Anonymous wrote:I think pp nailed it. How much effort are you willing to put into your hair? My hair is right at my shoulders, and to keep it looking nice, I have to use product, blow dry, flat iron, and use a finishing spray. It takes time, if you don't have the time, do something simpler.

Exactly.

I have long hair (though I am 35) and two small children and still spend 30min a day on my hair. Daily I blow dry it smooth and use a flat iron. I have Keratin treatment, so that has helped. I keep my hair trimmed and colored.

Personally i would not be taking much hair advice from dowdy moms posting on DCUM. The AWFUL mom bobs and leg fattening ballet flats I see out there are just hideous.

Anonymous wrote:I've read that shoulder length or shorter is best on an older woman and layer the hair too. I think women who have very long hair and are older just look even older or are "trying to look young." Very long hair is for little girls, ladies in their 20's. It's better to look your age than to look like you're trying to look younger than you are.

This is really behind the times, its a big part of the reason that DC women look OLD and STAID! Longer hair on older women is much more fresh than that god awful middle aged bob. The cut you are describing sounds fine- keep it maybe 3 inches below your shoulders for a good "long" but not "too long past the last cut" length. You will not look like you are trying to be young, you will look current. Look at TV and magazines that aren't high-fashion (ie- the sort of noncelebs that are in their 40s but non-actors/models like Rachel Ray magazine, Oprah, More- things at the grocery store- the best looking women in their 40-50s bucked the short hair mantra!)

I am white, 45 and work in a government office in MoCo. My hair is past my shoulders and it is thick and curly. I have it cut frequently and it is layered. When I get color, I have her also straighten it and it is much longer. I love that look -- very sleek and sophisticated -- but it is a lot of work, I'm not that good with my hair and it takes A LOT of time that I do not have in the morning. I don't know whether it ages me or not, probably does to some degree, but I do get lots of compliments on my hair and DH loves it. I think it's my best asset. I have had it cut shorter, say bob length (against the advice of my stylist). But the shorter you cut it, the bushier and more uncontrollable it gets. I agree with PP that hair is just one aspect of a "look." As long as it's neat and well-maintained, do what you want with it. Mine will stay long.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Long hair is feminine and beautiful. I will never cut my hair.

How old are you?

Not the PP, but I am 40 and have mouse-y brown hair that goes about 3 inches lower than my shoulders. I work in downtown DC.

I think this is a perfect length.

^^ I am older and just got mine cut a bit too short. Aging look! Has to be just right! And costs a fortune compared to when I was younger.

02:57 Hits on a good point -- It is a rich women's look. All that care costs $$. (or a poor old hippie look!) If you have the kind of sculpted, lovely face that looks great with the upsweep, you probably aready know it. Hope so anyway ... if you dont....Softer medium length hair with styling is the most youthful looking for the older face.

I think pp nailed it. How much effort are you willing to put into your hair? My hair is right at my shoulders, and to keep it looking nice, I have to use product, blow dry, flat iron, and use a finishing spray. It takes time, if you don't have the time, do something simpler.

Hello all,
I've been a master stylist in the DC area for many years, and this question has been asked of me so many times I couldn't count. I've found there isn't one simple across the board answer. It really depends on the client in my chair. The whole package has to be assessed thoroughly in order to make a decision. How does the person dress, accessorize, how do they cary themselves? How tall are they? What is the quality of the hair? What kind of hair, curly, frizzy, poker straight, are there cowlicks in the fringe area? Is it damaged from chemical process? Are they willing to put the time into necessary styling? Willing to use the necessary products essential for upkeep? All these things and more are needed to make a sound decision. Women 40+ can most definitely have fabulous long hair in the professional environment, if all factors are taken into count. Some really can't. It just depends. I would make an appointment at Cristof or the like to see for yourself, and good luck!

Although, I'm not exactly what you are describing, I fit two out of the three so i'll chime in. First I'm close to 50 and I'm white. However, I am Hispanic/irish thus more European looking and my hair is long and curly!

The curls soften the sag/wrinkles, which I don't have lots of but some none the less. If I have a meeting or new client I may put it in a bun if I feel I really need to look conservative.

But, honestly at that age you really should try to relax and forget about trends. I find at my age I can be more easy going and it's worked out fine. The more you give in to an image or stereotype the worse you appear. Be who you are with confidence. D.C. has changed there is a bit more diversity than twenty years ago.

Just make sure whatever your length or hair color that it is done by a good stylist.

Ok...if you keep your hair styled, then I think you can have long hair. The problem comes in because long hair is hard to take care of. Young women can go with the "beachy waves" or "bed head" hair and it looks great. Not so much on older women. If you look at J-Lo, Jennifer Anniston, Stacey London, Carmen, etc., there hair is perfectly polished. If you can keep your hair that polished then there is no problem staying long. If your hair is unruly and messy, then you should cut it....though that just makes it easier to style. I agree that long hair is much sexier. Few women look great with short hair. I'm not saying there aren't exceptions...but I hate the sexless look. Short messy hair that is unstyled looks just as bad as long hair unstyled.

And for the record, I'm neither a DC office worker, nor anywhere near 45--

Oh, then it's a good thing you're weighing in on this thread.