Age appropriate hair?

[Christine]

I don't know if there's a real rule but I don't overly agree that older women shouldn't have longer hair. I agree with many posts here about keeping it in shape.

As you age, your hair tends to lose its luster and, once the gray starts coming in, it can get more coarse and weirdly textured. I think if you don't do anything to it and keep it long, it starts to look like witch hair.

Keeping it long, but keeping the ends regularly trimmed and neat/updated style, using good products and conditioner, and taking care of the hair is probably enough.

I am 46 and have had short/layered hair since my early 20s because that seemed to be the "thing" in the 80s (think Pat Benatar and those that had those styles). I would LOVE to grow mine out a bit but I've never been able to do it. Now that I'm older, I actually think it could benefit from some more length, but it is REALLY hard to grow out layers, especially when you have tons of hair but it's baby fine and doesn't grow fast (that's me).

Someone I know has is my age and has had the same long hairstyle since she was 16. It is bleached blonde, "big" hair and it truthfully, it looks like a rag hanging off her head at this point.

 

[Mermaid02]

This is how I wear my hair- try not to be distracted by her lips.

 

[DeluxePrincess]

Properly cared for and styled longer hair can look great at any age. Longer hair that looks like it's never been trimmed is not a good look for any age, but is especially bad on an older woman.

 

[Buckalew11]

Well, since we all seem to agree that longer hair is fine if kept trimmed, styled, conditioned etc. I want to share that redken has a new line out for "older" hair.

It is called "Time Reset". http://www.stylelist.com/2010/05/21/redken-time-reset-an-anti-aging-haircare-line/

At 45 and growing my hair out, I'm using it and highly recommend it. I'm not someone who easily likes a product but this one has helped my hair and actually helped keep me from getting frustrated with the growing out process and giving up. As a hairdresser, I can't have "bad hair days" or go through a phase of my hair looking terrible and "just an awkward stage." Hair is my business and I highly recommend you all trying this product!

 

[CathrynRose]

Well, since we all seem to agree that longer hair is fine if kept trimmed, styled, conditioned etc. I want to share that redken has a new line out for "older" hair.

It is called "Time Reset". http://www.stylelist.com/2010/05/21/redken-time-reset-an-anti-aging-haircare-line/

At 45 and growing my hair out, I'm using it and highly recommend it. I'm not someone who easily likes a product but this one has helped my hair and actually helped keep me from getting frustrated with the growing out process and giving up. As a hairdresser, I can't have "bad hair days" or go through a phase of my hair looking terrible and "just an awkward stage." Hair is my business and I highly recommend you all trying this product!

I haven't even seen that line. Cool, Brenda. Thanks for sharing.

I had a wedding to do this morning. 6 Up Do's. Most every one was I'd say 25, 26, 27 - but all colored hair. Great shape, but colored.

Then one girl was 21 with a head of hair you'd pay money to have. Wavy, shiny, thick - and of course, Virgin.

Made me so jealous of her 21 y/o head.

 

[pixiewings71]

OP I'm turning 39 on Tuesday, everyone who hears I'm 39, have a 22 year old and 1 year old granddaughter honestly can't beleive it. I get carded everywhere I try to buy alcohol....LOL I am always told I look anywhere from 28-33 and no, not by people I know, they all know how old I am. LOL I have hair about the same length as yours, just a bit past my shoulders with a lot of fun flippy flirty layers. I lOVE it and have no plans to cut it. Every stylist I see tells me my hair is amazing, it's very very healthy, I rarely use any type of product or heat on my hair, my usual style is flipped up in a clip and the bangs falling as they will. I haven't colored or added highlights for years but I would absolutely LOVE to have a purple streak in it. When my hair gets old I'll treat it old but until then by God I'm gonna wear it like I want to. I think you should do the same!

 

[Christine]

Well, since we all seem to agree that longer hair is fine if kept trimmed, styled, conditioned etc. I want to share that redken has a new line out for "older" hair.

It is called "Time Reset". http://www.stylelist.com/2010/05/21/redken-time-reset-an-anti-aging-haircare-line/

At 45 and growing my hair out, I'm using it and highly recommend it. I'm not someone who easily likes a product but this one has helped my hair and actually helped keep me from getting frustrated with the growing out process and giving up. As a hairdresser, I can't have "bad hair days" or go through a phase of my hair looking terrible and "just an awkward stage." Hair is my business and I highly recommend you all trying this product!

As a stylist, can you tell me what about this product that is helping you grow it out? I've been trying for years to grow out but can't do it. It's not really due to the condition of my hair, per se, but the fact that it can be lifeless and limp. I think it will be fine once it gets to a set length and then I can have the right cut done to it, but that awful in between stage of getting this highly layered and texturized haircut grown out is awful. Somewhere along the line I start looking like a man because it has to go flat and my face isn't that cute.

So can you tell me more about this product?

