I don't know if it's just wishful thinking on my part, but it seems that I've been noticing a lot more women with long grey, silver or white hair lately.  And I don't mean spinster types either, I mean well-dressed women with long, shiny, well taken care of hair.  Do you think perhaps the point of view that women above a "certain age" shouldn't have long hair is finally changing?  Anyone still hear "you're too old for long hair" anymore?

Hmmm...most of the silver-haired people I knew as a kid had long hair - but they always wore it up.

I think what I see changing is that it's acceptable to have longer grey/white/silver hair and be something other than the crazy old lady living in the creepy house at the end of the block.  More "professional" women are keeping their grey rather than covering it, and they're not super old, just older.....

My mother was 45 when she first colored her hair - and she was over 75% grey.  Personally, I liked it better before she colored it.  Her stylist dyed it all to match her natural color (medium brown), which wasn't bad, but then went back and put highlights in.  The highlights were lighter than they should have been, and there was too much of them - so instead of being 75% grey, she was 75% fake blonde.  At least when it was grey, it looked like it fit her.

I am pushing 50  :P and have hair almost to my waist  :D.  I have had a number of people ask when I will be cutting my hair, as I am getting too old for long hair.  I usually tell them I don't feel old yet, so I will continue to let my hair grow.  I have also noticed more older women with longer hair.  Let us hope that there will continue to be enough of us who don't listen to those who wish to pass judgement on us and do what pleases ourselves.

My grand-grandmother wore her hair waistlong until she died- braided and then updone in a bun. But my grandmother and nearby every older woman I know have short hair. They find it beeing more easy- care. But I think this is the opinion of many women indipendent of their age. Most of my girlfriends (and we are all in our early twenties) do not want to invest their time into hair care. Instead they invest their time in complex blow-dry styles  ;) :)

No,unfortunately not-at least not here in Germany.I don´t know a single woman with longer than-at the most-mid back length hair,neither at work,my friends nor among my relatives.All the older ladies I have seen(around seventy or so)have the same short,permed hairdo,a pity really,because I think long,silver hair is just beautiful.
I wear my hair up most of the time,if I wear it down I get to hear quite a lot of the women-over-thirty -should-cut-their-hair comments.(I´m 35).Really quite annoying,since I take very good care of my hair and it´s very healthy.But that might be just Germany,maybe there is a change now in other countries.
Anne-Marie  :)

I don't know ANY older women with long hair. I'm the only person I know with long hair, apart from my aunt who is only in her late 20's. And it's permed at the bottom, and she highlights it, so it's not very healthy. My mother's is short and layered, and my grandmother's both have extremely short hair, but that's only because it is thin now and doesn't grow much longer than shoulder length. I've never seen long silver hair! But I think it would look just gorgeous. Don't let other people decide how you wear your hair. As I read on the TLHS website, if someone tells you to cut your hair off, this particular woman likes to say, "Why? Do you want some?"  :P

That´s a great reply-I will try it next time  :D
Anne-Marie

I think anyone of any age could have long hair, as lng as it's taken care of.
If older people couldn't have long hair, why does it keep growing?!?! Long hair makes people look younger too!

I agree - anyone should be able to have hair any length they desire.  Long hair is NOT just for young people.  My grandmother had a braid that was to her waist when she died at 86(and not a grey hair!!).  I had no idea how long it was until then because she always wore it in a bun or braided and wrapped around her head.  The funeral home asked the family to assist with styling her hair as they were not familiar with handling hair of that length.

There are so many do's and don'ts in this world that  people try to impose on each other...Certain laws are necessary but rules about who should and shouldn't have long hair is just silly!!!  I don't pan on ever cutting my hair unless there comes a time in my life that my health determines that I can no longer keep it....I am looking forward to having a beautiful long white braid in the future no matter what "society" has to say!

ginny

My Mom and my grandmother both have short permed hair...I just don't see it happening with me.

Good for you!  It is important to have self-confidence and assurance.  Good luck in achieving that long white braid (but not too soon on the white!)

I know I'm still young, but I don't think that I'll ever want to cut my hair either! But it's hereditary that my family's hair goes white really quickly, my mother had to start dyeing her hair in her late 20's - early 30's. I'll have to see if I want a white braid that young!

Why do they *perm* their hair when it's short and white?

wrote on Feb 10^th, 2003 at 10:55pm:

I know I'm still young, but I don't think that I'll ever want to cut my hair either! But it's hereditary that my family's hair goes white really quickly, my mother had to start dyeing her hair in her late 20's - early 30's. I'll have to see if I want a white braid that young! Why do they *perm* their hair when it's short and white?

Young Leia,
Perms and short cuts have their place.  Some of us are blessed with hair that covers our head and grows to wonderful lengths.  Not everyone is so fortunate.  Some will cut and perm their hair to better deal with thinning hair.  Also, arthritis in the hands, wrists and shoulders can make styling hair painful.  We should respect and encourage everyone to make choices that they are comfortable with and make them feel good about themselves..

