Why is there always a debate surrounding long hair? Writer Dominique Browning, 55, wrote a piece for the New York Times today about how she loves having long hair, but everyone in her life seems to have a problem with it: "My mother hates it. My sister worries about it. My agent thinks I’m hiding behind it. A concerned friend suggests that it undermines my professional credibility. But in the middle of my life, I’m happy with it," Browning writes. And we can see where she's coming from!

When you're a young woman, a long, lustrous mane is often hair priority number one. Bouncing long hair is the most popular style for younger celebrities, it's favored by both designers and stylists, and, from what the many magazine surveys tell us, most men love it best. Ladies under 40 will go to great lengths (heh. pun intended) to get the look—even shelling out hundreds or thousands of dollars for hair extensions. But the cultural acceptability of long hair comes to a screeching halt by the time you're middle-aged. Then society says it's time to fall in line, cut it all off, and, for many women, opt for a short, boring, de-sexualized "mom" haircut, one that's not particularly stylish, but—what the hey!—it's easy to maintain. The prevailing wisdom seems to be: Young women with long hair are sexy, but old women with long hair look witchy and somehow unkempt. Cripes.

This way of thinking seems unfair to us. We believe many, many older women look great with long hair, which can be flattering on a variety of different face shapes and hair types, and can even make you look younger. And as many of us with long hair can attest, it's often actually easier to deal with than shorter styles—you can go longer between trims, it doesn't require much styling to look great, and you can gather it into a quick bun or ponytail to get it out of your face.

But we also have nothing against short hair. Short hair looks awesome on tons of women. So does shoulder-length hair, for that matter. But the bottom line is this: Women should be able to wear their hair any way they want, no matter what their age.

http://shine.yahoo.com/ch...toViewer=1

I have had long hair all my life,and I plan on wearing it as so when I get older as well.

So what do you think? Should women chop it off as soon as they are considered middle aged?

i guess i think women should do what they want, in that regard. only a coupla hundred years ago, women couldn't have even considered having short hair. it just wasn't done. so, fads come and go.

I think any ideas about what people "should" do - especially concerning something like hair - simply because they've lived a certain number of years are fucking moronic.

I have short hair, but I think my short cut is sexy - not "boring [and] de-sexualized" as it says in the same article that purports to defend women's right to choose their hairstyle at any age.

What ever style and length looks good on me is the way I'll wear it. I go from chin length to shoulder length all the time... I would wear it down past my hips and silvery if it looked good that way too!

Are you fucking kidding me? I'll never cut my hair short, just like I don't think I'll ever stop dying it either.

My wife is 50, she has long hair that she stopped dying a few years ago. It is the sexiest her hair has ever been

There is a lady around the corner from me who looks amazing, she is probably mid 50s, her hair is completely natural way down past her shoulders, and she has a "look" I like, kind of outdoorsy, but not a hippy at ALL.

So with her in mind, I say no way Jose

If it looks like shit. Some women fail to realize how shitty their long hair might look when they are older, especially since it's harder to maintain as you age. That's not to say all long hair looks shitty on older girls. I also don't think that women should run out and get a mom haircut as soon as they turn 40 either.

JuliePurplehead said:

If it looks like shit. Some women fail to realize how shitty their long hair might look when they are older, especially since it's harder to maintain as you age. That's not to say all long hair looks shitty on older girls. I also don't think that women should run out and get a mom haircut as soon as they turn 40 either.

mum cuts are good when the kids are babies, but when they are in school, you have time to do whatever you want to it and grow it again

ZombieKitten said:

JuliePurplehead said:

If it looks like shit. Some women fail to realize how shitty their long hair might look when they are older, especially since it's harder to maintain as you age. That's not to say all long hair looks shitty on older girls. I also don't think that women should run out and get a mom haircut as soon as they turn 40 either.

mum cuts are good when the kids are babies, but when they are in school, you have time to do whatever you want to it and grow it again

and by that I mean take a shower

I will do whatever I want to do with my hair.

To hell with that stereotype crap.

As long as it looks fresh. Sometimes you can just tell some middle aged and older women have just worn the same long hair style since they were 13 because they've become so attached to it as a part of their identity. Some men do this too. Bottom line - it's just hair. Cutting can sometimes be a cathartic experience. Especially if you're in a rut.