 

[ZachnElli]

I'm 38 and my hair hits the bottom of my bra line and I just got it cut, just a few inches. I've read these threads before and I don't care what anyone else says, I'm not cutting my hair short. When I got my hair cut a week or so ago I went to a different stylist (mine keeps moving, just got a postcard this week, so NOW I know where she is, lol) and she was a good 10 years younger than me and said how pretty my hair is. My hair is all one length, except I do have bangs. I had layers, but cut it all one length last December and I really like it one length. I like the back to be a perfectly straight line if that makes sense. The only one who hassles me about my hair length is my dad. I told him when Brooke Shields cuts her hair off, I'll cut mine!

 

[Buckalew11]

Christine, Here is Redken's site that explains the take home parts of this system.http://www.redken.com/products/haircare/time-reset
It really has given my hair volume & softness (usually these do not go hand-in-hand for me--softness usually equal limp, ). It feels strengthened, looks shinier--I don't know, I'm so critical of most products but this one has really helped my hair.
I also ran some Shades EQ semi-permanent color through it and that helps too. I highlight my hair and am getting some grey (through my part and in front of my ears--how distingushed, NOT! haha). So the Shades blends the grey and tones my highlights to. This also adds volumes to any head of hair, I highly recommend it. It doesn't make me have new growth (roots) as it just fades off so I can do it once a month or every 3 months, no biggie.

As your hair grows out, keep it in a style. Change with the growth, not tryingto keep the short style but longer, but try to change it up but do have a "style" as it goes. often, I like one of my in between stages better than my final result!
Where are you now in the growing out process?
I'm right ar the very , very top of my shoulders. Very layered. The length hits right at my collar so it "breaks" there and gets *caught* in my collar. *ugh* However, I am going to let it get a few inches longer (I think, I hope...) and see if this is just a bad stage.

 

[DisneyMim]

I never knew who is making these rules. Kinda silly. I had short hair growing up because my mother thought it was easier (yeah for her maybe). I hated it and never felt comfortable with short hair. As soon as I was old enough I grew my hair and will never wear it short again. It was very long until about my forties and now it's just below my shoulders and it will stay like this. I feel good and don't care about any silly rules. I say do what you want. Nobody should care.

 

[Christine]

I also ran some Shades EQ semi-permanent color through it and that helps too. I highlight my hair and am getting some grey (through my part and in front of my ears--how distingushed, NOT! haha). So the Shades blends the grey and tones my highlights to. This also adds volumes to any head of hair, I highly recommend it. It doesn't make me have new growth (roots) as it just fades off so I can do it once a month or every 3 months, no biggie.

Is this something I can ask my stylist for or would it be something I can do myself (I'm thinking this needs a license to purchase?).

Where are you now in the growing out process?

I haven't even started. Part of the reason I want to grow it out is that I've been *very* unhappy with my cuts in the last year. My stylist just isn't getting it right and the more I talk to her about it, I think the more nervous she's getting and it keeps getting worse and worse. My hair style is similar to the one that Mermaid02 posted yet about 3 inches SHORTER all over! It is supposed to flip up on the bottom and the sides are supposed to be wispy and flippy but they just don't. I know they *can* but she isn't doing well making them do so. My other alternative is to style everything (sides and below ears) forward and kind of rolled under but she's not cutting it properly to do that either. So everything just seems kind of "dead". I suspect that my last highlight may have overprocessed my hair. I probably need to just change sytlists but I cannot find one at that moment that I can get a good recommendation for. I do like the length that Mermaid02 posted but I just can's seem to get there without everything looking so limp. I have a lot of hair, fortunately, but it is NOT thick, doesn't have much body, and is SO soft. It isn't straight, but isn't curly. I generally work well with it but have been having a bad time since before December.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Christine, Here is Redken's site that explains the take home parts of this system.http://www.redken.com/products/haircare/time-reset
It really has given my hair volume & softness (usually these do not go hand-in-hand for me--softness usually equal limp, ). It feels strengthened, looks shinier--I don't know, I'm so critical of most products but this one has really helped my hair.
I also ran some Shades EQ semi-permanent color through it and that helps too. I highlight my hair and am getting some grey (through my part and in front of my ears--how distingushed, NOT! haha). So the Shades blends the grey and tones my highlights to. This also adds volumes to any head of hair, I highly recommend it. It doesn't make me have new growth (roots) as it just fades off so I can do it once a month or every 3 months, no biggie.

As your hair grows out, keep it in a style. Change with the growth, not tryingto keep the short style but longer, but try to change it up but do have a "style" as it goes. often, I like one of my in between stages better than my final result!
Where are you now in the growing out process?
I'm right ar the very , very top of my shoulders. Very layered. The length hits right at my collar so it "breaks" there and gets *caught* in my collar. *ugh* However, I am going to let it get a few inches longer (I think, I hope...) and see if this is just a bad stage.

I'd like to know more about the Shades.

I have used Ion brand (for the same effect). I don't think that brand is for me.

 

[Buckalew11]

Is this something I can ask my stylist for or would it be something I can do myself (I'm thinking this needs a license to purchase?).