Oh now I get it! Well luckily my hair is quite thick. My mother's hair is flat and dead straight when it's long and she hates it, which is why she cut it and layered it. Well I guess that short perm suits some people ... but certainly not me! Short hair doesn't suit my face and is so much harder to take care of!

I left my hair down today and it looked so nice and long  :P

wrote on Dec 27^th, 2002 at 6:47pm:

Most of my girlfriends (and we are all in our early twenties) do not want to invest their time into hair care. Instead they invest their time in complex blow-dry styles  ;) :)

It always amazes me when people say they do not have the time to take care of long hair.  I find it takes less time and is much more enjoyable.  I can choose a quick easy style for the day (a bun with hairstick), or complex (twisted sides into a single braid).  But with their shorter styles, if they don't do the hair gel, hair dryer, styling routine every day, they look a mess!  They spend more time on their hair than I do!

At the ripe old age of 39 I have a few white hairs (or as my husband calls them my racing stripes) comng in at my temples...

When I was little I remember seeing all of these little old ladies with blue and purple hair and I thought they were so cool...I think that I will stay with what ever grows in and  if it turns all white so be it....I'll just blame it all on my husband (I didn't have white hairs until I got married)

ginny

Ooh I saw this English woman yesterday, and her hair was short and permed but PURPLE!! I was so amazed, and my mother said it's quite popular these days!  :-/!

Hello all. Haven't been here in a while but checked in today because something was bothering me. Lo and behold, this topic.... exactly what was bothering me.

I am 45, have long hair that is curly, when I treat it right, and coloured with a low peroxide product. The length has gotten to about 3" from my waist. I have it coloured because I don't want the grey. At this point growing it out would look too weird, and the grey makes me look really old. Because of my yoyo dieting my hair started falling out, however because it's always been thick it still doesn't look thin. Only I can tell that it is.

Last time I was in having it coloured (Dec.) the hairstylists were shocked when I said I didn't want to get it cut. They said it would make my hair look better and would be more flattering.

I know my face is full because of the weight issue, and I know I need to fix that, but I don't intend to cut my hair just to please society. The only problem I have is that it seems thinner on top and looks flat, with the thickness at the ends which means I wear it pulled back a lot.

Any ideas what I could do to add some height to the top. Any sites that show hairstyles I might get some ideas from?

I'm so glad this site is still here. :)

Hey, we're not going anywhere, the LHB has been around since 2000!

Before convincing yourself that it's your diet that is making your lose your hair, I suggest you have your thyroid checked.  Hair loss is a common problem with thyroid issues.

Once you have determined there is no medical cause for your thinning hair, you might want to try using some mousse at the roots or maybe even some uncolored henna only at the roots (assuming your hair isn't dry) for added lift.  If your hair can tolerate occasional blow drying, try bending over at the waist and lifting your hair at the roots as you dry.  And of course, you might want to try Rogaine for Women (or a more reasonably priced alternative).  I know guys who swear by Rogaine for Men!

Two of my great-grandmothers had their long hair until they died, and both were long-lived.  My mother's paternal grand-mother was very put out when Mom asked her how she washed all that hair. She sniffed, "I don't wash my HAIR, I wash my SCALP." This lady's hair was chestnut all her life, little or no gray.  She combed glycerin and rosewater through her hair every morning before she put it up.

I knew my mother's maternal grandmother.  She lived into her 90s, and her long silver and white hair was worn in a graceful upsweep.  She grew up riding to hounds and doing other sorts of hunting, she was considered very outdoorsy for her time.  We had very similar natures, and when I was a girl I took a lot of criticism for being a "Tomboy."  She told me to do whatever I wanted, but to be sure and always wear long sleeves, gloves and a large-brimmed hat no matter what the weather.  Good advice which I have followed.

Up until last year, I had been getting honey highlights to cover the few gray strands at my temple and crown. (My hair is chestnut, like great-grandmother's). Finally, the gray was coming in too fast for highlights to keep up.  I decided I didn't want to go for complete hair color, so for the last year I have let the gray grow in.  I have a prominent skunk-tail now which sweeps back from my crown, and another at my right temple.  I love them tho' I can't really explain why.  I am only 40, but having gone through some real trials in the last ten years, I  honestly feel that  I EARNED EVERY SILVER STRAND.