If you are going to spend years growing it out please at least make sure it's in decent condition. Cut your damn split ends. Keep it an even length. I dont know how many times I've see ass length hair that would've looked so much better if they had just evened it up by a couple of inches. Do not have 12 inches of blonde highlights hanging off the end of your shoulder length naturally dark hair.

I miss my long hair

Every woman has the right to have their hair look like a long ass matronly mess. That's the pc answer to this right???

JustErin said:

Are you fucking kidding me? I'll never cut my hair short, just like I don't think I'll ever stop dying it either.

No one says it needs to be short. Different lengths flatter different folk. While I'm sure some folk dig it, long ass hair down to the ass is tired on an old broad. This "I'm ageless" notion is so PC and silly. Of course age and time and years and all of that good stuff is real. I'm not gonna try to have a mohawk today, however much I may romanticize it (and trust me, I have over the last year or so)....I know I'd just look like an old homo with a mohawk.

[Edited 10/22/10 22:02pm]

johnart said:

JustErin said:

Are you fucking kidding me? I'll never cut my hair short, just like I don't think I'll ever stop dying it either.

No one says it needs to be short. Different lengths flatter different folk. While I'm sure some folk dig it, long ass hair down to the ass is tired on an old broad. This "I'm ageless" notion is so PC and silly. Of course age and time and years and all of that good stuff is real. I'm not gonna try to have a mohawk today, however much I may romanticize it (and trust me, I have over the last year or so)....I know I'd just look like an old homo with a mohawk.

[Edited 10/22/10 22:02pm]

this is erin's next hair cut

ZombieKitten said:

johnart said:

No one says it needs to be short. Different lengths flatter different folk. While I'm sure some folk dig it, long ass hair down to the ass is tired on an old broad. This "I'm ageless" notion is so PC and silly. Of course age and time and years and all of that good stuff is real. I'm not gonna try to have a mohawk today, however much I may romanticize it (and trust me, I have over the last year or so)....I know I'd just look like an old homo with a mohawk.

[Edited 10/22/10 22:02pm]

this is erin's next hair cut

That is hot and hardly short.

I saw a lot of pictures in a magazine at the doctors yesterday, and I think would look nice!

ZombieKitten said:

johnart said:

No one says it needs to be short. Different lengths flatter different folk. While I'm sure some folk dig it, long ass hair down to the ass is tired on an old broad. This "I'm ageless" notion is so PC and silly. Of course age and time and years and all of that good stuff is real. I'm not gonna try to have a mohawk today, however much I may romanticize it (and trust me, I have over the last year or so)....I know I'd just look like an old homo with a mohawk.

[Edited 10/22/10 22:02pm]

this is erin's next hair cut

Yeah, I said I was going to cut it like hers in this shoot...but I think I need to lose mega lbs pull it off.

johnart said:

Every woman has the right to have their hair look like a long ass matronly mess. That's the pc answer to this right???

Genesia said:

johnart said:

Every woman has the right to have their hair look like a long ass matronly mess. That's the pc answer to this right???

You----> <----Me

johnart said:

JustErin said:

Are you fucking kidding me? I'll never cut my hair short, just like I don't think I'll ever stop dying it either.

No one says it needs to be short. Different lengths flatter different folk. While I'm sure some folk dig it, long ass hair down to the ass is tired on an old broad. This "I'm ageless" notion is so PC and silly. Of course age and time and years and all of that good stuff is real. I'm not gonna try to have a mohawk today, however much I may romanticize it (and trust me, I have over the last year or so)....I know I'd just look like an old homo with a mohawk.

[Edited 10/22/10 22:02pm]

I'm lucky to have gorgeous hair now and, going by the women in my family, I will have it when I am an old woman as well. Not every woman's hair gets all scraggly and thin with age. Maybe when I'm ancient I'll cut it shorter...but even at 50 or 60...long, thick, coloured hair is what I'll have.

JustErin said:

johnart said:

No one says it needs to be short. Different lengths flatter different folk. While I'm sure some folk dig it, long ass hair down to the ass is tired on an old broad. This "I'm ageless" notion is so PC and silly. Of course age and time and years and all of that good stuff is real. I'm not gonna try to have a mohawk today, however much I may romanticize it (and trust me, I have over the last year or so)....I know I'd just look like an old homo with a mohawk.

