Long hair in my seventies

I’m another who let their straight greying hair grow during lockdown and it saved a ton of money. It’s also so much easier to look after. I pin in back, or up, don’t need to wash it so often and love it. I don’t follow rule books about age appropriateness and have noticed many older women with longer hair are similar.
If it’s considered “ageing” I don’t care, because it’s what I’m doing……..ageing. Arn’t we all?

How I agree Lucky. Sounds like my neighbour, younger than me, very short ‘tidy and easy to look after’ (like her clothes) grey hair, looks ten years older than me according to my husband.

I am currently thinking about getting my shoulder length hair cut shorter, so this post is quite apt for me. I have been growing out my fringe....nightmare....with the hopes that if I have hair cut into a chin length bob they will be able to incorporate my fringe into the style so I don't have to have a fringe anymore. As my hair is at the moment it is always tied back at the nape of my neck with the ' tail' bought round over my shoulder. My fringe is clipped back and reaches almost to the back of my head so fingers crossed they can do what I want. Defo don't want one of those short old lady styles with lots of layers

Kate1949

Lucky you WharfedaleGran. Unfortunately what we look like is important to some of us. Shallow or not, losing my hair has made me suicidal.

Total empathy for you, Kate1949 ? and a very good example of why judgement can be so cruel… I didn’t at all mean that what we look like isn’t important, and such a crucial element of our sense of self, just that only we should be the ones to decide what we value in terms of our own appearance. Even more important then for us as women to be supportive of how we all look, whether that’s by choice or circumstances.

Imposing one’s own opinions, like stating older women shouldn’t have hair past their chin, etc, is missing the point, unless you say that’s it’s just your opinion, not stated as “fact”. We’re all individuals with our own preferences and situations ❤️

So sorry that your hair loss has had such a devastating effect on you…
???

Thank you

I feel empathy for you too Kate1949. I just wish we didn’t judge others so harshly according to what we consider “normal”. Unfortunately on many threads I’ve noticed women are often the harshests critics of other women. The Mary Beard comment up thread is an example.

I saw Mary Beard at a book signing a few years ago, and I thought she looked lovely.

I'm 66 and have hair almost to my waist; I wear my hair tied back in a ponytail or loose with an Alice band. Six years ago I decided to have a fringe cut into my hair (which looks better than no fringe) and also half an inch of split ends cut from the rest of my hair. What a mistake it was to gpo to that salon, as I came out with hair to just past bra-strap length when it did NOT need so much off the ends! Ever since then I've distrusted most hairdressers as they all seem to be scissor-happy, especially when faced with a client in her 60's like me. It's taken me several years to grow my hair back to almost its former length and my intention for the future is to only go to a hairdresser to have my fringe properly trimmed.

My Mum, 91, has herself always had short hair and can't understand why I would want to have long hair at my age - on the other hand I don't want to have an old lady haircut, which is why I have my hair long.

Ony problem is with the olour; in my younger days my hair was mid-brown with natural golden-blonde highliughts, but as I'm now an OAP my hair is more grey than brown (very 'pepper and salt') .

Long is one thing - down to your waist is something else.

Re Mary Beard
I think that much of is it is that we just aren’t used to seeing normal looking people on TV.

For example, if you see someone (man or woman) without perfect gleaming veneers it screams out at you.

Once I was looking through the Next catalogue and I saw a woman modelling gym wear.
I instantly thought, ‘she’s a bit chubby’.
It was Denise Lewis, the Olympic athlete.

I’d been completely brain washed by seeing extremely thin young models.

Each to their own of course whatever floats your boat! I don’t personally like long hair I have chin length graduated Bob which is trimmed every 6 weeks and I love it,

FannyC you are so right re normal people and images we are fed.
I like Scandi dramas because they often have normal looking people in the main roles, unlike the Hollywood stuff.

Reading Kates post I feel very shallow. I am ageing and accept it. I prefer my hair to my shoulders because of versatility so will keep it but won’t let it grow much longer. Love the grey that’s coming too.
Sorry you went through so much Kate, you sound a lovely person, I don’t judge anyone on looks but what they are. I am a Mary Beard fan, she is happy with what she is and good for her.

No you're not shallow Allsorts. Apologies if you I made you feel that way. Of course you want advice about your hair. Why shouldn't you? If I had it I'd do the same. Hair loss is my 'thing'. I really must stop posting on hair threads. It's my problem. Making other people feel guilty is not my intention.

I prefer mine long, either tied up or ends curled. I don't think it's 'ageing' - and, personally, I dislike the standard 'old lady' cuts (bobs or helmets) that seem popular for small children too!

Sharing your sorrow may help a little Kate. You have so much sympathy and support. A much loved poster (even if you don’t like dogs!). ?

That's lovely of you GSM. This site is very supportive.

What I object to is that it seems to have been a rule that when you reach 60/70, long hair is not seen as appropriate.

However, this thread is part of the change that says: wear it how you like; and if you want to shave your head, or circumstances dictate that your hair will be lost, then you are allowed to wear that look with pride.

Lucky I remember years' ago you saying that your hair was nipple-length...

and our late-lamented Jings (gawd, how she is missed) asked how long were your nipples!

I love to see someone my age with longer, thick hair, but if you can carry this off you're very fortunate. I've always had baby fine hair and it's thinner now than it was, so like many others I have no choice but to keep it short and make the best of it. If my old lady cut offends, tough!

Allsorts, if you're happy with your hair, don't change it. Your friend might just be a teeny bit jealous - I know I would be.

I have long hair. I wear it in plaits (one or two) mostly because it's so comfortable like that and I can wear hats easily or handybands, etc. People can think what they like. Plaits (slowly greying) is me.

Riverwalk

Lucky I remember years' ago you saying that your hair was nipple-length...

and our late-lamented Jings (gawd, how she is missed) asked how long were your nipples!

I remember it too!

My nipples have risen to my shoulders now!