Aging = Cutting Hair?

I have shoulder blade length hair and I'm older than you. It's a personal preference thing.
I need to be able to tie my hair up and out of my way -- if it's short, I can't do that. I also don't style my hair at all -- I'm way too lazy for that! It air dries. I brush it out and leave it for the most part.
If I cut my hair short, it's totally unmanageable... This length it is wavy, manageable, and easy!
Why would you spend all that time straightening your hair -- curls are awesome! Leave it be - embrace your natural hair! You'll gain 30+ minutes a day.
LBC

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There is nothing "age appropriate" about what a person does with their hair length - it is purely based on preference. I went short while still a teen because I lived in a hot climate and have a THICK BUSHY curly tangled mess of hair that was so much easier and cooler short.

I have friends who have kept their beautiful long locks and are now in their 50s. It is all personal preference - NOT age, although for some, stage of life may tip their decision, as you said to something easier. But really - there is so much some people can do with their long hair, including sweeping it up off their neck in the summer and leaving it down in the winter.

Wear your hair the way YOU want!

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The one rule is to not look ridiculous. The other day I was walking around and see this thin, blond, straight, long hair woman wearing body hugging jeans and wedges. She looked in her 30' from behind, well, when she turned, her face was over-tanned and wrinkly all over, she must have been over 60...kinda shocking, definitely tacky, surely NOT age appropriate. Now, if you take the same woman and let her dress the way she does (because she can pull that off still) BUT give her a more flattering and age appropriate haircut (and especially hair color!), you'd have a good-looking lady. You don't have to look like your grandma OR a barbie doll gone wrong, there are so many different styles out-there. Do something that looks good for your features and your style, you can never go wrong. PS: 34 y.o. is still very young so you can have even more fun!

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Mine is pixie short at the moment and I am loving the freedom. As you have had longer hair for quite some time, maybe nothing so drastic, maybe a shag with some longer layers, you might find you enjoy not having to straighten it daily ( I know plenty of moms that would trade for curls) My mom just went the opposite way, she has grown her hair out and puts her hair up a lot and I love it on her. There are no hard and fast rules about hair = ) It should be about what makes you feel confident.

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First of all, you are still young! And should not be worried about the LENGTH of your hair, but having some change once in a while is good, to keep you looking fresh and modern, and that will make you look and feel younger. There are plenty of older (much older than you!) celebrities that still rock long hair, like Jane Seymour, Elle Macpherson, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, Sheryl Crow; you get the idea! Who says as women age they can't keep long tresses? That's a myth! You do what makes YOU feel beautiful!

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My great-grandmother died at 102 with long, gorgeous, white hair. My mom just turned 60 and keeps shoulder-length hair (some grey - it's actually starting to be noticeable lol). I'll be 33 next month and have always had long hair, and probably won't change that ever.

I hate "age appropriate" anything. Go with your mental age, and what's practical for your lifestyle and what looks good with your hair type and face. I tried to go shorter once, just for a change, and it was *awful* - my hair is just not something that behaves when it's shorter, and I don't have time to wrangle it. For me, longer hair is way more practical because I can just ponytail it.

My hair is naturally wavy - not ringlets, but on a good day I get some curls. It takes 45+ minutes to blow dry it so I just put a curl-enhancing cream in, finger-comb it, scrunch it, and let it air dry. Takes about 3 minutes total and looks great most days. If you have really tight ringlets and can learn how to handle them (cause curls do take some extra know-how and experimentation with products), you could have some really awesome hair.

Lastly, 34 is NOT old, or even approaching old. I have friends at 32/33 who are still going out three times a week and running triathlons. I drive my son in my old sedan, so that I can still drive my red convertible for work :) If I could get away with it professionally, I'd change my hair now - not by making it more "mature", but by dying it some ridiculous color! You are only as old as you think you are. Biological age has very little to do with it.

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If you like your hair as it is, leave it alone. I cut mine last fall, from your length to shoulder length and I hate it. I can't wait for it to grow back out.

