Long Hair over 40

Hello everyone!  I am new here and I just love your discussion board!

I am trying for the first time in years to grow my hair again (over 20 years or so).   I am 42 and a little unsure if long hair will make me look older.  What is everyone's opinion or experiences with that?  Also does long hair look better on certain face shapes?  I have a squarish shaped face and do not want it to look more square.   Thanks for your input.

 

 

Go for it! If you have greys then be very careful if you chose to colour them. Rini knows a bit about henna. I've never understood this women over a certain age should chop off their hair rule.

Welcome kmouse40, I agree I think you should go for it. I don

Welcome, kmouse!

I know plenty of people in their 40's and beyond who have long hair in good condition, and (although I may be biased) I think they all look great with long hair!  Face shape is a complete non-issue.

The whole "choose-a-hairstyle-and-length-to-compliment-your-face-shape " notion is dogma.  Ignore it.

I agree, love what you've got!  You can always wear it up in elegant updos too, long hair gives you more options!

About long hair over ...any random age... first, it doesn't matter and you can and should have it any way you like it.  But also I've noticed more ads on tv and in magazines featuring women with long gray hair, so you'd be in style anyway.

Hi kmouse, welcome.

I found this picture of a lovely women (who appears to be over 40, who
knows though!) who wears her hair long. I think she looks really great, I'm
sure you will too if you decide to go long. I'm only 22, but when I get
older I plan to wear my hair long and natural (I'm already graying in some
spots!)



Sorry for the blurry pic! (you get the idea though)Sugaree38702.3961921296

Thank you so much!   I really appreciate all of your wisdom.  You have certainly encouraged me to go ahead and grow my hair out.  It's about shoulder length now, layered, with about a dozen grays.  I don't really mind the white/grays, I feel I have earned them and they can be a beautiful sign of wisdom.  I always give up in the awkward growing out layer stage but your discussion board and posts have already helped with tips on how to get past this.  Thanks again!

I think longer hair can look gorgeous on older women (not that you're old!) although as the hair growth cycle gets shorter, you might not be able to grow it as long without the ends getting manked. Don't worry about a square face-to balance it you are supposed to have longer hair and avoid chin length bits-opt for a side fringe or something instead say the almighty style gurus in the glossys. 

IMO, the BEST decision an over 40 woman can make is to grow her hair long. Virtually every woman looks stunning with length. Someone said that hair is a woman's richest ornament, and I fully agree. Love it and flaunt it, Kmouse! Blessings, Bob

Hi kmouse 40

I'm with everyone else concerning hair length and age. (I happen to be your age...) I began growing mine 5 years ago and am glad that I did. This is the first time in my life that I've had hair longer than a few inches.

Obviously you have the desire to grow yours longer. Don't worry about what some people might say. There will always be someone who is willing to give you their opinion whether you asked for it or not . Just keep in mind that you'll also get positive comments too!

Really interested to read all the comments here because they confirm what I have decided this year. I'm 50 but look ten years younger even on a bad day.  Luckily inherited good skin from both parents and try to keep in shape.  My hair was a short layered cut for decades.  Decided this year to stop the hair dyes and to grow it out.  I think I look even younger and much more feminine.

My face is also square and I think the long style balances it out and draws attention away from it.  I work with a lady who has a large face.  Her hair is almost waist length and natural grey and white.  Absolutely stunning!

My aim for 2006 is to finish growing out the leftovers of the dyed hair.  That will leave me with hair that is 50% dark brown and 50% chunky white stripes (all natural!).  I love it.  Then I'm going to grow it longer...definitely below the shoulders.  Believe me, that is longer than I've had it since I was about 15!

42 is NOT old!  I wish I'd grown my hair then. But I fell into the common trap of thinking that short hair was easier for a busy mum.  Thinking back, it was probably harder to keep in shape than long hair.

 

Longtime lurker, seldom poster here!

Don't let the infamous "they" hold you back from doing what you want... It's not how old you are - it's doing what YOU want, that will make you happy!  Let your hair grow long - or cut it, if YOU don't like it.  I too am over 40 (well, barely - will be 41 in February) and my hair is down to the middle of my butt.  Do people comment on it? Sure, in a good way!  The negative comments have come only AFTER they find out how old I am - like Sugarloaf, I inherited something from my parents that make me look younger.  (Must be the acne, ha ha - thanks Mom!)  But seriously, try the long hair route if you want.  The only thing I've noticed is that my hair isn't growing quite as fast as when I was younger, so I am taking better care of it, because it takes longer to recover from mistakes.  At any length - take care of your hair, and it will take care of you! 

Greetings, Sugarloaf, and Jeep Girl!

Jeep Girl is so right!  Grow for it, Sugarloaf!  We'll give you all the support you want.

