Over 40 Moms...opinions on Hair?

I'm kind of of the opinion that if long hair doesn't look food on someone at 40, it probably didn't look so good long at 20. But aging magnifies the "wrongness" of it!

I also think the worst thing any woman can do is NOT get regularly trimmed.
Nothing worse than long hair in a scruffy point in the back. ((Shudder))

I'm 43 with shoulder-length hair, maybe a touch longer.

A couple of years ago I had it halfway down my back which I thought was cool until I caught a glimpse of myself in a double mirror and realized I looked a bit Crystal Gayle-ish. :P My hair is extremely dry and frizzy (I do Brazilian straightening) so it's actually easier to handle when it's a bit on the long side. If it's too short it kinks up.

Get a couple of referrals from friends if YOU LIKE THEIR HAIRSTYLE!

I am 43. My hair is on the longer side, about 3" past my shoulders. It is styled though with long layers. I don't like the "mom" cut either.

You could tell the stylist you want to keep the length and just have it styled.

If you can carry off long hair then go for it. I don't understand the unwritten rule that when you turn 40 you can't be sexy, have long hair and wear nice clothes and basically you are supposed to turn into a frumpy old lady.

I am over 40, my hair is straight as a board, does not curl, very dark and hangs past my bras strap. I get many compliments on my healthy hair. I am of Native American heritage and my hubby sometimes calls me Pocahontas, LOL.

I am not changing my style just because I am over 40.

I think if you look great with short hair and can pull it off, go for it. Choose what YOU like because when YOU feel good about yourself, YOU project to others better with overall attitude, confidence, posture, etc.

Good luck

I am 45 and have mid back, long curly hair. I am planning on taking this look to my grave.
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Oh my god!! Sandra Bullock is 49?!! What is the combo to that safe, I need bullets!!!

I kid but damn!! I am slacking!

I really don't get the "rule" or "myth" that over 40+ year old women, or 40 year old and over Moms, have to have, short, hair.
I mean, WHY?
I just don't get that.

I am one of those over 40.
I have long hair.
Well, mid back length.
I get a lot of complements on it.
My hair is layered.
I don't even have to brush it.
It is naturally tousled.

If you don't want a "Mom cut" then go to a hair salon, or ask other women who's hair you admire, where THEY got their hair cut.
Or, cut out pictures from magazines to SHOW the hair stylist.

Conversely, WHY the myth/idea that little girls have to have, long hair?
I just don't get that, either.
So many little girls or elementary aged girls, have long hair. And many times it is just too, long.

For most of my life, I've always had long hair. A few times I'd cut it short, but it can be stubborn and unruly, and it's just easier to manage when longer. Plus, I really like it better that way.

When it's wet, it's about to my bra line. I'll probably let it grow 2-4 more inches and keep it there. That may take a while because despite growing fast, my hair gets dry and frizzy, so I have it trimmed just a little every 4-5 weeks.

I'm 50, by the way. I don't believe in old notions that say a woman has to cut her hair or dress in a matronly fashion once she hits a certain age.

Do what's best for you, what works for your hair type, and what makes you feel good. If you don't already have one, find a really good stylist who will meet with you first for a consultation before cutting! Bring pictures of styles you like and he/she can help determine which will work best with your hair to give you the results you want. Have him/her show you how to style it when you're home doing it yourself.

Good luck and hope you find a style that makes you happy!

It depends on the person. I think hair below shoulder length looks silly on grown women (and tends to be unflattering and 99% of the time is in a ponytail), but not always. However, short, short hair isn't always right, either. I really depends on the style and whether it suits the individual.

I have short hair, but only because I had it to my shoulders and finally learned everyone thought it looked better short. It's in an a-line bob and I love it! Very liberating not having hair on my neck, especially in the summer. The decision had nothing to do with me being in my 40s.

Personally, I don't have too much wrapped up in my hair. My husband isn't one of the cavemen type who insists his wife keep it long. I've had it short, I've had it long. I have a friend whose daughter has alopecia (no hair) and it really puts things in perspective.

Go with what looks best on you.

I think it's just a question of bone structure. It takes ... cheekbones, and a certain jawline, to really pull off a pixie cut well. I don't have either. I wear my hair in a chin-length bob, longer in the front than the back, and I like to flatter myself that it's a look I pull off well -- in an understated, early-40s type of way. But you have to find what works for your face and your general style.

I have long hair and I am 42. I don't see any problem with long hair over 40 as long as you are not trying to look 20. I had my hair cut short in 8th grade. I will NEVER EVER do that again. I will always keepo my hair at least to my shoulders. Right now it is at least 4 inches past since I have not had time to get it cut.

