long hair after 40

Aeryn · Post by **Aeryn** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 8:35 pm

Okay, so I was reading this article about the unwritten rule of women having, or more accurately, not having, long hair after forty. The article noted that Jane Seymore, noted for her long hair, is often attacked in the press for it.

So my question is, how many of you over 50 have long hair wigs and what is your opinion? To me, it is sexist and ageist to say a women at a certain age can't have long hair; that long hair somehow belongs to youth.

I am close enough to 40 and my only wig is long- mid back. I like that I have options with it- wear it down, a ponytail, a bun, a french twist. And I guess it makes me feel younger as well.

What do others think?

Lorna · Post by **Lorna** » Fri Feb 25, 2005 9:06 pm

Here here!!!

I for one think that so many GGs and TGs in their 40s, 50s and beyond look beautiful with long hair! The misguided notion that long hair is only for the young is a bunch of cow flop.

Even Jessica Tandy who was 80 when filming Driving Miss Daisy a while back, looked so adorable in one scene when her hair was down!

Ironically, at 32 I presently have a short wig as my "default' wig, but in my defense it does have purple streaks in the back

but I have a few long ones I love to wear whenever in the mood.

Why let a number dictate who gets to have long hair?

Loretta Ann · Post by **Loretta Ann** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 12:50 am

Hi there,

Well I have both short and long hair wigs and enjoy them all.
I am over 40 and seldom dress my age and never older.Mind you I don't go out dressed.

I think the older women get...the less amount of time they want to spend on themselves to make them look all that exceptional.

Love Darlene.

Alexandra · Post by **Alexandra** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 1:01 am

I'm not 50 but my REAL hair is down to my waist. Don't buy into anyone's cow flop!

Curly(SO) · Post by **Curly(SO)** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 5:17 am

Well,I'm 39 and I'm certainly not going to get all my hair chopped off next year. There are plenty of very glamorous, sexy women over forty, and I intend to be one, regardless that it may take a bit more time, money and effort

I have also read that opinion, about women over forty not having long hair. In my opinion, I think that it is out dated, and I cannot believe anyone would attack Jane Seymour for her hair when it looks so gorgeous

I am a bit more careful what I wear now though, because it would be horrible to be called mutton dressed as lamb, that is a look I want to avoid

There are plenty of older women with short hair that look incredibly glamorous also...Dame Judi Dench for one.

Both Beautiful, IMO!

Love,
Curly(SO)

Samantha Jane · Post by **Samantha Jane** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 7:38 am

Hi Aeryn,

I definitely love long hair and I'm 45 years old.
I have recently ordered a 38 inch long wig from Hongkong. As you have said, there is so many lovely styles you can create with long hair and so it saves having to buy so many different wigs.
The other thing is I love long hair that hang over your boobs.

Charlotte xx

Absaroka · Post by **Absaroka** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 2:42 pm

I had never heard of this before. It made me think a bit.

Over the years I have known women with very striking long gray hair, usually well over 50. Most of them were the type who definitely thought for themselves. Very long hair is pretty unusual anyway, maybe becasue it takes a lot of work. TO me it suggests individualism.

To me long gray hair looks nice. The idea of a woman not having long hair after 40 sounds like a superstition more than anything else, like not painting a fishing boat blue.

I realize the original post was jsut about long hair but what are peoples thoughts about gray? Hopefully most of us will get to be old someday........

Andrea

Violet · Post by **Violet** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 4:41 pm

Not allowed to have long hair after 40? Since when?

What a load of BS. I say wear your hair whatever length suits you.

I'm currently considering getting my hair cut in a 'carmine', that is, long bangs (and I mean like shoulder length), shaved skull. That'll be some pretty radical surgery. I'm starting to get seriously tired of looking like I do. It'll make me look less 'femmy', but then I'm starting to go a bit androgynous anyways, and there are plently of 'punky' girls in the Goth scene with some pretty extreme haircuts.

Anita · Post by **Anita** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 1:38 pm

My middle sister, 66, said it's more a matter of practicality. Long hair "frames" a woman's face, and draws attention to it. At 25, this is fine. At 65, there are a lot of wrinkles, double chins, and droops that a woman would rather not highlight.

Merinda · Post by **Merinda** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 2:17 pm

It is unwritten fasion- rule around here that no man over 30 should have long hair but there is nothing about women having longhair at any age.

Anita · Post by **Anita** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 2:31 pm

Hi Merinda--
For years, I wore my hair long and curly, like Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant. Then I cut it short, at 40. I told my haircutters, a husband and wife team, that I didn't want to end up being a hippy guy with long hair in a ponytail.

But I got tired of wearing wigs, and started growing my hair out again. So I gladly became a guy with a ponytail, if it allowed Anita to have long hair.
I imagine the long hair gets me read more, because it draws attention. I like the hair, though. Wigs are still good for performing, but I am glad to not have to wear them for everyday errands.

Post by **DonnaT** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 3:21 pm

If it looks good on you, wear it.

I have both a long and short hair wig. The long one makes me look younger, and I can't see anything wrong with that

Virginia · Post by **Virginia** » Sun Feb 27, 2005 8:45 pm

Donna, honey you tell it like it is! If it looks good on you wear it! Amen!
Virginia

Linda S · Post by **Linda S** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:57 pm

There's an interesting discussion in the "Dressing Young" thread in the "Fashion and Beauty" forum, about deciding what style is appropriate to your age:
http://crossdressers-haven.com/forums/v ... php?t=3036

Linda