Is longer hair on a 69 year old ok?

Hi ITSNELL
Grow your hair to please you! I’ve had longish hair for years but since the first lockdown I haven’t had the length cut. I still have bouncy layers and have it streaked blonde. ( better for greying hair than a block colour) It’s really long now and I’m thrilled with it.
DH loves it too, so that’s a bonus! ?

Loving all the positive posts! All we GN’ers should swish our long grey hair together

Love this article about Mary Beard. As the writer says, we should be seeing more like her.

www.stylist.co.uk/people/mary-beard-civilisations-bbc-tv-books-reading-classics-feminism/204153

I've been amazed at how long some people's hair is! Mine is fine and has never grown that long. It's got too fine to hold a fringe now so that's had to go.

I did have bunches as a child and can remember enjoying the feel of them when I was on a swing. Unfortunately my Mum cut them off when my baby sister was due (I was five) as my Grandma was coming to look after us and Mum didn't think she'd manage to do my hair. It was always kept short after that.

It's longer than usual at the moment, shoulder length, and the colours (foils) are growing out as it's not been done since January. I have had it trimmed once since then.
I'd started to dislike it but having read these posts I'm going to embrace it!

I admire Mary Beard and love her independence and that she doesn’t follow the herd. I love how she can make ancient history palatable and entertaining. It’s clear too that she’s happy in herself. So I don’t see why she should be judged only on her hair -I’ve just googled images of her and her hair is lovely and clearly well looked after.

I’m really pleased and encouraged by all the positive and helpful relies you’ve all made - it’s helped me more than you will ever know. But I don’t want this thread to turn into a vehicle to slate people for their looks - that’s not what this forum is about - there’s plenty of people ready and willing to slag us women off and we don’t have to do it to ourselves.

Why should Mary Beard have to change her style just because she is in the public eye? She is not a professional broadcaster or in any other job where appearance is part of their job.

She is an academic whose main occupation is teaching and research at university. At some time she has attracted a programme makers attention, and from there his choice of her has been shown to be inspired by the way she rapidly became a frequent and popular broadcaster, but broadcasting is not her career and after all the identikit blonde presenters we get on tv and everywhere else on the media, it is nice to see someone who s content to be herself.

Let's face it, when male experts appear on tv looking like unmade beds, everyone thinks it great a sign that they are geniuses. That should apply to women as well.

Well I'm only a couple of years younger and my hair is waist length. I'm lucky that it's still dark brown and very thick (thanks, Dad, for the genes).
Sometimes I straighten it, but normally just let it air dry. Today it's a mass of curls, courtesy of those little rubber wand things that you wrap your hair around overnight. Check out youtube for lots of ways to style it quickly and have fun with it.

Mary Beard looks terrible. She must be very stubborn to keep up that look. Can't understand why she doesn't make an effort when she is so much in the public eye.

I like my hair short, about ear-length at the sides. It hasn’t been cut for ages because of COVID, and is now chin-length. I think it looks too long and is ageing, sort of dragging my face down. I am 80, my hair is still mostly dark brown, fine in texture but a lot of it. I can’t wait to get it properly cut. I cut the fringe myself, but not very well.

I do believe you should do what you like with your hair. For instance, I think Mary Beard would look a lot better with shorter hair, but I defend her right to wear it long if she wants to.

I'm 59! My hair is down to my lower back, coloured too, as I am not growing older gracefully and I intend to keep it that way all the days of my life.

Wear your hair how you want it. Its no one else business and tell them so if they say anything. It isn't breaking the law to have long hair.

We have survived this life and have earned the right to be who we want to be

I have a friend who has her grey hair in two long plaits, Native American style.

That would look terrible on me but looks great on her - different face shape.

I am sure it will look great on you. You have a good head of hair, show it off whilst you still can.x

Mine is long and grey! Go for it! Have had it short, which looked awful. Coloured it for years, but think it looks and feels so much better without all those chemicals ruining condition. And adding to pollutants in water.

Wear it how ever you want to .its your hair

Wow I’m amazed at how many replies my initial post has generated. It’s certainly a hot issue for us all x

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

My hair is curly and shoulder length,though a bit frizzy.
My daughter,when I said I think I might cut it,was horrified.
Enjoy the freedom of having long hair that you can style as you choose, I am sure it will be lovely.

Istnell I have a similar style to the one you're considering (though I don't have lovely wavy curly hair) and I think it looks fine!

If your hair is curly when you grow it have you looked at the Curly Girl method of looking after it? My daughter has lovely curls and uses this to keep her hair looking great.

I have phased of growing my hair only to get fed up and have it short and choppy. Last had my hair cut in January,then lockdown happened. Now its shoulder length and silvery grey, and I actually love it. So do what makes you happy, I'm 68 by the way.

Hey! Leave the Queen alone. Her hair is probably exactly as she likes it, same as ours should be. Mine is thick and before lockdown was about at my shoulders. It has not seen the hairdresser since February so is now much longer and (at 75) I like it. As others have said, it is actually easier to manage than short hair - up, down, ponytail etc. During lockdown I have been using root dyes which are not too difficult if you look on Youtube for a 'how to' video and dh is a help, too. When I get the vaccine I will be making an appointment to have my caramel streaks put back in.

I haven’t had longer hair for 20+yrs but haven’t had it cut since before lockdown. Now it’s just below my shoulder. It’s curly and more often than not I straighten it but recently I really couldn’t bothered, well this morning I saw a neighbour for the first time in months and she said I never knew you had curly hair and it suits you much better long and she’s a hairdresser.
So I think I’ll carry on growing it.

Consensus seems to be wear your hair anyway that makes you happy.

Itsnell your hair sounds and looks great and you have the benefit of being able to show off your earrings. If you do grow it longer, you might want to grow it a bit longer than you think right now so that when it gets on your nerves you can sweep it up when you want to return to your current look.

Do what makes you feel good.

How lovely to hear all the positive messages! I have baby fine and thin hair. Straight too! it seems to go thinner by the week. Any tips for getting it thicker would be appreciated.

Chin length isn’t long,
I have very straight hair, chin length in a Bob.

I have to blow dry it for ages though.

As I am now 75, with very fine features, I know very short hair wouldn’t suit me.

I think the answer is that even long hair needs to be cut well. Many people think that deciding to have long hair is just a matter of letting it grow.
It's important to go to a good hairdresser for a 'consultation' and be guided by what they say before the scissors come out.