Just from the number of views to this subject--almost 600--I would say there are a lot of women who want to keep their hair long when they get older.  It may seem like society feels women of a certain age should keep their hair short, but I think that opinion is of women who have bought into the short hair thing and misery loves company.   I've never had my hair real short, but I I wish I hadn't cut it at all.  Another reason--women when they get older have temperature issues--heat--sweats, etc.  It drives them crazy and they cut their hair hoping that will make them feel better.  Longer hair is easier to care for and offers many more options for styling than short hair--from no styling to whatever you want.  Short haired women don't have those options.  There are always professional updos if you have the need to look professional, and if you want to look romantic--there's nothing more romantic than long hair--everybody envies long hair--some may tell you how beautiful it is, the jealous rest will tell you your hair is too long for your age.  What's important is that your hair is healthy and looks cared for.  On the graying note--if you decide you don't want the gray, just do your roots every so often with something gentle to your hair--the roots can handle the treatment better than the rest of your hair.  Women who already have very long hair and don't want the gray can benefit from this the most because the hair you already have is untreated.  I'm almost 49 and I hope that this encourages the women nearing that point in their age that they are tempted to cut their hair (but don't really want to) to forget getting into that cycle.  You will never regret it.  I'm in the very early process of--let it grow, let grow, let it grow.  If I get to the point that it is hard to care for because of arthrisit or something else, I have two long haired daughters close by that I will call on.  My grandmother died in her late 80's--her hair was a beautiful white silk down to her waist--I only knew this when we started caring for her and had to undo her tiny bun to wash her hair.  

Welcome, Deborah.
If more of us "over 40" women keep growing our hair, people will no longer consider it unusual.  I totally agree that you can do so much more with long hair than short.  

Thanks for your input!

I was sitting in a Burger King the other day and I
saw two older ladies about seventy or so ( I can't tell
age) sitting in another booth.  Both were nicely dressed.
The first one had the typical older lady hair style, at
least for this part of the country (upper Midwest USA) short,permed
hair.  The other woman had what looked like must have
been at least waist length hair put in a braided bun.
I figure it must have been pretty long by the size of the
bun.  Both were completly grey.  I thought the lady with
the bun looked so elegant.    I hope I can wear my hair
long when I get older and go gray, if it doesn't get too
thin.   (My Grandma got very thin and had to wear
wigs and hairpieces.)

im going to be one of those old ladies with loooong grey hair, long swishy clothes and LOTS of jewellery. one of the crazy old ladies  :) right now im a crazy young lady...so its only a natural progression  ;D lol

I turn 40 this year and have no intentions of cutting my hair.

Older women with braided buns, look sooooo sophisticated.  I hope to be one of those ladies when I get old.   ;)  (Now, tell me....... when are you old?)

Never, I hope! Age is just a state of mind.  I'm 48
but still feel like I'm about  30!

Except sometimes when my body rebels, and I know it's
not 30!

I definatly want a long grey ponytail. In my family we grey early but the color is so beautiful its a light grey unique color its cool. My great granmother has long beautiful hair. She used to have the short permed look but she decided to grow it  If you ask me it looks a lot better. ;)

Well, I am old (53) and still have very long hair.  I frequently get comments at work - expecially from the older ladies that volunteer at the hospital where I work. One lady walked up to me last week, lifted up my braid, and said "Aren't you EVER going to cut your hair?"  I just sighed and said "probably not".  Once an older lady came up behind me and took my braid and said "I bet you would be mad if I took a pair of scissors and cut this off Huh?"  I don't think either of them meant to be unkind, but it sure does get old and I HATE when strangers come up and touch my hair.  Can you imagine someone walking up to a woman with short hair and running their fingers through their hair?  :o

brknhrt

wrote on Aug 12^th, 2004 at 12:33am:

Can you imagine someone walking up to a woman with short hair and running their fingers through their hair?

Heh, that'd be interesting..."when are you EVER going to grow this out?"

wrote on Aug 12^th, 2004 at 3:43am:

Heh, that'd be interesting..."when are you EVER going to grow this out?"

Good one!  I'll have to remember that for the next short-haired person who suggests I cut my hair!

If someone did that to them they would be mad. I guess they assume a long haired person wants a perfect strangers hands in thier hair.

wrote on Aug 12^th, 2004 at 12:33am:

Once an older lady came up behind me and took my braid and said "I bet you would be mad if I took a pair of scissors and cut this off Huh?"

I can't believe that woman said that to you. Cluelessness is no excuse for threatening assault, which is what cutting someone's hair against their will is. She needs to be seriously straightened out.  

If that happened to me, I would have asked her how her liability insurance is, because she'd end up getting sued.

Where do you guys all live that you see older women with long hair?  I live in the southeastern USA and I have never ever seen a lady with long gray or white hair!  However, my younger sister (she's 10) and I (i'm a highschooler) have already decided that, when we get old, we are not chopping our hair off like every grey haired woman we know.
Oh, I also agree that long hair does not take as much time to style as modern-cut short hair does.

I'm in Minnesota.  Just today I saw a mother and her adult daughter shopping together.  Mom had waist length "salt and pepper" colored hair, daughter had classic length auburn.  Oh - and Dad had a ponytail halfway down his back.  I would guess Mom and Dad to be in their 50's.

I was watching 20/20 Monday night and noticed that correspondent Lynn Scher (sp??) has let her hair grow out. Lynn always had very short blonde hair but now it comes down to her shoulders and I think she is in her mid to late 50s. :D