where she was in her nightgown and her hair was really long and braided (now that I've got the brain cells fired up, I remember the grandmother on the Walton's did the same thing...O)

where=wear. I'm doing that a lot lately...using the wrong from of a word...more meno fog...or maybe all my hair is pulling too hard on my brain!!

I did it again!!!!! From=form. Say goodnight, Gracie....

Goodnight Gracie...LMAO

I think anyone should wear their hair however they want to wear it. Personally I wear my hair very short but I can't wear long hair without tons of maintenance (I'm lazy)..LOL. I had an aunt that had very long hair and I thought the "silvery" color of it was just beautiful.

All my life I wanted long hair, but my hair is super curly...stupidly so! And all I have ended up with was an afro! I tried staightening it and I got staight straw, it was horrible. My hair started going gray at 22, so I have had to colour it since about 27. Curly hair is naturally dry, so colour and then try and straighten it! Not gonna happen.

I do know you have to be cautious as you age regarding the long hair actually making you appear older - there is nothing worse than a 50 year old woman trying to look 20! And I know some of those types! - however, if you can pull it off, I say go for it!!

I still feel ripped off in life that I never got to have long hair....I lived my dream through my daughters, they all had long hair as children, teens and young adults. Two of them, who inherited the curls but less than their mom, have chosen to wear their hair shorter now...long curly hair is VERY high maintenance!

I personally don't look good with short hair at any age. I keep my hair cut at shoulder length with long layers and bangs. As far as the gray, foiling works for me.
But, I think women should wear their hair how they feel most pretty, comfortable and sexy... long or short as long as they live.
I was reading the posts about chosing a lipstick to suit aging women the other day and I thought how depressing.. I sure don't want to pick a lipstick to suit my 'age' I want to chose makeup because it looks pretty on me. But, then maybe I'm in denial.

I'll chime in on this one too. I wear my hair medium length with long layers and bangs. I've had my hair cut shorter (because someone told me "older" YIKES!!!! women look better in short hair. NOT!!!! I looked awful. I say wear your hair the way you like it. If it makes you feel pretty and happy who's to tell you otherwise.

And just who are these "hair police" anyway?

Have a good day everyone. Donna

I too think it's what a person chooses. I think bald men look great and I've seen some drop dead gorgeous women models with nearly completely white hair so for me, whatever the person does!

I've watched a friend of mine in her 50s grow her hair out from pretty short...it's not as long as RoundRobin's but like her, now my friend can do all kinds of things with it, and I think it looks great. More than great. I particularly like the French braid; RR I bet you're a knockout

About 5 years ago, I went from short-because-practical, which I had worn for a looong time, to about collar length because I wanted to feel it move. As for grey? Same thing...suit yourself! Mine's coming in & doesn't look bad in that longer hair....I always said that if I had it come in an odd pattern, I'd probably color...so far, so good.

One thing I'm keeping an eye on is texture, however. I've been told that that changes.

The one thing about long hair on an older woman that probably wouldn't go, for me, is that wild woman long hair...the flying around style...manes can be OK... that you still see on models and young women, which generally is too much for me...it has no shape, all out of control, usually doesn't fit the clothes style. I don't think that is a super style. But again, that's my opinion, and I'll likely see a woman tomorrow with smile lines who has figured out how to wear one of those to set herself off to perfection.

About dyeing. I'm sticking with my grey for the meantime but what I've thought about are highlights.e....the thing that is slowing me down on experimenting with that is that it would need to be done at a salon, $$, and I am not really keen on adding more caretaking and upkeep to my life right now. (Now THAT's a subject for midlife.)

I was just talking with my husband this morning about women and their hair.
I asked him if he thinks women my age should wear their hair long or short.
His answer?
They can wear their hair long, short, dyed pink or go bald.
Nobody looks at them anyway.

I married an honest man.

And I'm going to find some pink dye or a razor!

