Do you think short or shoulder length hair looks younger on a 55 yr old woman?

[FireDancer]

I think length depends on the person, not so much the age. There are so many variables.

I think this way too. Your hair needs to fit your face and it's features just like glasses need to fit the shape of your face and clothes should be picked depending on your body.

I have seen older people with younger hair cuts and they pull it off and others that just look like they are trying too hard to cling to youth. It is like low rise jeans. On on type of body it looks good while on another it turns into a meaty disaster. There is no one size fits all but depends on the person in question.

 

[JessicaR]

It is like low rise jeans. On on type of boy it looks good while on another it turns into a meaty disaster.

No further comment needed. Sorry just teasing I know it was a typo...right? I'm positive my low rise jeans look better on me than my husband.

 

[pppiglet]

Well, I am 49 and my hair is mid-back length and needs a good layer again. I won't go above shoulders until at least 60! I see so many women that would really look younger if they just wore their hair a little longer and styled nicely. Right now I've been so busy at work and haven't had time to make an appointment in quite a few months and it's just starting to get stringy. When I was 40 I was told from across the room I look 16!

 

[FireDancer]

No further comment needed. Sorry just teasing I know it was a typo...right? I'm positive my low rise jeans look better on me than my husband.

Oops. There is nothing I can do about the typos that spell check doesn't catch unfortunately. Well, I guess I could proof read but where is the fun in that.

Of course this weird EMO craze that is going around has a lot of boys wearing girl jeans. Some fashion trends are just head scratchers.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Oops. There is nothing I can do about the typos that spell check doesn't catch unfortunately. Well, I guess I could proof read but where is the fun in that.

Of course this weird EMO craze that is going around has a lot of boys wearing girl jeans. Some fashion trends are just head scratchers.

OT- I don't get the EMO thing at all. When I was a teen, the guys wanted to be considered "tough". Not bad, but tough such as participating in sports. Back then girls loved tough guys and that might've been a driving factor. The EMO thing seems strange to me.

 

[Kitty 34]

Every May I get my hair cut to just past my ears. A blunt page-boy cut to be exact. I like it shorter during the summer months and that kind of cut helps to keep my hair fuller as it grows to shoulder length and beyond during the winter months.

I do find that if my put my longer hair pack in just a ponytail I look older but when I curl my longer hair with my curling iron so it gives it a nice bounce, it looks better.

All hair aside, I think it's how a person acts and carries themselves at this middle age!

 

[BelleWDW]

The length is not as important as the thickness IMO. A lot of women start to experience thinning hair as they age. Long thin hair looks kinda straggly no matter how old the woman is. A good medium length cut looks better and fuller, I think. Shoulder length to bottom of ear length is what I consider medium length.

This was my problem-thinning hair,
and longer hair. I got it cut this fall in a chin length bob-and got lots of compliments (vs my shoulder length hair)

 

[npmommie]

if pressed for an answer most (not all)men prefer longer hair on women. I know many husbands say they wish their wife would stop chopping off her hair .
(I know "what husbands prefer" wasn't the question, just throwing that out there)

LOL, we prefer that husbands don't tell us how to wear our hair

 

[crz4mm2]

I had not had longer hair since 1980.... Always wore my hair short, sometimes VERY short.
Two years ago I started growing it out. I get a trim every 5 weeks or so and color too. I am 100% white in the front 1/2 of my hair, and about 50% in the back. I do NOT like Gray hair on me. I think it makes me look OLD.... so I have never allowed the Gray to grow out.
This last time I went to the hairdresser, I asked if there was someway we could add some highlights or something that would help "disguise" the gray. She said we could heavy highlight and keep doing that.
Well, I came out almost blonde I am still getting used to it. Not sure I will like it, but am willing to give it a shot. I would have to start touching up the roots at about 2 weeks post dye job before.
I do like it better with some curl in it.
People say I look at least 10-15 years younger.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I think it depends on the person.

I've seen some older women with longer hair, and thought it looked great.

I've also seen some older, who it doesn't look so great on.

I agree. Even young girls can look terrible with long hair. I think it depends on what you look like in general.

 

[Mermaid02]

Another "it depends". If it doesn't look good, generally it looks really bad- desperate almost. BUT if you get a nice style it can take YEARS off your appearance!

Do you have a stylist you like and trust to tell you the truth? I would start there- A good stylist is worth her/his weight in gold!

 

[eliza61]

I think length depends on the person, not so much the age. There are so many variables. I saw a makeover this morning and they changed a longer hairdo with layers. One of the stylists stated the long hair was pulling down the woman's features. And the layers did make a difference! It added some bounce and some lift. Longer side swept bangs might be a nice change. Highlights. Try some new things. Maybe a collar length bob with long bangs.

My vote is shorter.

I think women with longer hair tend not to take care of it (not all the time). So many of my friends with long hair tend to take the easy way out and simply pull it back in a ponytail. I'm 50'sh and all my friends with longer hair use all kinds of excuses not to get it regularly trimmed and colored so it just looks old.

 

[Goofycampers]

I think you probably would need some layering, that straight style can age us older gals. But I think gray hair definitely ages a person, so if that is an issue I'd put some color in.