But if you want a change, go for it! There's no reason to, unless you want to.

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You don't need to cut your hair! What about a "rooster"? That's where you pull it up high like you're going to put it in a ponytail, but wrap it around itself loosely then put the elastic around to hold it in. It is like a messy bun with some hair sticking out like a rooster.

You're right. There does seem to be a tendency for women to think that long hair is for younger women, and they should have short hair as they get older. I don't know why that ever started in our culture.

Stick with whatever look is good for you and makes you feel comfortable. I can't wear long hair because my hair is very fine, and just looks straggly as it gets longer, so I keep it chin length. But if I had beautiful thick hair, I'd probably wear it longer.

Remember, the shorter you go, the more frequently you have to get haircuts to maintain it.

And last, even if you do start getting gray, that shouldn't make a difference in how long you wear your hair, either. I understand that is how our culture has become, but that's just silly!

I've noticed that too, as women age, their hair gets shorter!

My hair is almost down to my butt... I'm keeping it long for as long as I can!

I think you're way young enough not to cut it yet. I've had long hair my whole life (around bra length, no gray), and only recently at 41 have I felt a shorter do would be more flattering. My face looks way better with body in the back now, and long hair seems to make my face "hang" so I've been wearing it shorter in the back and longer in the front, but only about collar bone length in the front (neck bone length in the back). That way I can tease or roller the back for body and still have it longish in the front. Short hair looks great on everyone, but whenever I try to think of a short do I would want, I cant' picture it. My face doesn't work with bangs, and when I think of getting a short bob, I feel depressed. Even though I like them on others. So I'm sort of doing a shorter version of my usual shaggy style.

Do what makes YOU comfortable! I have longish/curly hair too & I'm 36. My hubby likes long hair (& so do I). I'm going to keep it long until I decide to change it ~ not society thinks it should be changed. I've cut mine twice for Locks of Love in honor of 2 people in my family with cancer. I had over 12 inches cut off each time & my hair was pretty short. I hated it, but never complained b/c I was thinking of my family members w/ NO hair & so many others w/o hair due to their cancer. Good luck!

I think it should depend on what "looks good on you" versus, how old you are. Some people look horrid in short haircuts, no matter their age. Likewise, some people look lousy with long hair, no matter their age.

A dear friends wife insists on wearing a chin length bob. She loves the haircut. I think it's dreadful on her. I'd never tell her this. But to me it makes her head look really small and accentuates the fact she has eyes that are close together. If possible, it makes her even look heavy, though she's not heavy at all. I knew her back in high school. She used to have very long hair and it was strikingly beautiful. I think she should go back to a longer style...but she thinks it looks great and is very happy with it.

I prefer short hair myself, but everyone tells me I look better with long hair. So I grew it out.

It's really about what compliments your features, and secondly, what suits your tastes and personality. I do believe if you believe you look good, then everyone else will pick up on that and think you look good too.

I personally get my hair cut every 2 years and donate it to Locks of Love! I just had 14 inches cut off this past week, my 4th time donating! I prefer my hair short just because it isn't so hot, but I love donating my hair to an awesome cause and I save money only getting it cut every 2 years! I'm 31 by the way!

If & when you or anyone else with hair being cut, do have it cut, definitely think about donating it! They require 10'' to make the wigs for children in need, but if it's a little shorter, they sell it and use the money to go towards making the wigs!

I say do whatever you're comfortable with. In my opinion, length of hair has nothing to do with age; it's how you keep it. If it's clean, looks nice, etc. then that's great. What I think is unattractive is ANY woman (old or young) with very long, dirty, greasy, out of control hair whether gray or not. I've seen older women with long hair (gray and other colors) that is well kept, clean and absolutely beautiful. I am 51 and have gotten many compliments on my beautiful waist-length wavy hair but I color it because I am uncomfortable with gray hair. Bottom line...I don't let other peoples opinions influence me. I thought of cutting it very short years ago when I had my babies but I would have only been doing it because of other peoples comments of how much easier it would be to take care of, blah blah blah! I don't regret my decision and I'm so glad I didn't listen to people! Good luck!