I cut my very wavy hair short in my mid-30's (I'm 50 now) and it works well for my face and features, but one of my close friends, who's 55, has shoulder-length hair and she looks lovely. It really depends on the individual woman and her style. Longer hair can look very good on older women *if* it's properly cut (and colored, if necessary)...or, it can be very aging. If you can't tell, ask a good, objective friend. Or, have it cut and see how it looks. It will always grow back!

Had my hair cut short at 45 having worn it long most of my adult life because I thought I was too old for long hair. I'm 53 now and have spent the intervening years growing it back again! I suit it much better longer, even at this age. The trick is I think to chose a style, colour, cut, length that suits your face. It's not the same long style I had when younger.

My biggest expenditure is hair as I think it affects your appearance so much. I don't wear make up and don't really spend much on clothes. Every time I go to the hairdresser the style and colour evolves to suit both my aging and current hair fashions. I do have it coloured. Subtle highlights deal with the fact that by now it would be largely grey in its natural state, so my hair tone still matches complexion but I'm not grey. Some women look stunning with grey hair but I'm not amongst them - well not at this age. If later on it transpires it would suit me, I'll experiment. I condition religiously so it's glossy as well as rich in colour.

I've gone to the same hairdresser for years. She's 35 years old and has always been very honest which is what I rely on her for. She'd tell me if I was looking like mutton dressed up as lamb - in fact I don't think she'd let me walk out of the salon like that! I approach hair as an evolving thing. If at any stage it no longer looks good at its layered shoulder length I'll change. It changes subtly with every visit to the hairdresser in any event.

It's the same way I think that we can no longer wear the style of clothes a teenager would wear, but we can still look stylish and have an impact in the way we dress. In fact a teenager can't get away with the clothes an older woman can wear in that you never get teenagers conveying power and influence through their dress. Wasn't Hillary Clinton voted best dressed woman at some point and doesn't she choose her own clothes rather than relying heavily on a stilist?

Whoops, I meant stylist!

Well, your daughter is generalizing for sure.
To be honest, as a young girl, I never would dress as a witch for Halloween because I looked like one already!
Dark hair and a long face was my lot in life but honestly, my hair has been my glory in all my years, even now at 47.
That does sound so old to have long, long hair, but I look HORRID with short hair and I think it masculinizes almost all woman.
I don't want to masculinize myself when instead, I can be complimented and told I couldn't be beyond my thirties by most people who discover my age.
I also don't like short hair for the fact that it cannot successfully be pulled into a ponytail and when I went through my 2week hot spell last month, ponytails cooled me off to a comfortable, normal state.
Even short hair lays on your neck and makes you hot!

I must have hit the send button much too early...

Have you ever seen some women in their 40s and 50s...even their 60s ...??? I have been drawn to some very attractive women in these age groups ---- some are stunning! Not that I'm gay or anything ... I have seen women in their 20s...fat, frumpy and miserable and who dress too old for their years and I've seen women much older that are absolutely gorgeous... I think any woman, of any age ,should wear their hair how they want --- Take a look at the PS gallery -- there are some beauties on this forum with long and short hair!

It sounds like you're having a great time with hairstyle and color, Interactive. You inspire me to look further into the highlights. If I may ask, what is the base color of your hair? Mine is dark brunette, so I don't know what kind of highlighting would look more natural.

I agree that older women can dress in a way that younger women can't...it takes some looking, and I'm sometimes irritated because sometimes the department stores go to lollipop stuff, even in the misses sections, but it's there to be found and I think you're right.

This is a great topic. My DD got a job (finally) not too far from her college--it's a swanky, really high-end hair salon. She got the job because she speaks fluent French and the salon is 100% French! She gets to practice her languge skills and get free haircuts at the same time! It's very, very expensive. A simple hair cut is $90, and a coloring runs into hundreds. The first thing they told her was that she had to change her hair, because it wasn't stylish enough. She thought "sure, why not, it's free!"...she comes home next week and I'm dying to see it...apparently they cut it shorter (she had rather plain, long, brown hair parted in the middle), layered it in way she said she's never seen, and colored it a dark chestnut brown.