 

[BC]

The gray is really not an issue at all. There are a few strands here and there. However, I have alot of hair, but it is fine and therefore unless right after I blow dry it, it tends to lay flat on my head. Many years ago when it was really short, I used to get the dreaded PERM which gave me lift and curl. I really do not want to go down that road again. I actually had a perm put in from advice from a hairdresser about 3 years ago when it was growing out and it was a nightmare! I am taking all your advice and think I will start out with just having some layers put in. I am a brunette with some natural auburn color, but am thinking of some highlights & lowlights. The only thing about coloring is once ya start it, you gotta keep it up. Also, I think with layers it is much more labor intensive when it comes to the morning rush. Oh well, guess that's the price ya gotta pay to be beautiful!! BTW, my husband met me when it was very short and has complained since I grew it out that he wants his old girl back. He really likes it short, but I need to feel good about myself and I feel like I look better with some length.

 

[agnes!]

But, now it has been so long, I don't know who to trust to do it. Man, you can really have a mess if someone botches up your haircut. I know you all will say to ask friends and coworkers, but even some of their hairdressers may not be as great as they think they are, ya know what I mean!

I know exactly what you mean. I have in the past visited salons and watched stylists cut. You can just sit in the waiting area and browse through their books watching to see if a stylist catches your eye. The talented ones are usually very noticeable after watching for a bit. Also I stop and ask people in the mall at work or wherever who cuts their hair if they have an exceptional look.

Maybe we can get a picture after you take the plunge! Hope if you do it that you love it!

Someone once posted a great haircutting tip here on the DIS. When you are looking for a new hairstylist, only get a trim for the first time. If the stylist listens to you, if you like the salon, if you like the trim, *then* think about getting a major overhaul .

I'm thinking myself of maybe asking around and going to a new person for a trim, I haven't been liking my past couple of haircuts...but I hate the thought of going to someone completely new.

agnes!

 

[claudia]

I wore my hair very short for years, you know cut very close around the ears and the neck (like Jamie Lee Curtis, Linda Dano, etc) and then I decided to grow it out. Well, it took forever (years), but I finally did it. It is all one length and down to my shoulders. I am now 55 and have a tiny bit of gray. I hate to cut it in layers as it took me forever to get it like it is, but I feel it is dragging me down, just straight with no style. Anyway, I guess it being longer makes me think I look younger, but I don't know for sure. Just wondered what your thoughts are? Do you think long or short hair makes you look younger?

Same age as you and yes, I do think hair around shoulder length makes you look younger. That said, I have mine about there, but I so have some layers in it and bangs that I push off to the side...but my hair is very thick and wavy. Maybe the salon could just trim it with beveled edges??

 

[Inigo]

LOL, we prefer that husbands don't tell us how to wear our hair

Well, people can tell me how they prefer I wear my hair or my clothes, but that doesn't mean I'll respond in a way they'll like! I usually just say, "Duly noted" and then do whatever I want.

That said, I'd suggest some layering so your hair has movement and life in it. One length hair just seems to lay there, IMO, and is not flattering on most women no matter their age. One length is too harsh looking.

5 months ago, I grew my bangs out, and love having long side-swept bangs that are about equal with my mouth now. This is the first time I've not had bangs since I started college back in the very early 80's. My DD19 has never had bangs until three months ago. My hair is now longer than her's. It's weird, like we switched hair styles.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I guess another variable is how bad you want to look "young". I always tease my husband that that grey in his sideburns is worth an extra 20k! I am in an uppper management position, and honestly it would look innapropriate if I looked less than my years. I have no interest in looking younger......just looking the best for my true age. So to me women with short hair look better, but also more confident and powerful, which may or may not be important to you.

 

[BC]

I in no way want to look like I am trying to be 20 again. In fact, I hate seeing women that do that. I just feel like I am dragging myself down like I am. I just retired from a great position after 36 years with the same company and understand what you mean by the appearance of different looks making a statement. I just wanted a general opinion of what most people thought.

BTW, everyone that says they have bangs that sweep to the side.....how do you keep them from falling in your face constantly? I am not a big hair spray person and even when I use it, the bangs just fall down in a big clump!

 

[OceanAnnie]

I in no way want to look like I am trying to be 20 again. In fact, I hate seeing women that do that. I just feel like I am dragging myself down like I am. I just retired from a great position after 36 years with the same company and understand what you mean by the appearance of different looks making a statement. I just wanted a general opinion of what most people thought.

BTW, everyone that says they have bangs that sweep to the side.....how do you keep them from falling in your face constantly? I am not a big hair spray person and even when I use it, the bangs just fall down in a big clump!

It could be your hair grows forward and then it will be a battle. Have you tried mouse or a gel? Either one might help. Use one or the other at the roots when you blow dry. Then again it could be the weight of your hair, if you get it in layers and thin it out a bit it would help.

I use a large round brush, roll the shorter hair in the front under and blow dry, (not completely cause you don't want to damage your hair) then brush it back. Gives it some bounce and it stays away from my face. Ancient Chinese secret.