Long hair looks great on a wide range of ages — and works particularly well on those with medium or thick locks (just ask for lots of layers, to add volume).
Long straight hair
While many people associate long hair with youth, keeping your hair long and stick straight can actually make you look older than you are. Pin-straight hair puts your face front and center—including all those little lines you're trying to obscure.
The decision about locks for a youthful appearance is more about style than length. As a result, whether or not you choose long or short hair, your hairstyle determines if you look older or younger with your hair. Essentially, there are shorter hairstyles that give you a more youthful appearance.
As recently reported in The Daily Mail, according to a poll of 2,000 women over 40, when a lady reaches the age of 46, she must chop off her long locks in favour of a more mature, age-appropriate 'do. She must also stop wearing ponytails, ditch the extensions, and put an end to heavy bleaching and visible regrowth.
Forget what you thought about long hair past the age of 40—thick hair actually looks more youthful and polished when it falls shoulder-length or longer. Shorter hair has a tendency to expand at the ends, leaving you with an unflattering triangle effect.
By pulling your hair up into a ponytail high enough that it can be seen from the front, it opens up the face, tightens facial features, and emphasizes your eyes, eyebrows, and cheekbones. And as an added bonus, it also visually elongates your face and overall silhouette making you look a little taller.
As I can testify, hair loses pigment, changes texture and becomes thinner as we get older; it basically needs more looking after which is why, presumably, older women tend to lop it all off.
There's no reason you have to go short as you get older. Simple, classic long bobs and regular length bobs are absolutely gorgeous on older women. They work best on women with naturally straight hair, but wavy hair looks great in a long bob as well.
Although many ladies go with shorter styles as they age, there's no reason senior ladies' hairstyles can't be long. Be true to your style, and choose cuts and styling methods that are flattering for your hair type for a beautiful look.
As menopause hits and hormones change, the texture of hair transforms. Tresses become courser, thinner, and drier, which means that a short cut is easier to manage. Not only that, but it looks healthier and fuller. But if you don't feel like a short bob is necessary, then by all means, keep those long locks!
That being said, crazy long hair will always age you. "Too long always ages a woman," advises celebrity stylist Mitch Stone. "I'm not talking past-your-shoulders long, but cat-lady long (not to be confused with Cat Woman)." According to Stone, once your hair has passed your ribs, it's officially making you look older.
But regardless of color, there is no age limit to wearing a ponytail. If you're an older woman who's been reluctant to put your glorious hair in a ponytail — either because it's grey, white or someone said you were “too old,” just DO it anyways!
Why it ages you: With nothing to frame your face or soften the hairline, this look will draw attention to every line and wrinkes, explains Jarman. And if the bun itself is too small, it can make your face look bigger and hair thinner, she adds.
For women over 60, a long hairstyle with bangs will help hide forehead wrinkles to take several years off the appearance of a woman over 60. If you're wondering if long hair makes you look older, the answer is yes if you have very fine, thin hair. As long as you have hair that's thick enough, you can pull it off.
Long hair: You're carefree (or immature)
Women with long hair are more carefree and youthful, and sometimes bohemian. However, older women who maintain longer hair can sometimes be seen as childish. Long hair can be seen as a shield of sorts that connotes a lack of maturity or toughness.
Adding bangs to the hairstyle will help shape your face and make you appear much younger. The best part about layers and bangs is that they work for any type of hairstyle, from long locks to shorter styles. Either way, with the right cut, they will add personality to your look and highlights your best features.
Side bangs are a favorite pick in fringe hairstyles for older ladies as they're low maintenance. A thick side fringe is suitable for ladies who don't want to have full bangs but still like to hide some of their forehead wrinkles.
Just because you're a certain age doesn't mean an entire hairstyle is officially off limits. It's totally possible to rock long hair over 50 — even with glasses.
After examining the length of hair in models, male participants expressed a preference for models with longer hair and higher levels of attractiveness. Based on this, one can conclude that men find long hair attractive because it shows how fertile a woman is.
A poll of 3,000 men by The Daily Mail in 2008 found that an overwhelming 43% of men preferred a long and wavy hairstyle. Second place went to long and straight with 13% of men choosing it as their preferred.
Says Angileri, "A shoulder-length haircut is the most flattering—somewhere between the chin and shoulders. You want to create width, which you can easily do with waves."
What length of hair is considered long? If your strands reach past your shoulders, it's considered long. You can opt for a mid-back length cut or grow it out to your tailbone for extralong hair.