The senior stylist doesn't even take any new clients. All the women who come in are super wealthy (they all bring their tiny little dogs wearing their tiny little matching outfits)---they're difficult to deal with, but my daughter is making great money slaving over their every whim ("bring me some champange, dahling...Merci...")---anyways, here's why I brought it up:

She is going to beg the senior stylist to cut my hair the next time we are in town. According to my daughter, this man is an absolute genius. She has newfound respect for the spatial intelligence it takes to cut, style, and color an older woman's hair to exactly match her face and bring out her best features...

Also, with the 20 lbs I've gained in peri, I think I would look horrible with short hair. I'm not fat, but I'm not thin like I used to be be. In my early twenties, when I weighed 102 pounds, I kind of went crazy (I was in my Annie Lenox phase--) and cut my hair short, had it dyed almost white-blonde, and spiked it!! I look at pictures of myself from then and think "oh dear lord, is that really me?!"

Madonna is 50 and she still has long hair and looks great. On the other hand, Tom Cruise's wife, Kate Holmes is young, but I love the longish-page boy style she is now sporting..

I totally agree about women being attractive in those age groups, look at Cheryl Tiegs, Teri Hatcher, Sandra Bullock,Stevie Nicks, Madonna, they all looks great! I have friends that also look great with long and short hair.
Your also right about the women on this forum being beautiful inside and out!

How TIMELY is this post!

I have always worn my hair long. I have very thick, extremely curly hair. It was to the middle of my back. Everyone associated me with my hair. Well, I chopped it ALL off! It was this time last year.

If you check out my profile picture, you will see just how short it is. Even though I love the convenience of having short hair, I'm seriously considering growing it long again. I look at all the beautiful actresses in their 40s, 50s, and beyond, they look stunning with long hair (ie, Rene Russo, Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher, Julianna Margulies, Andie McDowell, Christy Brinkley, Brook Shields, Dianna Ross, Oprah, Diane Keaton, Sophia Loren, Cher, Madonna, Jane Seymour, etc. etc. etc.). For the first ime in my life, I miss my curls, that is why I want to grow it long again.

I think if you have confidence in your stride, you will look beautiful no matter the length. If it's kept conditioned, split-end free, and a healthy colour, it will be flattering no matter the length.

If I had straight hair, I would have a very, short bob! I have always loved that look.

My husband prefers long hair on me, though thinks both long and short hair on women of any age, can be just beautiful

K~

I'm probably going to get flamed for saying this--but I wouldn't ever take beauty or fashion advice from anyone belonging to the younger generation we have now. IMO, they look terrible. They look sloppy in their ill-fitting clothes and their hair is blah. I'm so glad I never looked like that. Having said that, I'm no raving beauty and certainly not a fashion maven.

I think hair style is a personal choice--what you feel comfortable with--ah yes--comfort has become what it is all about for me. There are several things to consider--your own personal style, your own comfort, your physical attributes, your ability to maintain a look, etc. There should be no set rules for what any women--no matter what her age--should or should not look like. I would never take advice from someone else. A hair style is a very personal choice and you're the one who has to live with it. Don't try to look like others think you should look. Look how YOU think you should look.

When I was younger and considering a different hair style (shag comes to mind), I went to a wig shop and tried on different styles to see what I thought looked good. It can be a fun thing to do with a friend. One place I used to go also sold hats which were also fun to try on.

I'll reserve my comments about the younger generation's lack of taste in music for another thread.

Miss Tibbs

Other people also said I would look great with a bag over my head.
The older I get, the more I agree with them.

Now the question becomes:

Paper or plastic?

OMG!!!! You crack me up!!!! LOL!!! Monica, we all feel that way some days!!! But you just put it so eloquently!!

I asked my SO this morning what he prefered on women, long or short. First he said women should wear their hair however they want....well that was a very safe and diplomatic answer! So then I said no, what do YOU prefer personally....to which he replied, it depends on a woman's hair, but I usually prefer long...but not on you.

