Is longer hair on a 69 year old ok?

I’m similar age to you. My hair is shoulder length with a few layers. I’ve got a full fringe that has been chipped into to. The overall look is quite soft. I sometimes wear it up with a few bits of hair left out to frame my face. Usually my hair is down. Having a fringe apparently is the best face lift you can have because it hides the wrinkles on the forehead. If all else fails I plonk a bobble hat on.

There is absolutely no reason to keep your hair short if you no longer like it, my hair is below my collar bone but I spent about three years growing out the dye. It’s now various shades of grey ranging from white around the hairline to steely grey at the back but that’s not a reason to have it cut short.

Long layers are flattering to a longer face shape - at least I hope they are.

in not IB

I had mine IB a chin length layered bib at the start of lockdown and it was very easy to manage. It’s grown like wild mint as I haven’t been able to get it cut since February so currently wearing IB a very messy bun! Go for it Itsnell your hair is lovely and I’m sure it will look great.

Thank Heavens we don't all have a 'shampoo and set' with a style just like the queen's any more.

Our local 'grannies' hairdresser used to line them all up under the dryers - and turn them out exactly the same - like clones - regardless of face shape or type of hair - truly dreadful!

You can have your hair however you like and longer will suit you. Mine's long, and a big advantage is less frequent hairdresser visits. It's versatile too. I can tie it back, wear it up, put clips in the sides - or just leave it.

Yes Itsnell, my hairdresser trimmed it every 3 or 4 months, to keep it in nice condition.

I've just scragged mine back, even my fringe, which I would never normally do.

So many wrinkles on my forehead I could screw my hat on!!

MissAdventure

I really wish I had hair like that.
I'd have scarves, and slides and bandanas and all sorts!
The possibilities are endless.

Thanks again. The popular view is that short hair is easy to manage but in my experience that’s not the case.

Thank you Nortsat ?

I have hopelessly fine and flyaway hair, but............it is dark brown with no grey!!!

I used to have it short about 50 years ago and it cost-a-load to get it cut so that it did not just glue itself to my head with the static. Now it is long - but I took 6" off it myself a few weeks ago, although it is still long. If anyone has long hair and wants to chop a few inches off but get it even, then try YouTube - it tells you how to do it. It is very easy.

I have just chopped lots off my fringe - probably too much - but I truly do not care any more! I just want to be able to see where I am going easily!

As I get older I seem to please myself much more when it comes to how I look.

I really wish I had hair like that.
I'd have scarves, and slides and bandanas and all sorts!
The possibilities are endless.

Thank you, MisAdventure
Thank you MellowYellow. I wonder should I get regular trims at the hairdressers while I’m growing it or just plough on letting it grow?

Itsnell, I agree with MissA your hair is lovely.
I am sure it would look lovely if it were longer too.

Mine touches my shoulders and I don’t like it to go much further than that, but that’s my individual choice.

Itsnell, you have lovely hair!
It looks as if it would be soft and wavy, and very flattering if it grew longer.

I grew mine Itsnell, from a very short cut to shoulder length. I'm 67 and my hair is thick and wiry. I couldn't have done it without my hairdresser. Every time I got fed up with it she helped me style it to look nice. It's taken 18 months but I'm really pleased with the results. When it got to shoulder length I decided it was too long and it's now just below my chin. I can wear it loose or pin it up, and it feels lovely. Have fun doing it and grit your teeth through the times that make you want to get it cut again because you will go through that!!

Thanks for all your replies it’s helping me think straight and stop worrying about silly things like what people might think.

So this is me with short hair and as you see, I’ve a longish face shape and am lucky to have defined cheekbones under the fat

I think the days are long gone when older women were expected to have short hair.
If they're not long gone, they should be.

Strangely enough, I had this conversation with my granddaughters ( 14 and 16) the other day. My hair has grown ( after a period of steroid induced non growth) so I said I fancied longer ( just past shoulders) hair for a change, and asked what they thought. Both said I should do whatever I wanted, and didn’t at all think that ‘older’ ladies should have short hair.

itsnell If you like the look of it, then do it.
I'm a similar age to you and I've had very short hair for many years. I think it did suit me, but now that it's grown a bit in lockdown I'm liking it and going to have it longer.
Choose what you think suits your face shape and go for it!

When you said long I thought you were going to say somewhere about waist level.

Age is totally irrelevant. Wear your hair anyway you like, Dye it pink with green spots, if that is what you fancy.

Go for it! I'm sure it'll look lovely and you'll feel happier

Wear your hair just how you want.

Hi Itsnell whatever hairstyle you chose should be one you are happy with, not something you think others would approve of. You will never win. ?

I turned 70 at the beginning of the year, it’s only a number and only defines me chronologically.
I have shoulder length, all one length hair which gives me two hairstyle options. One is a messy bun, worn a lot during this particular year and when I can be bothered, I can style my hair into a smooth bob with a Big Hair rotating hot brush which quite surprised me as I can do a professional looking blow dry at home now.

Have a look at various hairstyles on Pintrest to give you some ideas.

Go for whatever makes you happy.

Thank you - that’s a 100% positive response, so far! . I think I’ve just got into a rut and it’s only by looking at photos of myself I realised that short hair doesn’t suit me or my personality so I thought to myself why am I getting it cut short? Age? current trends? . I think you can get caught in a cycle of going to hairdressers and feeling obliged to keep going back every 8 weeks or so.

I think this lockdown is helping reset myself