Long Hair on Women in their 30's, 40's

[browneyes]

I'm 34 and my hair is considered long. It's a few inches past the middle of my back. Ultra straight too. I don't like the way my hair looks short.

 

[mickeymost]

I am 36 and always kept my hair long. My DH used to tease me and tell me he'd leave if I cut it. Well, I had to have chemo and went from long to none. I have to say I think I looked beautiful bald. Now that my hair is to the base of my neck my husband keeps telling me to get it cut, that he liked it shorter. Go figure the guy who was going to leave if I cut it now tells me to cut it short that it looks better that way. I have to agree. I never thought I would want short hair, but I'm going Wed to have it cut and it will be very short, but stylish. If I never had the chemo I never would have cut my hair short.

Hey, there's a style for everyone. You just have to do what your most comfortable with.

 

[ZachnElli]

32 and it's still long. This thread was a shock for me to be included in the "older" group for long hair?? LOL! I have no plans to cut it short ever, just don't like it short on me.

 

[Hillbeans]

Originally posted by ZachnElli
32 and it's still long. This thread was a shock for me to be included in the "older" group for long hair?? LOL! I have no plans to cut it short ever, just don't like it short on me.

LOL, yes, I know since we're the same age! I know a lot of women in corporate jobs chop their hair because they feel it better suits a professional lifestyle, but i've always loved long hair and plan on keeping mine long as well.

 

[Laurajean1014]

I cut my hair to shoulder length last month. Normally it is just about bra length in the back and is wavy/curly. I cut my hair shorter, so it looked more professional for interviewing for corporate job placement.

I intend to let my hair grow back when I can secure a full time job.

 

[tkd lisa]

I'll be 40 this year, and usually wear my hair long. I grow it out and cut it about every 20 months or so to donate to locks of love. At it's longest, it's usually middle of my back, when I donate the hair, I try to keep it no shorter than my shoulders. The first 4-5 inches grow back quickly ( I had it cut in August, and it's grown nearly 5 inches since then), but the last 3-4 take nearly a year.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

I have fine, thin hair as well, and I kept it long through my teens and early twenties. It did absolutely nothing for me. Then I saw Sliding Doors and got Gwyneth Paltrow's pixie blond cut...super short in back, long in front. People would compliment how European I looked.

Plus, I had a great style for formal hair...as she did in the movie, I twist my hair up in flowers for every formal event. It kills me when people ask who did my hair, and where they can get such professional and stylish results. Even my hairdresser couldn't style my hair the way I can, but she did one heck of a job cutting it.

I had a boyfriend who was wildly insecure about dating me, and who was also a real jerk. He was cut loose shortly after he suggested I grow my hair out. Turns out in his hometown, everyone had long hair (yes, and puffy 80's bangs) and he was one of those men who thinks long hair is better regardless of what type of hair you have, etc.

Thank goodness my DH has better sense (and a much more updated sense of fashion!)

 

[Trish Bessette]

I'm 36 and my hair is just below my shoulders. Not terribly long but I will never go short.

Great post and I often wondered the same. My older sister (39) thinks that once your in you 30's you need to go short.

NOT!!!

 

[Blondie]

I don't think it's "out of fashion" or "out of style" to have longer hair. Just because hair is super short with a european style doesn't mean it'll look good on everyone.

There are many longer styles that are "in." Just look at Jennifer Aniston, I wouldn't call her "out dated," not at all. What about Goldie Hawn and Stevie Nicks? They are in their 50's and both look fabulous, in my opinion.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Originally posted by NMAmy
I'm 40 and I still have longish hair (below my shoulders). I have curly hair and if it was shorter I'd look like I was wearing a mop!

Me too! (Except I'm almost 46.)

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Well, I'm close enough to 30 and my hair is still mid back legnth and always will be, as long as I am able to take care of it. I dont look good with short hair. Tried it once, hated it. Grew it back out.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I should also point out though, that I don't spend alot of time on my hair, trim it once every couple of months, don't use any styling products, usually wear it down or in a bun. The only thing that gets annoying is waiting for it to dry after a shower.

 

[faithmagicmickey]

I will be 47 next Monday and my hair for the 1st time in my life is very long. I love it. Yes, it does take longer to take care of but I think it's worth it. My DD always tells me the truth and she loves it. So that is good enough for me.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I heard one time that long hair can drag down the appearance of a woman's face, and when she reaches a certain age, it adds to the look of gravity taking over.

I don't know how true that is.

I have long hair now, about waist length, and I'm 41. I wear up in a ponytail or bun or butterfly most of the time because I like the look of it off my face. My son and husband both like long hair, so I haven't worn it cut short for the past few years.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Originally posted by Blondie
I don't think it's "out of fashion" or "out of style" to have longer hair. Just because hair is super short with a european style doesn't mean it'll look good on everyone.

There are many longer styles that are "in." Just look at Jennifer Aniston, I wouldn't call her "out dated," not at all. What about Goldie Hawn and Stevie Nicks? They are in their 50's and both look fabulous, in my opinion.

I probably didn't make my point clear enough. Long hair did nothing FOR ME. However, my loser ex was under the impression that greasy, stringy, flat long hair with 80s bangs is FUNDAMENTALLY more attractive than a short style regardless of how it looks on you. THAT's what I am rebelling against.

If I had Jennifer Aniston's hair, I would obviously wear it long.

 

[Hillbeans]

Hmm....it's funny. I love Catherine Zeta Jones and I think her hair is probably the most beautiful on any celebrity. When she had the very short wig in "Chicago" I thought it made her look older. Her long hair, IMHO, makes her appear younger.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Depending on the style, short hair makes young people look older and more sophisticated. That's why many women go short to look more professional. But when you get older, the popular theory is that the reverse is true...short hair will make you look younger (this is not necessarily the case). There are exceptions to every rule.

For me, my long hair made me look young, but not in a good way....in a dishevelled, not-confident-enough-to realize-stringy hair-looks-bad-even-if-it-is-a-security-blanket way. But no one who doesn't know my age (30) thinks I am over 25, with my short hair. I think the fact that it is an extremely stylish cut lends youthfulness. And maybe I should thank mom and dad for good genes.

 

[missypie]

I have to disagree about Goldie Hawn. She's beautiful, but needs to stop trying to look 22.

 

[Blondie]

Yeah, there is some truth in the Goldie Hawn thing, she does tend to wear the same style clothes that her 25 y.o. DD would wear! But, she still looks good in them, I think it's part of her overall personality, you know that spunky, flirty, Goldie Hawn charm that I know I won't be able to pull off when I'm her age, and she is 58 years old (I find that hard to believe!)

 

[noel]

I'm 32, which isn't old, but more like getting closer to the term "mature" .

I almost always had short hair when I was a kid and grew it long when I was in college. It was just past shoulder length when I got married almost 10 years ago. I have VERY thick and naturally wavy hair and I couldn't stand how long it took to blow dry - if I let it air dry it still felt damp late into the day! So gradually I got it cut short and now for the past 6 years or so have worn a "pixie" style cut. My hair at it's longest is about 2 inches on top.

DH LOVES women with short hair. I asked if he wanted me to grow it out again and he said A: he couldn't tolerate listening to my whining when I'd attept to style it while it was growing out and B: he likes me better w/short hair.