Long hair on older women

I have always said that, with few exceptions, hair does not grow old gracefully.

I think Clare Balding looks ok and prefer her hair to Judi's.

Yes, we're only invisible until we look 'different' for some reason. Then we become figures of fun...

not if we have wild wizard hair!

Surely one advantage of being old is that we become invisible?

Yeah, Tescos, Lidls, the doctors and the local tip!
The park keeper [parkie] once called my friend and me "Bloody little individualists" because we where wearing no shoes and long, straggly hair! [1964]

Don't give up, Wot! We are expressing our individuality .... and I'm sure you must go SOMEWHERE!!!!

Mary Beard doesn't give a stuff how she looks. Good for her.

As to the rest of us....personally I prefer shorter hair on both young and older women. But it has to have volume and style, imho. Many women (particularly older ones) end up looking like Claire Balding.

wot I love your hair

Oh, I can't argue any more. I never go anywhere so what does it matter if I look like Worzel Gummidge? I've given up. Spent too many hours when younger trying to look attractive and for what?? Sorry to seem self pitying

Define "straggly"

Long straggly hair isn't a good look on anyone - it's not an age thing, nor to do with colour!

Harsh, but food for thought! nonnie

Yuk, I hate to see long grey straggly hair that looks like it has never had a comb through it. It is aging and unattractive.

I sometimes think women are hanging onto their youth when they don't do anything with their hair. The fear of looking their age if they get it cut - a bit like the bald man with the combover.

You see them in the supermarket with their hair caught up in a hairslide or a bobble (or both) like a child, and you know if they had it cut shorter into something trendy and smart that they can actually manage, those woman would feel so much better.

Get it cut, get it coloured and embrace life. Life's too short for living in the past.

IMHO

When I was younger I had long hair, but as I got older the long hair was not in keeping with the rest of me. I'm not a wild child any more, and neither is my hair.

Mary Beard is not a good example; she's the exception. Horses for courses, maybe.

Just look at Mary Beard and realise that older ladies shouldn't have long hair. Btw - Mary Beard is only in her 60's which is my point really!

I have always had short cropped hair and envied anyone with long flowing locks.
At the age of 58 I suddenly decided to grow it and I told my hairdresser to keep her scissors hidden from me. Now 6 years later I have lovely long hair down to my shoulder blades.
Yes it's grey but I have an expert colourist at the hairdressers who keeps it a beautiful colour of medium brown with lighter tones. So much so that I am constantly having compliments on the colour! Keep it long !!!!

I hate Judy Dench's hair - I think it looks ghastly.

I love Judi Dench's hair, I think it looks great. My hair is too fine and flat to get away with it myself.

I imagine Lulu's hair owes a lot to all the years she was married to a hairdresser.

Otherwise known as a 'back handed compliment' ...,,,,my darling Mum used to come out with, 'it looks lovely at the back' when I'd had my hair cut.

P.S. my excellent hairdresser has cheered up my salt and pepper hair. Its not too bad at the top and front being a half decent silver and grey combo. It was the back and underneath that was still a grungy mix of old dull browny grey so she's put some silvery and pale blue fine high lights underneath and then done an all over toner to ensure it stays silver and keeps the brassy at bay. The toner is semi-permanent and can be re-done every month or so but is little more than an extra shampoo. I'm really pleased with the overall effect. It looks groomed and smart without looking artificially 'done'. I had no idea there were so many ways of blending and tweaking so am so glad I told her exactly what I wanted without worrying about what was possible - turned out it was perfectly doable!

wot It means criticising someone by making a very small compliment

I don't like the JD look but I do like Helen Mirren's styles and Joanna Lumley always looks good as well. However my hair is more Germaine Greer!

I know I'm higorant, but what does that mean please Janeains?

lizzy I think Lulu has had "help", yes. I think she looks great and that hair is spot on. She's kept her figure, too.