Currently my hair is about 5" past my shoulders with long layers. It's in great condition and the hair itself looks very pretty. But, I don't know, I'm ready for a change again. While I like the ease of pulling it back in a pony, I kind of feel that the length of my hair is dragging my face down right now. So tomorrow, I'm going for a slightly past the shoulders, lightly layered bob ala Jennifer Aniston (her most recent shorter look) just for a change. I've got my pics to show the stylist. Anyway, the great thing about hair ... you cut it, it grows back! :)

Oh, and I'm 44.

P.S. You don't say how long your hair actually is right now ...

I honestly don't understand this idea that "older" (I don't consider 40 older!!!) women can't have long hair. I loathe the soccer mom cuts. I think it ages women terribly. I will never do that. I am only 30, but I have long wavy hair. it sits in the middle of my back. I love my hair, and I think it's one of my best features. I'm not going to go nuts at 40 and chop it off!! I would like to keep my long hair, for as long as it's this healthy.

Some of the most lovely older women I have ever know...who have aged gracefully...have had long hair. Last week, I passed an elderly woman, with long grey hair. She was so beautiful!!

Wear your hair, in whatever way makes YOU feel great. You should feel wonderful, attractive and confident. If that's long hair, keep it long! If that's shorter hair, get it cut!! Just feel great, that's the bottom line.

I think long hair is great in your 40's. Somewhere in your 50's i tend to notice its not such a great idea, but just depends on the person. Shoulder cuts are great for any age I think. I had a bad short cut at the age of 11 and now I'm 37 and have not had the guts to cut short since! Instead I live vicariously through my little daughters who I cut in adorable 1920's style flapper bobs.

personally i'm ok with shoulder length hair for rocking ladies in their 40's. down to the bra strap or lower, i personally don't find flattering even if it was the most beautiful thick and lusterous hair ever.

I love the pixie look on ladies of this age, do you think a different stylist could help or is it the texture of your hair?

have you checked out some magazines for different looks?

I dont think it matters how old you are, I think it matters what looks good on you. What cut and style you feel best with.

If shorter hair works better for you, easier to manage etc, then do it. Dont let a previous one scare you, the hair will always grow back again.

I just turned 60, have hair to my waist and love it. It's still nice and thick, I trim it a couple of times a year, condition it regularly so it isn't dry, and don't dye it, so there's lots of gray throughout. I don't want to look like a teen or 20-something year-old, I just like my hair long, and it works for me.

I am 42, I'll be turning 43 later this year.
I have incredibly long hair. I just got my once a year trim because I was sitting on it. It is still waist+ even after my trim.
I love my long hair! I have had long hair forever. I only had short hair when I was too little to have grown it yet.. I take care of it. Have never dyed it. Never use harsh styling products. I don't even blow dry it.
I am a pro at wonderful ways to style it both up and down. I don't like updos where it's all up though and don't do those. It's got to be sweltering for me to do a bun, and even then I much prefer some kind of ponytail or braid that is mostly down.
I get tons of compliments on my hair.

I am 49, and had long hair for years (up until my 30s that is) Then one day, while in Hawaii, there was a picture of Audrey Hepburn with short hair in a window and I thought, WOW............. her hair looks so cute!!! I went into a salon and told a stylist that I wanted my hair cut like Audrey's ... The stylist went to look at the picture, came back and said, ok let's do it! Since that time, I've been wearing my hair short and I get TONS of compliments.. To me, on some (not all) but long hair makes you look older) and drags the face down... However, I have seem some women in their 40s who do look good with longer hair... I don't know that age matters as much as the style.. (this includes short hair) which if not cut well, it can look frumpy...
I know some people cling to their long hair (my husband's cousin has been wearing the same old long hair for years) and the one time she did cut it shorter (right above shoulders) WOW!!! it looked so great on her ! then she grew it back out... now.. it looks so... been there done that..

However, regardless of what anyone else thinks .. IF you like longer hair, then by all means you should do what you want... if you feel good with long hair as oppose to short, then I'd go with the long... what matters is that you feel good on the inside and that will show on the outside..

good luck

I know the theory "long hair doesn't work on older ladies" but I think that pertains to really long stringy hair on older ladies that makes them look witchy and out of date.

I'm trying to grow mine after some bad hair cuts too...and it takes forever....and I find myself liking longer hair on most older ladies. It's like you have to default to the feminine past a certain age....my goal is Catherine Malandrino hair (the designer-see her FB pic-she's almost 50!) Basically past shoulder with some subtle front layers. Just plain longish hair like Gwenyth Paltrow has works on most faces with most colors.