A few years ago I did a poll, I asked every man I knew which they prefered, long or short. My father was the only one that said he prefered short. However, I did hear a lot of "I prefer long hair, but not on you!" Again!! So sadly I can't do long hair....even though I have always wanted it!!

How long is long, btw? And how short is short?? I am not crazy about extremely short on most women, it isn't feminine enough for MY taste....but certainly would never tell someone that if I saw them with really short hair.

Miss Tibbs: No flaming here....I agree; I could care less what the 'younger generation' thinks of me. I actually could care less what they think about most things...

i have long straight hair, down to my bottom at the back.. had it for years now, and i have no intentions of cutting it! to my way of thinking, there is no such thing as a way a woman -should- wear her hair at any age! just whatever a woman feels looks good for her..

I have long hair too--always have had and also because I think it is easier to maintain and also because I'm so used to seeing myself with it--feeling it there, etc. All I do is wash it and let it air dry. I wear it in a pony tail--which I know isn't optimal--but it keeps it out of my neck and face--looks neat--and shows off my ear rings that I have a pic of in my profile. When the ends start to look ragged I have my Mom cut it straight across the back. We clamp two rulers on it so she can cut it straight. When I was younger I parted it down the middle and let it hang loose.

I dye it to keep it my natural brown. A few years ago before the symptoms got bad I streaked the brown hair with red highlights. I thought it looked good--but I don't have the patience to do it anymore. Perhaps it looked good because I was 16 pounds lighter and able to wear smaller jeans and tops too. I remember feeling really good about how I looked back then. I'm working on feeling that way again since I started feeling better.

When I was a kid my hair got bleached sort of a strawberry blonde because I was a swimmer and I was always in chlorinated water. I can't imagine me with my hair that light now but it looked natural then--perhaps because my grandpa was a redhead. Maybe I had some of his coloring--before I moved to the sunbelt.

Miss Tibbs

Awwwwwwwww well I'm glad I've inspired someone! I would say my base colour is a mid brown. I don't know what colour the various highlights are specifically - my hairdresser comes along with a load of pots. She reminds me of an artist with the pots and brushes! I suppose it must be different shades of brown, dark blond, reds - she seems to change it or introduce new things from time to time. She has been known to put in more blond shades for summer and more reds for winter - so lightening the hair for summer and making it warmer for winter. She's also put in a few streaks of a darker brown sometimes. Sometimes she seems to place a colour close to the face for definition. It might sound like I come out looking like a skunk but actually it all blends in. I couldn't really analyse what she does with the colour, just as I couldn't analyse what she does with the cut. She cuts it with its natural wave. Robin's right I think in that it must require a spatial intelligence - it's beyond me to analyse. One of the colours she included at one stage looked like a kind of purple, but on the hair and amongst the base colour it didn't look purple. Some of these colours are really sophisticated. I would ask her what colours she uses but I'm not due to go again until New Years Day.

I agree with you that looking for clothes can take some looking but it is there to be found. With colours of clothes as well, I find that different colours suit me now compared to when I was younger.

Monica....
PAPER definitely... it is MUCH more ecological recyled it best... plastic is soooooooooo yesterday!

Seriously, I agree with the majority here that women should wear their hair whatever way they feel most comfortable and I disagree that men don't look at older women any more! There are lots of "older" role models over here..
We have Twiggy (the 60s model not the Powersurge Twiggy!!!). She is in our M&S adverts
She has long hair and look fabulous!
However from a personal point of view at 53 I am finding a strange phenomena over the last couple of years... when I look in the mirror a strange 50 plus woman looks back.. that can't be me can it??????
In my 40s I just looked like me... and now I really don't look like me at all!! I kept catching a glimpse of myself as I passed by shop windows and there was this strange older woman with long hair and in young clothes looking back!
I have now had my hair cut shorter and styled (not short) and I feel much more stylish. I have kept the younger clothes but make sure they are not too young (ie I rejected the puffed sleeve top.. it looked stupid).
Love and HUGS Lindy xx

[quote name='LindyD' date='Dec 10 2007, 07:31 AM' post='199916']
[size=3]Monica....
PAPER definitely... it is MUCH more ecological recyled it best... plastic is soooooooooo yesterday!

