Long Hair After 40?

I am 45 and am still wearing my hair quite long. Yes, it is mostly because I have been living in India for the last 10 years and there were no beauty salons up in the Himalayan foothills! But also because I really love it. You can do so many different things with long hair and I personnally could never understand why people cut their hair when they could have it long. I decided that most people are too impatient and can't wait the time necessary to grow it out. 2 more reasons could be that: 1. my Tibetan husband also has long hair (mine's longer!) and 2. I was a bald Nun in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition for 7 long years so perhaps I am now making up for it!
But I swear, the day I start looking like an aging hippie, I will cut it off, deal?
: )

I feel women (at any particular age) should wear their hair any way they please. I have always admired Carolina Hererra's sense of style yet I'm somewhat put off by such a narrow viewpoint. I know many women over 40 plus years of age who are absolutely stunning with what's considered long hair. I myself, wear my hair in a shorter style but it has absolutely zero to do with my age, I personally feel it looks better on me than longer hair.

I am 43 and have been wearing my hair long "again" for the last two years. I don't use products or a blow dryerr. I like the convenience of wearing it half or fully away from my face. I never let it hang down around my face, as I think..shall I say..makes me look old and tired. I am constantly being complimented about how thick, healthy and shiny my hair is. I think that if you take good care of your hair, get it reshaped/cut on every few months then it really doesn't need an age limited.

Currently, my thick, naturally curly hair is short. It's easier to maintain in the summer humidity and the height at the top provides my face with the 'lift' I like right now. I've also worn my hair below shoulder length (curls turn ringlet-like) but the weight does flatten it on top. I find I have to use more hair items - hairbands and such. My hair rule right now - wash a few times a week, condition as needed, dampen and a little product to style and that's it. No blow dryers, no curling or flattening irons - I don't have the time and it's going against the natural curl of the hair. I'll continue to use this until I get bored or find I have the extra time in the day to spend a lot of time on it.

I am 45 and have light brownish red hair. That is the irish in me. But right now it is mid back and yes its a task but I like that about it. Not ready to cut yet.

I'm 44, heavily salt & pepper as I'm growing in my gray. My hair is very curly and below my shoulders and I love it. I would like to grow it a few inches longer and maintain it there. Age should have nothing to do with hair length.

I'm past 50 & African American & decided to go natural in February. Tired of curly perming my hair & it was starting to break & get thinner around edges. It was shoulder length & I cut it all off & am in the process of growing a nice full Afro. Had one in the 70's & still have thick hair. Since I've stopped perming,the thinning edges are growing in nicely.I'm wearing wigs & pampering it with conditioners & natural oils til it grows out to the length I want. I know numerous women,white & black who're giving up hair destroying perms & flatirons & electing to use more gentle hair styling methods & they're finding that their hair is IMPROVING.
BTW I've found that the East Indian oils work wonderfully to condition hair. I use vatika oil & amla oil. You can get them in Indian stores.

I will be 55 in October and my hair is quite long. I always kept it short while my kids were growing up because I had no time to spend on it during those busy years. I told myself I was going to grow it long one last time before I was "too old" because my mom had always told me women past 40 shouldn't wear long hair. Well, I'm most definately past forty and I love my long hair. While I'm not opposed to changing my hair style, if it's not long enought to still french braid - forget it. I love all the things I can do with my hair now that I could never have done with my short hair! I see beautiful women out there all the time who are over 40 or 50 and still wear long hair with grace and pride!

Because of More Magazine, about 2 years ago I started letting my hair go gray. This process consisted of foiling some highlights in. I am proud to say that I will be 50 this year and my hair is grey and below my shoulders. I can wear it down or put it up. I receive compliments all the time about the color and people can't believe I am going to be 50. I am not a boy.....I am a mature, sexy woman....I am keeping my long hair!

I am 63 years old and have long hair. I get alot of compliments. I don't believe age should dictate hair length. That is just silly.

I think it depends on your face and hairstyle, I love my long hair and will keep it as long as I can. The versitility of being able to put it up in a bun is great for any age! I am 48 and my 10 year old tells me I lookk great as does my husband. Someday I will go short, but that's way in the future!

And like Kimberli, I too am told I look like I am in my 30's. and I love that!!!

I myself have long hair and I think I look better with it long. when I straighten it and it is at shoulder length or shorter , I look old. But the way I wear it long I look younger and not like I am trying to be young. Short hair on me is not attractive at all!!!

Some women look great in short hair styles, I see many I like but they look horrid on me, I like medium length, it seems to fit me.

I love long hair but now that I'm over fifty my hair just doesn't have enough body to pull it off.

My 53rd birthday is in a few weeks and I am a hairdresser and I have had every hair style there is, right now I have it long and no one thinks I am my age! Most people think I'm in my 30's. I think hair does not define age however bad hair color or cut & style can make you look 10 or 20 years older that's for sure......

I'm just this side of 50 and going from blonde to gray. Needless to say, it's not attractive! Is there a way to actually go gray? If I can, I'd like to do that rather than color my hair to blonde. Besides, gray is lovely!

I finally got the nerve to try cutting my hair shorter after I turned 40. Age should not dictate hair length--that's just silly.

I think it's more important to wear a style that works with your face shape and hair type. Not everyone looks good with a short cut.