Long hair on older women

Oh Grans, what a moment to have a hair thread. I've had long hair several times over the years and about 14 years ago my thick very curly hair was almost to my waist. I always wore it up (like an oversized lavatory brush otherwise) and then got fed up - if I changed my jumper or tried on clothes when shopping or wore a hat my hair always came down and had to be re-done. I've agonised over my collar length hair over the last couple of weeks, it's very bushy, a bit frizzy now because of the damp this morning and as I'm not very tall I look a bit top heavy so today I made an appointment for a trim - and now I've read all these posts about how lovely long hair is and I'm riddled with doubts. Mine grows quickly, I reckon by autumn it will be long enough to pin up, oh dear, oh dear, shall I cancel my appointment.

Gaulwoise granny I think you look fabulous!!

Thanks for the net tip Galen, never thought of that so have bought one to try. Also I have to say, having met her twice , that Pittcity's hair is lovely ! Ps will keep mine long as is so fly away and unmanageable if short .

Up and down like a fiddler's elbow - we always say "like a whore's drawers"!

A work colleague once commented that 21 was the age limit for long straight hair.
The cut off point maybe? Going a bit far though.

I had my long, thick, dark brown hair cut to very short when I was 35, although I'd had it long/short/long/short since a teenager.

I've never regretted it and I experiment with different short styles almost each time I get my hair cut. I've stopped colouring it as well now.
Almost everyone I know looks better when they've gone from long to short hair. You need good hairdresser though, who likes short hair themselves.
The only drawback is that hats (which I wear) look better with longer hair, and they stay on better too!

I really admire Mary Beard for all sorts of reasons, and of course she has a perfect right to wear her hair any way she chooses, but I just want to get my hands on it and cut into a lovely choppy bob. I just don't think long grey hair works on anyone, not even the most beautiful, model type older woman. It's so unforgiving, but I admire anyone who has the confidence not to care.

I am 69 had long hair up to 3 months ago. I used to wear it up most of the time as it's quite fine and I have highlights. On special occasions I wore it down and curled or curved it but it took ages to do just to give some body to it. Both myself and my husband love it now as it is so much easier to style and my face doesn't seem as drawn, however, my grandchildren, daughter and sister preferred it long. I don't think I will be growing any more.

I agree.

I've asked my hairdresser this question and she says she'll tell me when it doesn't look ok!

This is good - washing it while still plaited! it's the tangles that are the trouble. Long is I agree much easier to manager, but it can make me look very severe when tied up.

I go up and down, be long for a year or two, then chop off to chin length for a change. At 60 it's salt and pepper; used to be naturally a shade of field mouse brown! I am slowly growing out the more interesting colours I've had through it, using semi permanents to avoid the badger look

I think ladies with pure white hair look stunning whatever its length - I'm not quite there yet. I dislike seeing long straggly hair whatever the age group but that's MY opinion and totally irrelevant to how you feel about your own hair. I used to have short hair when I was at work to save time but since I retired I've grown it to shoulder length again and I love it. We've all been told that "old" ladies shouldn't have long hair, well when I'm old (I'm only 70) maybe I won't, but then again.....

My hair is no way as long as some of the photos. Those with really long, silver hair certainly look amazing. When you get to 70 you should just wear your hair as you want to, so regardless of whether it would look better a bit shorter, I will kid myself it suits me as I quite like it and would miss it. Thanks for your suggestions and pictures, you helped me make up my mind.

I think we should have our hair as we want, regardless of age. Short hair can be ageing.

I think that so many older women have their hair really short,that it's almost like a uniform.It suits some people but can look rather unfeminine.I've been debating whether to have mine shorter and layered,but then you have to have it redone every few months ,which I can't afford.Mine is about fifty percent grey now,one length and just below the shoulder.I can twist it up into a bun for swimming,have in a ponytail for work,or worn loose at other times which may make me look older but ,as someone else said ,it is pretty easy to look after.I use a very cheap coconut shampoo,and invest in a good conditioner. (Smile)

My Norfolk Grannie had long straight hair and my sister and I loved to plait it and wind it into a shiny coil at the nape of her neck. It smelt of Pears soap. Nobody else's grannie had long hair. Then, in late middle age she gave in to the fashion of the day and had it cut and permed, looking like everybody else's gran.
If you've got nice hair and don't mind the extra work keep it and be different.

Lurve your pic Marmight and what a brilliant name

My hair goes up and down like a fiddler's elbow. I had it cut short in Oz last year and absolutely hated how I looked so this time I didn't bother. It's now about chin length and I feel much happier. It's about how you feel about it, not what others think. Another inch or so and I will stop......

Whatever your happy with , I say. My dear old mum had a shampoo and set every week from the age of 45, can't see today's 45 year olds having that done. Times have changed. My hair is thick dark brown to my shoulders, I do have my roots done every 6 weeks,and trimmed but have no intention of chopping it all off. Enjoy!!

I think the main thing about any hair is to have it well groomed, always clean and trimmed even if it's long.

I recently had my hair cut and donated it to The Princess Foundation to be used to make wigs for children who have cancer.
My hairdresser normally reminds me that I can't cope with short hair but as it left me with a short bob she agreed to cut it plus my hair grows quickly.
On the other hand my husband, although I had told him what I intended to do, kept saying how much he loved my long, blonde hair, even putting that sentiment in my birthday card, was horrified and it took him about a month before he could speak to me without going on about it. My daughters were so proud of what I had done and the fact that I also raised money for charity it was worth it.
It is now long enough to put in an updo and by the summer I hope it will be able to be plaited, so much easier when sailing or walking.
My mother ,always said that long hair should be cut when you reached 40, ha I'm nearly 62 and will continue to have long hair.

I had long hair in my late 20s/early 30s but it was so thick and heavy that it hurt to put it up. So I've had it cut short since then, and now at 70 I've gone for a really short, spiky look which my husband loves. My colour is glittery silver - I used to have it tinted ash blonde but when I realised that I am now more or less the colour I used to pay a fortune to get, I decided to stop colouring and leave it to nature.

I agree with most posters, it's a matter of personal taste. I do like to see hair that's nicely groomed, though, not straggly or long-because-I-can't-be-bothered-with-it sort of thing.

I was quite happy to wear my very fine, very straight just past shoulder length hair long in a ponytail for years, having had it in a long bob, short bob and permed in the Eighties.
When I got it cut back to a long bob aged 52, 6 years ago I was told that it made me look literally years younger by all and sundry.

So, I know I haven't got one of those faces that can 'do' long hair without looking aged. I envy those who have the hair and the self confidence to do it.

Mine has thinned considerably with the perimenopause and is now in a shortish bob that I chop myself, as I resent paying £15 for a literal 2 minute job in the hairdressers.
It never was my crowning glory, and never will be. My great joy is that whilst my daughter inherited my too-fine locks, my grand-daughter didn't.

I had long hair till my mid-twenties, when I had it cut in the long, hot summer of '76. Since then, until quite recently, I have worn it short - and also lost it altogether about four times as a result of chemotherapy! After my last "bald" encounter, about 10 years ago, I let my hair grow back grey. For the last two or three years I have been growing it - so, not only is it long, but also grey!!!! Strangely enough, I feel I have regained my lost youth and am once again the hippie, free-spirit I once was! (I attach a photo - you may or may not agree!)

Yup - "aging hippie" - that's me!

Yes, Helen Mirren and Judi Dench if you don't have fine hair. I'd love to look like them!