..
We have Twiggy (the 60s model not the Powersurge Twiggy!!!). She is in our M&S adverts
She has long hair and look fabulous!

[size="3"]PS.. Powersurge Twiggy (Fran).. you look great too!!!!!!!!!!!
(((HUGS))))

Hi there,
I think that women should wear their hair the way they want.

There is enough people telling us we should do this or that etc.

I have had both long hair and short hair. It usually depends on how I feel at the time when I go to the Hairdresser as to what I have done.
At the moment my hair is just at my neck so am leaving it to grow longer.
My feeling that we should have our hair whichever and however we want it.
Now you all have a great day.
From Deb

Perhaps I'm just jealous because men never looked at me.
You see, I am quite ugly, I always was.
This is truthful, I am not "being down" on myself.
So all this "beauty talk" just makes me angry I was born so homely.

But the one thing I did get out of being beaten with the ugly stick was a sense of humor (sick though it may be!)
When I was younger, I got made fun of and ridiculed.
But now, I like to make others laugh by making fun of myself.
When I walk into a room of strangers, I can feel the stares of horror and disgust.
But I can smile and make a joke about myself, and put the room at ease.

So you see, when I say that I look better with a bag over my head, I speak the truth.
And my husband? He's quite ugly too.
We were introduced by a collegue 27 years ago.
So when he says that he doesn't look at women my age, can you blame the poor man?
He likes the Victoria's Secret models.
At least the man can dream about pretty women!

Sorry for the hijack.
It's time to re-cycle that paper bag.
Today, I think it's going to be green eyeshadow over the eyeholes.
And my hair?
Christmas tree icicles!
I'm going long and silver.

Wishing everyone a good hair day!

I changed my hairdo a few years ago because I wanted it to be easier to take care of. For years, it was down to my bottom. I had it cut to just above my shoulders. I really liked the change and it was SO much easier to take care of! Now it's grown out some and is a few inches down my back. I could leave it this way and even let it grow more, but I really don't like it long anymore. My hair ia too fine and looks much thicker when it's shorter.

I really need to call the lady who cuts my hair......

In my 30s I decided that long hair was too young for me so had a blonde bob longer at the front. it suited me. In my forties, one night I cut it to about two inches all over and loved it. it looked and felt like rabbit fur. In my 50's, decided to grow it again so now it's waist length ( no grey, yet) and worn in a plait or a bun and sometimes, loose. It's not, an attempt to look younger. I just like having it this way. Would not, cut it even if a hundred, teenagers lined up and told me that it was hideous. None of my friend's have short hair either except two whose faces really suit, a short cut. I've actually had no, adverse comments from youngsters. A teaching colleague of mine once wore her very long hair in the Princess Leia 'earphones' style for a few weeks, in school. The children loved, it because the films were so popular then. Bizarre, but fun.

Thank you all! And thank you Genny, Happy New Year to all! And don't anyone cut your long HAIR!! xo

Hello and Happy New Year to everyone!!!!

What an interesting discussion! (thanks, Chatty!) I read all of your replies with great interest, and they have really comforted me a lot... let me explain: currently I am undergoing chemotherapy for Stage 1 Breast Cancer and have NO hair (yep, a really weird feeling, but I'm ok with it, for it's only temporary) I am 51 and have always had long hair. It was so long in high school until my early 30s that I sat on it, then I cut it short and hated it so I let it grow back out again. As it thinned with menopause, I cut it shoulder length, but still felt like I had "long" hair and was very comfortable with it. Now that I have NO hair and haven't had to wash and dry it and am out the door in 10 minutes, I am re-thinking my hair length choices when it does grow back (I'm counting on it to, anyway ) It is going to be my experiment with short hair and it should be an interesting one! My husband, who loves long hair, has always called me an "old hippie", so I'm betting that the short hair thing won't last long for either of us! I have replaced my hair with tie-dyed scarves and still wear the funky, dangle earrings that I wore years and years ago (yes, still have them!) along with some new artsy ones, which is probably another discussion about what type of jewelry "older" women should wear... for me, I say the funkier the better!