[Edited 10/22/10 22:02pm]

I'm lucky to have gorgeous hair now and, going by the women in my family, I will have it when I am an old woman as well. Not every woman's hair gets all scraggly and thin with age. Maybe when I'm ancient I'll cut it shorter...but even at 50 or 60...long, thick, coloured hair is what I'll have.

You are lucky. A lot of older women who let it grow long may "feel" young (and yes, I guess in one's mind that's all that really matters) but in reality look older and like they're trying really really hard.

johnart said:

JustErin said:

I'm lucky to have gorgeous hair now and, going by the women in my family, I will have it when I am an old woman as well. Not every woman's hair gets all scraggly and thin with age. Maybe when I'm ancient I'll cut it shorter...but even at 50 or 60...long, thick, coloured hair is what I'll have.

You are lucky. A lot of older women who let it grow long may "feel" young (and yes, I guess in one's mind that's all that really matters) but in reality look older and like they're trying really really hard.

or not hard enough

it's a fine line between them

carefree on a young girl looks rough on an old girl

johnart said:

JustErin said:

I'm lucky to have gorgeous hair now and, going by the women in my family, I will have it when I am an old woman as well. Not every woman's hair gets all scraggly and thin with age. Maybe when I'm ancient I'll cut it shorter...but even at 50 or 60...long, thick, coloured hair is what I'll have.

You are lucky. A lot of older women who let it grow long may "feel" young (and yes, I guess in one's mind that's all that really matters) but in reality look older and like they're trying really really hard.

I guess I never looked at it as a young vs old thing. Long hair is me...period. It's all I've ever known and short hair would make me feel really, really uncomfortable.

And by short hair, I mean the typical shorter, layered, ugly hair cut older women get.

JustErin said:

johnart said:

You are lucky. A lot of older women who let it grow long may "feel" young (and yes, I guess in one's mind that's all that really matters) but in reality look older and like they're trying really really hard.

I guess I never looked at it as a young vs old thing. Long hair is me...period. It's all I've ever known and short hair would make me feel really, really uncomfortable.

And by short hair, I mean the typical shorter, layered, ugly hair cut older women get.

You should always avoid typical. It's an ugly word.

Basically, it's not just about hair.There's folk that can pull it off because other things about them make it work. There's folk who are straight up traditionally blah, but think that hair means youth and desirablilty...much like the bald ass dude that has no hair up top but still thinks he rocks a pony tail.

JustErin said:

johnart said:

You are lucky. A lot of older women who let it grow long may "feel" young (and yes, I guess in one's mind that's all that really matters) but in reality look older and like they're trying really really hard.

I guess I never looked at it as a young vs old thing. Long hair is me...period. It's all I've ever known and short hair would make me feel really, really uncomfortable.

And by short hair, I mean the typical shorter, layered, ugly hair cut older women get.

My clients (ladies in their 50s, well-off) seem to do this one:

or short stacked bobs

this is how my hair SHOULD be

rock and roll

but it's doesn't

ZombieKitten said:

JustErin said:

I guess I never looked at it as a young vs old thing. Long hair is me...period. It's all I've ever known and short hair would make me feel really, really uncomfortable.

And by short hair, I mean the typical shorter, layered, ugly hair cut older women get.

My clients (ladies in their 50s, well-off) seem to do this one:

or short stacked bobs

NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JustErin said:

ZombieKitten said:

My clients (ladies in their 50s, well-off) seem to do this one:

or short stacked bobs

NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the possible exception of Kardashian and Fonda, those are wigs. Just a random observation.

But again, I will state that you are very fortunate if you look hot past your 30's/40's in long hair. Imagine Jane Fonda trynna pull off Barbarella hair today...come on now.

Rebelling against one's age might be a valid choice but it is not automatically an attractive one.

johnart said:

JustErin said:

NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the possible exception of Kardashian and Fonda, those are wigs. Just a random observation.

But again, I will state that you are very fortunate if you look hot past your 30's/40's in long hair. Imagine Jane Fonda trynna pull off Barbarella hair today...come on now.

Rebelling against one's age might be a valid choice but it is not automatically an attractive one.

Just Raquel's is a wig...but that's not the point. I see old women with hair like this all the time....shit...I should show you some of the hairstyles that my high school friends have now.

Once again, I do not see it as rebellion against age...I see it as just still being me...and being comfortable.