Sugarloaf...good for you!! I, too, am 50+ and have been blessed with excellent genes! Everyone thinks I'm at least 10 years younger. I also had short, layered hair for about 8 years (how did I get in that rut??) and decided in August to let it grow. This decision came about quite by accident because we relocated to another city and it was a while before I could get aquainted with people and find a good beautician. By that time, my hair had been growing out for 5 months, so I looked at myself and realized I was in a rut....and bored with my hair cut. I chose a bob style because my layers had grown out a lot. This cut gave me the shape I wanted. Now I can continue to grow it longer. My goal is shoulder length. Maybe I'm dating myself, but does anyone remember Jackie Kennedy? Look at how great she looked with her gorgeous, longer pageboy style...right up until she died. I think any "mature" woman can look classy with long hair if she has the right style. I'm so happy I found a great beautician that understood what I wanted...even before I told her!

BTW...Merry Christmas everyone!!!

 

Thanks for all your encouragement!   Hey Jeep Girl!  When in February?  I am the 13th!  I don't feel old and I do get mistaken for someone younger (I have 4 teenagers and many times people think I am their older sister).  I didn't want to ruin that.  But you all have helped me understand that long hair is not a problem with age.  My 14 year old daughter has beautiful waist length hair and she refuses to cut it.  I just love it!  Sugarloaf, do you think you will grow it all one length, or have bangs, or what?  I am trying to decide.  Right now I am thinking a side fringe.  My sister has BSL hair with bangs and I don't want to copy her.  My daughter's is all one length.  My 18 year old daughter is growing hers out all one length and it is currently just past shoulder length.  Mine is at or about shoulder length with layers. Anyway, you guys are awesome and I love your pics of your beautiful hair!  

 

Hey Baker46!  I remember Jackie Kennedy!  She was so elegant and beautiful.  That haircut was a signature of hers.  She would not have been the same without it!

Nice hair, LadyFrog!

Go for it. It should not make you look older, more likely younger!

Kmouse, my hair is already all one length apart from a small side fringe.  (I suppose bangs means "fringe"). It means something else where I come from!  It took me about 2 years to grow out the layers and I wouldn't go back. I need a fringe because I have a high forehead that looks better if it is softened a little.

I can appreciate that certain lengths and styles look good an people of certain ages and with certain face shapes; HOWEVER, I think a person should do what THEY like and want. My mom's hair looked SO NICE when it was long but some stylist told her one time that with her face shape she should keep her hair short so not she keeps it SHORT. It drives me crazy. I think she has gorgeous hair; sometimes I think these stylists tell you the opposite of the truth because they're either jealous or they want to take you down a notch. 

Hi Everyone,

such an interesting topic and so close to home for me. I'am proud to say that I'am 44 year's old and growing out my hair. I gave up on all hair dyes and scissors. I have always marched to beat of my own drummer so I REFUSE to go the same direction as most females have taken when it comes to the ageing process with their hair! I will NEVER wear a short, permed hair style with that blueing junk in it. I have silver streaks against medium ash brown hair and I'am very comfortable with it. The streaks actually compliment my skin tone in the summer when I tan dark. Age is all about attitude....if you feel old then you look old.

Hello Everyone!  I'm 45, and started growing mine out at 42.  Haven't had it this length since I was a teenager.  It seems to take forever to grow, but actually I think it's growing as fast as it ever did.

I don't intend to make my age be a factor in this.  I've always loved long hair, and I'm going to have it before I'm dead.

 

I'm 45 - and I aint cutting it!!!!

UP Lisa, how long is your hair? How long did it take to grow (from what original length)? Just curious, as I am 41 and starting to grow mine. Also, what type of hair do you have? Thanks!!

As a newbie, I am so grateful to have found this forum and this thread! For so long, family have been telling me to keep my hair short when I LOVE long hair since having it midback length when young. I must admit that I really didn't expend the effort to care for it well when it was long in the past. You know, lots of "mouse tail" remarks for this very fine hair.

So delighted to find folks 40+ with long hair, as I'm 49. While I do have the dreaded "long face" (oh! oh!), I'm hoping your advice here will help me care for my hair so that I can grow it to comfortable braiding length. I'm just at shoulder length but layered shorter throughout. So much work to do.

Would love to see some pics of the greying or silver hair, as I'm still coloring my hair blonde, like my high school natural color (I know, I know!) Thankfully, I'm noticing much more grey than light brown in new growth, so color very seldom now. I'm actually liking the grey touches at my ears too. Please post some photos of those beautiful heads of graying hair!

Hi.  My hair is past BSL, heading for waist!!!  It is baby-fine and slightly wavy.  It is a dark golden blond that looks red in outdoor photos.