As far as us "older" (a.k.a. gutsy, courageous, intelligent, experienced, etc.) women wearing short or long hair (and both choices are beautiful), I say it is a personal choice and go for whatever suits YOU and makes YOU feel gorgeous!!!
Best regards and hugs to all you nice ladies!
Love,
Mary Jo (bluewillow)

Oh, I have to add something: since I have lost my hair with the chemo, my body temperature has totally gone haywire!!! Hair is not just something that adorns our head and makes us look pretty-- it actually is functional!!! My head sweats at night and freezes during the day, and the back of my neck gets so cold that I have to wear two scarves sometimes... just a bit of info there and please, it is perfectly ok to laugh-- I sure am!

Take care and love & hugs to all!
Mary Jo

22 years ago my hair was shoulder length, i remember i wore a typical 80's style with kind of wispy bangs in the front (does anyone remember the movie "The Last Dragon" from 1985, my hair was just like Vanity's in that movie) I also used to trim it every month, about 2 inches. I stopped in 1989 and have not cut it since. It is almost down to my mid-back, i have split ends that could use a trimming but otherwise i'm very happy with my long tresses and would never consider cutting it. I think it makes me look several years younger. On days when i just dont feel like combing i pull it back in a clip or ponytail or a braid and it looks fine.

I think the best hair style is whatever is most flattering for the hair and face type, not age. My hair does not behave well when it is short, so I keep it long, though usually never longer than my shoulderblades. In the winter when it's not fuzzy I can go shoulder-length, but no shorter. My guy loves my hair long. I am 47. I color my hair medium brown, as close to my natural non-gray hair as I can get it. I color it so that there is variation in color, it's not totally monochromatic.

I have very short hair in an academic setting and I have friends with all lengths in a variety of professions. It seems to me that if you have something on your head that you're used to, you're more likely to smile and feel comfortable and therefore look better. I also believe in camo. If you fit into your particular situation--job--town--region, more people will listen to you and do what you tell them, instead of wondering about your strange look. Isn't that the point of men's business suits? Consider the loser who goes to a formal office without a proper suit--he's totally ineffectual. Brave, sure, but at what cost.

If you feel challenged by a lot of people surrounding you, it might be worth it to try a change. If you're unsure about your look, you're going to feel awkward or bothered and look uncomfortable. You marginalize yourself. Since hair length can't be changed every day, examine your audience, and figure out who you most want to target and who will be happy with you any way. Then conform to the expectations of the most troublesome target group.

I'm offering this as a member of a nonconforming family from a small town. My parents always set themselves apart, and now have no friends at all. My mother is so angry and rejected-feeling, that when we visited this holiday, my brother and I were hiding behind the Christmas tree to get away from her sour face [I do call them every morning for a half hour]. My brother does punk style, and as he gets older, he seems to have fewer and fewer friends and is becoming quietly desperate.

I'm not calling for conformity in attitudes and behavior at all. However, I wear downtown clothes downtown--black jeans; campus clothes on campus--wool slacks; and better wool slacks or a skirt to the museum. I feel that I get more cooperation from people on projects, and that I keep and make more friends by blending in. If I feel I have the right skin on for the situation, people listen to me, whether it's for work or joking around at lunch or break. On days when I don't feel pulled together, it has an instant detrimental influence on my speech and demeanor. By feeling natural--whatever style that is--you can then get more done, including pushing through projects that people would resist if they viewed you as being odd or different. Camouflage.