Im 32 and have hair down to my butt. its healthy and about 3 feet long. I have no desire to cut it. People said I should cut it when i got married... i didnt. and also when i had my 2 kids... i didnt. I am who I am. cut it if you want to not because someone is telling you to.

I have no desire to ever chop my hair. I keep it trimmed and healthy and when i go gray i will and i wont dye it or chop it then either.

I'm 44 and have long naturally curly hair past my bra strap. I color it myself as I have tons of grey. I personally hate the old lady hair cuts! But I'm talking over 60. I have been debating about cuting mine to my bra strap but then I'll have a really great hair day and decide to leave it. Not to mention my husband loves it. good luck!

You are still young....

But as we mature.... some of us... Our faces can become long.. so long hair pulls down the look of the face. It can accentuate the skin that has a few lines facing down.. making us look older than we really are.

Also some women start to lose hair so thinning long hair is not always attractive.

Some women get a lot of grey and dying long hair takes more effort and can cost lots more money if done professionally.

I kept shoulder length hair for a long while. I loved pulling it up in a bun for work, but being able to wear it kind of wild when going out.. I now have thinning hair, so keeping it short makes it less noticeable..

My friends told me that I should cut my hair as I am the age that it is expected.. I say it is my hair and I will do as I please with it. I get lots of compliments on my hair as well.
I believe the hair cut you select can make you look older and I choice to wear my hair in the way the makes me look lthe best I can.
It is your hair ---- I think some may be jealous as they listened to the crowd and you are not :+)

Why change if you're happy with what you have?

Like you I have ringlets (that I straighten 90% of the time). My hair is bra length straight/ touseled, and shoulder length curly. It takes a LONG time to blow out and straighten (for me, at this length, an hour+ but I have a *very* strong curl pattern. Even relaxing it just makes the ringlets bigger, I can't actually get my hair straight relaxing it. Japanese straightening? I get loops inside of a month, and inch thick ringlets in 2, and back to my 'normal' ringlets in 3). About once every 7 years I cut it all off. I like my hair (straight) both short and long. I only like my hair curly when it's long.

I'm about to get shoulder surgery, so I'm chopping my hair a few years "ahead" of schedule. I'm going to be bolting my dryer to the wall, and am unwilling to spend more than 10 minutes on it. Because it's so thick and so curly in anything less than 90 degree heat it takes hours to air dry. In 50 degree weather (what it is in Seattle 10mo a year) it takes 2 days to air dry. When I air dry in chill weather, I get pneumonia.

For me, it has nothing to do with what OTHER people are doing with their hair. Just what I feel like doing with mine.

It's not so much what's age appropriate, it's more what looks best on you. In some cases, long hair does look good as does short hair. I tend to think it's depends how one wears it. someone can have a cute short haircut but wear it frumpy. I have definitely seen women and men for that matter clinging to their long thin, worn out strands of hair when in their case, a haircut might be the best thing. I also think 34 is quite young. If you don't mind the CHI work several times a week, then keep it long.. Additionally, you can get a short "cute" cut and as you say not have the "mom look" .. with curly hair, if you find a good hairdresser, that person could do something cute... but you have to make sure you go to someone who really knows how to work with curly hair..

best of luck to you

I love curly long hair! And curly hair is very hard to work short. You just have to figure out what it will do to your face if you cut it short.
One of the main reasons that people go short is because it almost always drags the face down after a certain age. I have noticed it in myself-I cannot wear the long hair I used to love. Once it gets a little past my shoulders I just start looking really bad. But there are a few people (very few actually)that can really pull it off after 35-40 yo. Much fewer that actually wear their hair long really. I see so many women who would just look so much better with hair at or a little below the shoulders. Also-hair tends to thin as we age. Not a good look at all for long hair,

if you want a change than cut it if not than leave it the way it is...i personally love short hair but its up to you