Suddenly my edgy short-in-back shaggy layers that worked forever do nothing for me now at 43, and I just need some longer prettier hair. Keep coloring, and keep it short enough for body (not to your butt or anything) and keep a good ratio with your body. If you're big and tall, you need some longish hair unless you're a super skinny model. Medium hair for medium person, short can work for petite person. But short hair on older med/larger ladies (I'm 5'9") is risky.

Now when you get older older, like with gray hair, shorter styles are nicer. But 40-50 is still long hair territory if it's not trying to be barbie or way tooooo long.

I'm sorry about your bad haircut but love your humor on calling it "the mom."

I was forced to have short hair since age six and have rebelled ever since.

I am now in my 40s and am satisfied with my almost all one-length curly hair that falls about to my shoulders. It truly won't grow any longer, despite 10 years of trying.

I would never attempt a major haircut outside a trim because chopping curly hair will result in not a mom cut but a grandma cut!!!

So by all means, do what's comfortable for you, because comfort is what truly keeps you young!

My hair is past my shoulders, naturally wavy, and I color it because I feel good with less gray. I think long hair is FINE if it looks good on you and it's what you want. I look better with long hair, and my husband likes it long :)

I have shoulder length layered hair which I curl and style...I'm well over 40 - I think short hair makes people look older...

I am 42 and have long hair. I have cut my to my shoulders every once in awhile but tend to grow it back out. I do have some long layers though. I tend to pull mine back - braid, pony tail, clip, or a barrette. I like the convenience of it and not having to have a "style" to it.

I think hair hanging around a person's face makes them look older. So, I vote either cut it or, if you leave it long, you style it and don't have it just hanging down the side of your face.

Always bring a picture of the cut you like to the hairdresser. Do a search on medium length haircuts and copy the photos. Get another trim so u don't get split ends after getting it trimmed only once. I would keep it longer if u like it.

At 40, I still have hair that is just below my shoulder. I have to have layers.
I know that long, straight hair is in...It's not for me though.

I like to be able to wear a ponytail in the summer, too.

At 40, I started growing out my hair. It's now past my shoulders and quite blonde. I get lots of complements.

My best piece of advice is that you've saved a lot only getting one trim while growing out your hair. Now go and get a good and expensive cut. You live in Denver - go to the Cherry Creek area (love it there) and do it right. Also, anytime you see someone with a nice cut, ask where they went.

And don't think of it as getting it cut - think getting it styled!!

Have fun!!

I'm 41 with long hair. I wear it natural, no color, long layers. I'm liking it right now, though I do look at least 10 years younger than I really am.

I do get it cut super short every 5 years or so for change.

My mom cut her hair short in her 40s and my sister and I both encouraged her to keep it at least at shoulder length. Do whatever is most flattering on YOU. If you leave it long, ask your stylist what would look flattering on you. Anybody can look horrid with listless hair.

ETA: Sandra Bullock is an example of someone who I think looks great. She's over 40 (will be 49 this year) and has an easy style - and long hair. No rule you have to cut it. I never cut my hair short when DD was in the "oh, hair!" yanking phase and have no plans to hack it off in a few birthdays just because of the number.

I don't like going to have my hair cut on a regular basis. I have long wavy strawberry blonde (some days it's redder than others, I have no idea why) hair and I like it that way. It's beginning to go grey, but I'm letting that come in naturally. I have it cut 2-4x/yr. I spent all my teen years cutting and dying my hair all different ways, I'm happy to settle on long and wavy now. On really humid days it gets super curly, too! It's like I don't even have the same hair from one day to the next, depending on temperature and humidity. Super cool.

Bring some different pictures of varying lengths of hair that you like to the stylist, he can tell you which length and cut would look best for your face. Good luck!

I've had every length hair over the years, but have kept it longer as I've gotten older. I refuse to have the mom short cut....doesn't work for me. I love a good sassy short cut, but most times it looks frumpy. I also work out and play soccer, so like to have the pony tail option. I am 46....ugh( ;

I keep mine short simply because it's very straight and impossible to style nicely when it's long. I cut and dye it myself so I get it exactly the way I want it. If you like your hair long, grow it and rock it!

My hair is fairly long right now, past my shoulders-- pigtails! I am very ambivalent about my hair most of the time.... getting to the salon is unfortunately not high on my list of things to do. When it's cut, it's usually a chin-length bob, but it grows out so well it's easy to be lazy.