All this does relate to hair. Rather than sticking hard by your guns--long or short, go with what other people seem to want, and then reap the benefits of appearing to fit in. Or pull rank a little by taking a job-fitting style into a hobby situation. Over the last couple of years I saved a community garden and thirty trees, primarily with a woman who worked at another museum. We got a lot of mileage out of our jobs. The parks commissioner and developer thought they would be dealing with old hippies. Instead they ran up against two organized museum professionals who dressed better than anyone else at meeting after meeting. But when I went on site around the construction workers, I always wore jeans and work boots. They probably would never ask me out with my short hair, but they did some crazy maneuvers to protect my trees and that's what I wanted from them. The real estate woman went on site all dressed up, and the construction guys never ever looked her in the face. But she would have been perfect in the museum development office (that's why my friend and I couldn't stand her). So be flexible, appear to fit in, and move forward!

What an interesting outlook Lanky. Thank you for that. Fascinating.

At 62 I finally got a real hair style. It's all one length and chin length. You know the look. I have very fine and grey hair now and it kinda looks long because it's not layered. Also I can still wear it in a tiny ponytail & pigtails. I personally like looking natural and healthy if I can get in some sun. I must admit it though, I started wearing pencil eyeliner because I saw so many others do it. It's practically the only makeup I wear now. Call me crazy!

My Finnish grandmother had long grey braids until she died at 84.... if that is a witch... let me die a witch.....

Interesting!! Hmmm... "Look the Part" comes to mind... Have always been scuccessful with this addage. I know in the workplace it's important to "blend" to some degree. But long hair gives you a lot of flexibility with regard to style. Keeping mine!!! Unless it all falls out!!! Eeek it's getting mighty fine.

Hi All,

I love long hair at any age!! Look at my profile pic! I am 48 years old an when my hairdresser told me to cut my hair because i was too old...... I fired her. She kept telling me that any woman over 30 with long hair looks like a witch. She thinks it drags a face down. SHe is 55 with short hair and if any of you want to see what a witch looks like ...... just give me your email addy and I will send you a picture of HER. She has short hair and is not pretty at all. I dont care what anyone says........ long hair is a sign of beauty. Some women are beautiful with short hair too....... I just prefer my long locks and even with the perimenopausal "hair Issues" i still maintain my long hair....... If I am having a really bad hair day I just pop in some clip in hair extensions for length and volume and i feel pretty again!
So do what makes you feel good!!!! Its your hair, your life!

Carolyn

Ps. My boyfriend loves when I wear my hair extensions. I think most men love long hair on a women..... lets face it.... it is sexy!

OK, I have to finally weigh in on the great hair debate:

I had my third son at age 34. Not long thereafter, I went to a new hairdresser to spiff up what I thought were my frumpy looks. I asked for the owner of the very chichi salon and told him I needed a boost. I told him why.

Before I knew it, he had trimmed off my shoulder length hair to a short layered cut. Then... THEN he had the nerve to say "You need something a little more in keeping with your age and figure!!! Age??? And as for my figure, I had the very normal figure of a woman who just given birth!!! (Geez, I'm still upset about this; notice all the exclamation points?).

I never went back there again. Now I tell the hairdresser exactly what I want which now, by the way, is a short layered cut. But I am 21 years older and have no patience to round-brush and style and flat iron. But it is a matter of my preference. Not what someone else considers the norm.

Ladies, I say wear your hair however you like it. Life is too short to be pleasing someone else.

Marcy

Does this mean I can take the bag off my head now? Please?

Now stop that Armadillo. There's no reason to be wearing a bag. Problem is we're always comparing ourselves. Who can compete with those young people and even some of the very rich old people? Not I Just be YOU!

But it goes so well with my new green hospital gown!
Oh, very well.....but there is no way in hell I'm taking off my bunny slippers!

I agree with those who said "wear your hair the way it looks best and you feel best". I've had my hair long, short, and in-between. Right now it's long, well past shoulders and getting longer. It's curly, but not kinky..sort of long, ropy curls. And I like it! Think of Sharon Stone, think of Jane Seymour..Two extremes but both look GREAT.