I’ve surrendered !

My hair is light grey, but fine and thin. I’d love to colour it, but then my scalp would be very visible. I use a purple shampoo too and have found a style (I hope) that suits me.
An old school friend has grown her thick grey hair long and wears it in a single plait to the side, over one shoulder and looks fabulous.

She's always had beautiful hair (allegedly). She said in that article that she now has 'help' with it.

Well don't forget wigs/extensions and photoshop can work wonders on these pictures. If that really is her hair then she definitely doesn't have 'old hair'!!

Some people can get away with it at 70!

There is nothing like a hair cut to improve your mood, I always feel very ‘disadvantaged’ when my hair is not under control!

I think what happens is that some people get 'old hair' and some don't. There are people whose hair becomes thin and wispy, and others whose hair's texture and thickness stays much as it was when they were young. If you're in the first group then you have to find a style which will minimise the aging effect of your 'old hair' otherwise it will age you. Men don't have this luxury unfortunately. I could give an example of a very handsome man on TV in his 60s who has thin wispy 'old hair' but I don't want to be rude!
I'm lucky enough to be in the second group. My hair is exactly as it was 40 years ago in texture and thickness, although I'm not so lucky that everything else is the same as 40 years ago. ?

JeanneLeFol

Many years ago I was sitting in hospital with an elderly neighbour who was dying. She asked me to untie my hair ( it was up in a bun at the time ) and to come closer. I did, and she held some of my hair against her cheek. She said when she was a little girl her mother’s hair would fall across her face when she kissed her goodnight, and it reminded her of that.

That must have given her a lot of comfort at a sad time.

Only the lucky ones, with pretty faces (old), and good bone structure, can get away with long grey hair. I would look awful. So I stick to short and dark.

i had the same hair style since my 20s, sat just over my shoulder, curled under and pinned back on one side, i loved my hair until 3 years ago when i got cancer, i decided to get it cut short, think they call it pixie style and have never looked back, so much easier to keep tidy and not having to spend an hour with the curling brush and hair dryer, i was lucky and never lost my hair, but i can't go back to the longer hair.

That's such a lovely memory!

Well done Jeanne.
It sounds like that will have been a big improvement for you.

My hair, tho, has been growing since lockdown from very short to shoulder length.
I use an alice band just now and I'm hoping to have it in a single plait, eventually.

Choice of hairstyle depends on what suits a person's face, and their general style, not just on their age.

Many years ago I was sitting in hospital with an elderly neighbour who was dying. She asked me to untie my hair ( it was up in a bun at the time ) and to come closer. I did, and she held some of my hair against her cheek. She said when she was a little girl her mother’s hair would fall across her face when she kissed her goodnight, and it reminded her of that.

Everyone should feel happy with the way they wear their hair. My DD's have long hair and are in their early 40's it doesn't look wrong.
When I was young my hair was down my back and light, I was got at even before marriage by MIL to be to get it cut but took no notice and it was long on my wedding day. I eventually gave in when teaching in an inner-city school I seemed to catch a few little visitors.
During lockdown, it started to go very dark then grey luckily with streaky pieces I made a pact with a friend we would go grey gracefully together. We had always said we were going to grow old disgracefully.
When I returned to the hairdressers he cropped it much shorter in a style that plays up the grey streaks and I use a purple shampoo.
These days there is no age at which you have to get your hair cut. If it is fine go for it unfortunately mine is very thick and I have to use products to tame it. But who cares not me.

There is nothing wrong with long hair at any age IMO, as others have said it depends on the condition and how well it is looked after. My maternal grandmother had long, snow-white hair and when we visited during my childhood I used to love to watch her sitting by the fire in her rocking chair, brushing her hair and then making it into a bun. I could never carry off long hair as my hair is very fine but I do like to see a nice head of long hair, female or male.

When my children were young in the 1980/90s it was said that women over 30 should always have long hair cut.
Looking back it seems ridiculous.

If my hair had still been thick I would have kept it, but I’ve been embarrassed by its extensive thinning for some time. I feel less self conscious now. I envy all you beautiful gransnet ladies who still have long hair regardless of what age you are. Am pleased that for once I made a good decision ! ( Usually they’re disastrous ?)

My hair is the longest it has ever been and fortunately is of good colour. I know it needs a cut, just to have the ends straightened, and I must do it soon. My mother would have told me to get it cut and go short too, but I like it. I can wear it up or down!

I think people should have their however they want. Mine is just above shoulder length cut into a bob type style. I have it coloured as I think grey hair is quite aging, and mine isn’t even grey, it’s a sort of mix of grey and brown. It’s a horrible colour. But by having it coloured it looks nice. In my opinion anyway.

Well done. I bet you look great. I don't get the 'too old for long hair' thing. It's nobody else's business. I have a friend who is 70 and has almost waist length grey hair. It is absolutely beautiful. It's thick and glossy. As mention (a lot) I have total hair loss and I'm very envious of her hair but I'll forgive her

My hair is short and would be grey if left to its own devices. During lockdown my hair cuts were courtesy of DH.

Great. Well done you!

I think there are probably less hard and fast rules about length of hair and age now and if not it feels like there should be. Surely it's what the owner of the hair feels happiest with.

I know one Gran who has long silver grey hair and always looks lovely. It's versatile. It can be put up or tied back as required.
It's not me by the way. I'm still mousey brown.

Had mine cut off recently, had grown it since lockdown, had it trimmed once in March. Two weeks ago had it cut short , a norm for me, immediately felt much better. Poor hairstyle can drag you down.

My hair is long (below shoulders but nothing like as long as OP describes) but it’s quite thick and it’s well cared for. Awful it isn’t Elizabeth, thank you. I might not like your hair either but I wouldn’t say so. The days of it being almost a crime for a woman to have long hair after 40 were left behind years ago. However from how OP describes her hair I’m sure it looks much better now. It must have taken a lot of courage so well done!