I haven't even started. Part of the reason I want to grow it out is that I've been *very* unhappy with my cuts in the last year. My stylist just isn't getting it right and the more I talk to her about it, I think the more nervous she's getting and it keeps getting worse and worse. My hair style is similar to the one that Mermaid02 posted yet about 3 inches SHORTER all over! It is supposed to flip up on the bottom and the sides are supposed to be wispy and flippy but they just don't. I know they *can* but she isn't doing well making them do so. My other alternative is to style everything (sides and below ears) forward and kind of rolled under but she's not cutting it properly to do that either. So everything just seems kind of "dead". I suspect that my last highlight may have overprocessed my hair. I probably need to just change sytlists but I cannot find one at that moment that I can get a good recommendation for. I do like the length that Mermaid02 posted but I just can's seem to get there without everything looking so limp. I have a lot of hair, fortunately, but it is NOT thick, doesn't have much body, and is SO soft. It isn't straight, but isn't curly. I generally work well with it but have been having a bad time since before December.

I'd like to know more about the Shades.

I have used Ion brand (for the same effect). I don't think that brand is for me.

Shades EQ is made by Redken so, yes, you'd need a licensed hairdresser to do this. However, I am sure that L'Oreal or Clairol (etc.) make a semi-permanent haircolor that would help you get the same effect.

Christine, if you ran, say, 09G in Shades through your hair it would tone your highlights, fill your ends so it didn't look overprocessed, and gie you great body. I wonder if you called of of the forementioned companies and asked them what would be similar to Redken's Shades EQ 09G if they could give you a suggestion for something equal to that? 09G wouldn't cover/blend grey (I have to blend it with another color to do that) but it would keep your blonde blonde and tone it nicely.

When you use Redken Shades on the hair it always looks much better and healthier than before. It really is a wonderful, versatile haircolor.

Also, I think you should try Bumble and Bumble Volumizing spray or something similar. Lightweight as to not weigh down your fine hair but nice on thick hair. Or maybe a Volumizing mousse that is one of the liquid kinds that comes out in a very light foam (think B&BW liquid foaming soaps). Johnathan product has/had a great, but expensive one.

 

[CathrynRose]

Shades EQ is made by Redken so, yes, you'd need a licensed hairdresser to do this. However, I am sure that L'Oreal or Clairol (etc.) make a semi-permanent haircolor that would help you get the same effect.



When you use Redken Shades on the hair it always looks much better and healthier than before. It really is a wonderful, versatile haircolor.
.

Clairol makes one, really similar. They sell it at Sally's. I can't think of what it's called. Lemme Google.....

This stuff - http://www.sallybeauty.com/Semi-Permanent-haircolor/CLAIRL20,default,pd.html?cgid=Hair05-02

It's not too bad. My g/f likes it a lot.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

never let anyone tell you that your hair is too young or old for you. I hear my hairs too young for me alot but I like it (I do pigtails alot, but I teach)

 

[bananda]

i think you can have long hair no matter what your age if it's healthy and flattering.

 

[Christine]

Also, I think you should try Bumble and Bumble Volumizing spray or something similar. Lightweight as to not weigh down your fine hair but nice on thick hair. Or maybe a Volumizing mousse that is one of the liquid kinds that comes out in a very light foam (think B&BW liquid foaming soaps). Johnathan product has/had a great, but expensive one.

I've used the B&B before and it wasn't quite *enough* if that makes sense? Right now I do use a Volumizing Mousse by Cibu and it is the best I've found but also isn't quite *enough* on its own. So I spray in some Graham Webb Thickening Spray into the roots and that seems to usually do the trick...except with the bad haircut I've been sporting since December...nothing is really doing it.

 

[chobie]

I never knew who is making these rules. Kinda silly. I had short hair growing up because my mother thought it was easier (yeah for her maybe). I hated it and never felt comfortable with short hair. As soon as I was old enough I grew my hair and will never wear it short again. It was very long until about my forties and now it's just below my shoulders and it will stay like this. I feel good and don't care about any silly rules. I say do what you want. Nobody should care.

That's me too. I grew my hair out at 19 after having short since I was 6 and have not gone back to short. I'm 42 now and every 3 months I cut it up to my shoulders then let it grown another couple of inches.

 

[Colleen27]

My family knows if I EVER start going to the beauty salon every week for a shampoo and set and getting perms with rollers to keep short hair into an old lady style, they are to shoot me on sight. Just end it right there.

I haven't hit the "cut your hair" age yet, but I just don't see myself with short hair, ever. It looked bad on me when I was young and thin; it would look even worse now that I'm <ahem> not so thin. You really have to have the right face and build for short hair to look good, and that ubiquitous short-permed style that so many older women adopt tends to make heavy women look even heavier/rounder.

Besides, long hair just goes better with my personality. My sunhat and sandals look would clash with short-n-curly!

 

[Christine]

:

I hav and that ubiquitous short-permed style that so many older women adopt tends to make heavy women look even heavier/rounder.

One reason they do that is because of thinning. My grandmother had to do that and I know many women in their late 50's to 60s now that are dealing with thinning hair so the longer, straight style they've been sporting for years doesn't work. The god-awful perm at least fluffs it up so they can cover some of the scalp that is showing.