Long grey hair

Mmm, oerhaps it is the Maid Marion appeal, jings. I remember that when I was a child I used to admire the long thick plaits that Indian women often seemed to have. It fascinated me (still does) how the plait stayed in with no ribbon or elastic at the bottom! You don't see that so often nowadays.

I expect that was down to hair oil.

I think it depends on the kind of hair. Mine has always been very fine and I expect, if it hasn't already, it will get thinner with age. Consequently, growing it long would be a waste of time and it would look even more like a rat's nest than it does now.

bags have you tried using a do-nut thingy to put your hair up,I use them but need DD to do it for me,other wise it's a big bull dog clip or a plaited pony-tail keeps tidy all day.I still keep having idea's of having it cut to say my shoulder's but changed my mind yet again.

No, I've never tried a hair-donut, glam. I just use four large kergigrip type things to keep my twist in place. Side bits blow about like a dandelion seed head, but the style is comfortable and requires a minimum of time and effort, which is what I want.

I've seen your hair, and really admire how you have it. How do you manage to turn it inwards before you put the grips in, though?

I have a hairdresser at home once a week. He,s gets my hair respectable in 15 minutes( I wash it just before he arrives) unless he is cutting it. Doing my own hair the rest of the week makes Mary Beard look stunning by comparison . I bet she is so full of interesting stuff to do that she hasn't got a spare 15 minutes. I think she looks what she is a very clever woman who doesn't give tuppence for hairstyles

Maybe she quite rightly feels that she is more that just the way she looks.

I think she does, vampirequeen.

I have seen women with thick iron-grey hair in a single plait, and I thought it highly attractive. I never understood why so many of my mother's friends had to have 'old women's' permed hair that looked as though it had been styled by a pastry-cook - rigid. Longer hair can flow...

I have seen women with thick iron-grey hair in a single plait, and I thought it highly attractive. I never understood why so many of my mother's friends had to have 'old women's' permed hair that looked as though it had been styled by a pastry-cook - rigid. Longer hair can flow...

Mines completely white and I'm growing it. It is thick and wavy.its shoulder length at the moment but when it's longer I shall go back to the bun I used to have. At the moment I just tie it back at the nape of my neck in a clip.

I made a pact with my daughter that, if I ever decide to have old lady permed hair, she will shoot me!

I would love to have long grey hair that I could plait. Mine remains mousey, when my grown out roots show the true color. It's always hidden under blonde highlights, for the last 50 years

I'm another one with blonde highlights although it is my intention to have them paler and paler as my hair gets greyer. The idea is to eventually go completely grey. It is longer than shoulder length and I will continue to let it grow. I really fancy being an old lady with a plait

Some of the comments made about Mary Beard are despicable

Yes they are.

marelli, next time we're together at a meetup, I'll show you how I do it. It takes ages! (a few seconds ). We could have a "how do you do that?" meetup.

At this rate, there's going to be a whole team of gransnetters with long plaits down their backs. We are the trendsetters. You watch!

What does it matter what Mary Beard looks like. It is what is going on in her head and being expressed verbally that makes her so engaging.

And anyway, she looks intelligent. I think that's what the insulting idiots don't like – the thought that she's more intelligent than they are.

Hate permed hair but also don't think long is flattering for mature ladies IMO before you shot me down in flames!

I decided some time ago to grow out all the dye and grow my hair longer so I can put it up. I very much prefer my hair short as it is very fine but my DH doesn't like it short so this is my compromise. It currently looks as if I have been dragged through a hedge backwards but I tried it last night and it is almost long enough. Now I have to find a clip or two or some other decoration as I'm not too wonderful at messing with my hair. I fancy being older and elegant.
As for the comments made about Mary Beard. I was taught that it is rude to make personal remarks and I've found her programmes about Rome very interesting. I'm happy for her to wear her hair just a she wants. I don't want to be a slave to fashion either - there are far more impotant things in life - each to their own as long as they aren't hurting anyone else.

Well, people flatter my hair quite a lot, celeb . Mind you, although it,s long, I don't often wear it long, IYSWIM.

I have shoulder length silver (note: not grey!) hair and am still growing it. Love it. I wear it up, back, down and am now thinking of a plait

Oh Butty, you have completely shattered my illusions! I always picture you with short, brown hair!